Day 14

Today I rode over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter!

I woke up at my cute little campsite right outside of the Grand Canyon State Park and decided I wanted to go get some hot tea and maybe a good beagle at the coffee shop in town, since I had to go through town to get to the airport. The only coffee shop I could find was closed; it was 7am! Shouldn’t all coffee shops be open early? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of a coffee shop? I was so confused and bummed, the only other open restaurant was McDonalds L This was upsetting. I haven’t eaten fast food in so long, but I did it anyway.  Ew- I just don’t like it- fake everything.

The forest we flew over

 Anyway. I had to be at the airport at 7:30 for check in. I was on time, what else do I have to do. On this trip, I think this is the most on time I have ever been--- because I don’t have a damn place to be except for doing the awesome things I want. #hardlife

Detail of Grand Canyon

  The helicopter ride was way too much fun. I got to sit in the pilot seat because I was taking photos. Whew! I didn’t know that until I got there that morning, a plus for being a loner, for sure.  My pilot was young, in his late twenties, early thirties maybe. His name was Kent, cool guy. All the Kent’s that I have met in my life are awesome, somehow.  When we took off, we flew over the forest so that we don’t cause that much noise pollution, as well as flying over the non-populated areas of the Grand Canyon.  I can’t even describe how big it really is. We flew for 45 minutes and we didn’t see half of it. How do I even describe the scale and the beauty? I’m not sure if there are words for it, it’s more like, “Wow.”  That seems to sum it up. It is just a feeling you get that words don’t quite do justice for, except for expressing some sort of noise that comes out of your mouth. As I was hiking down the canyon, all I heard Ooo’s and Aww’s and Wooow’s  as I passed people- like I said, words are short of the feeling that you get when you see it.  The colors are amazing as well as all of the formations. I can’t even fathom how long it took for the earth to form this amazing place and how the science of all of it works. I think I have said this before, but it’s so strange to think that we are just a little blink in time on this planet. --> Everyone should plan a trip to the Grand Canyon, just so you can feel how small you feel… and don’t just drive up to the rim and look at it, take a few phone pics and drive off.. “Ooo look at me, I went to the Grand Canyon.” No, you drove passed the Grand Canyon. Pay your $25 dollars and go to all the points to get out and look, camp or hotel it, get up and walk/hike around (they have half mile points if you don’t like to hike but you want to get a feel for it) , go to the visitor center, read some, (God forbid you buy anything though, you might walk out without an arm or a leg).  Plan it-Now!

The rest of my day was spent driving to California. It was a little shorter than I expected.. that or I’m so used to driving that it seems short now. Its funny how the drive to Dallas from Austin, is the absolute worst horrible drive I have ever driven and it is only 4 hours. But get me out here driving 8 hours at a time and it goes by so fast you wonder where the time went. I suppose that is a great problem to have! Well I am out of here.  Until next time. J