We woke up at the hotel in Flagstaff and went down to breakfast. I was thoroughly convinced that we weren’t where we were supposed to be. I just kept thinking where are the mountains?
We left the hotel for sunset crater volcano and we were suddenly surrounded by mountains and tall pine trees. It was really eerie that all of these mountains were hiding in the dark when we drove in. We drove right past them and didn’t even get a glimpse of them.
We pulled into the park and a beautiful snowy mountain came into view.I was experiencing an even better morning than the one before. I started expecting amazing things to happen.
Soon we were climbing on volcanic rock and standing in fields of tall dry grass that made me feel like I left the US completely. I was falling back in love with photography over and over again.
The road leaving the volcano took us to an overlook of the painted desert. We took pictures near tall bushes and watched a baby coyote run from his hiding spot when we moved away from it. We then explored the Wupatki National Monument.
Arizona’s landscape changed with every turn. The drive to the Grand Canyon was beautiful. We stopped at the side of the road next to a mountain and small canyons so we could buy some items from a Navajo stand.
I was very eager to see the Grand Canyon. Once we arrived in the park I almost completely forgotten about tourist. We spent most of our trip alone on back roads and in National Parks that it was strange to suddenly be around so many people. Nothing beats that first time you see the canyon. It almost didn’t look real and it's very hard to take in.
We drove to different points and soon came upon a campground. We snatched up a site and had lunch. We drove to a little store near the campground to get some firewood and dinner before rushing to get a spot to watch the sunset.
The colors of the canyon changed to purple as we sat on a cliff with strangers. The temperature dropped fast so drove back to our campsite and built a fire. I was not anticipating just how dark it would get. I couldn’t see my own hands if I walked away from the fire.
While we were making dinner I heard something in the trees next to me.My first thought was coyotes. I fumbled for the flashlight and part of me didn’t want to see what it was. I never expected to be so relieved to see a large elk so close to me before. It blinked at me and began to walk right by our camp. Ten or so elk followed and we laughed as we watched them pass just a few feet away from our camp and how no one camping near us seemed to notice.
Soon I walked away from the fire to grab something from the car, I half glanced up and couldn’t believe that I could see the milky way. I’ve never experienced seeing every corner of the sky covered in stars. Falling stars were constant and for the first time ever I got to photograph them.
We packed up the car and set up our sleeping bags in the back of the car with no plans for the next day. We had two more days on our trip and we had already reached our destination.
Feeling endlessly inspired and eager for every turn is something I want to bring to my every day life. Waking up before the sun because I’m too excited to sleep any longer. Then finally deciding that this is it. This is what I want. To find that every day happiness and to explore. I want a life that I never have to take a break from. I want a big life where things come to me easily. I feel like I'm always waiting for that life changing moment. The moment that sends me down the path of everything I want.
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