Updates from the Road - Day 63 - Havasupai and Grand Canyon

Wagons East!  

Current location: Grand Canyon (North Rim), Arizona

Miles traveled since last update: 1000+

Max miles traveled in one day on this leg: 480

Total miles traveled: 7650+ 

Well, I finally made it out of California. I've been exploring the Grand Canyon the past week and while the sights themselves are amazing, its the way in which I was able to see certain sights that made this leg of the trip so magical.  Let's hop back to Los Angeles for a moment.

The Psychic

When I was in LA I saw a psychic.  I've been having the urge to do this for a while given how I have felt about energies in the past few years and people's ability to channel these energies.  I've myself experienced some of these energies so I was more open than ever to give this a shot.  A friend who is into these things had seen the psychic recently and set up an appointment for me.  I arrived at the psychic's apartment and we talked a bit while she made me coffee.  Even with how open I've been I still held a lot of skepticism so I was determined to keep my mouth shut and not give any "tells".  

She shuffled a half deck of playing cards, mostly high cards: ten's, jacks, queens, kings, and aces.  After looking over the cards for a moment, she began to speak and immediately I was in shock.  She spoke rapidly about my family, about me, about things from my past, my current life, and with each sentence I focused on hiding my shock.  Only once during the session asked me if something was correct to which I answered, but other than that she channeled so much about my life with zero guidance from me.  When my coffee was done she flipped it onto a napkin, letting the remains stain the napkin before telling me more.  The woman had a gift.  Certain things she said several times and they stayed with me: "You need to take risks, stop holding back, you never ask questions when you want to."  It was all so true.  I've always tended to play it safe and I've in recent times been more aware that I hold back when it comes to asking for anything when I feel the urge.  This was an experience I'll never forget.  So much of what she said stayed with me as I finally started on my way back towards the east coast.    

Havasu/Supai 

I knew I was heading to Grand Canyon and pretty set on where I would go, but earlier in my journey two people in my life made suggestions to go to Havasu/Supai, a Native American reservation on the edge on Grand Canyon National Park.  I took this as a sign that I needed to visit this place.  

I set out on the seven hour drive (nine hours with LA traffic!) from the LA area to the trailhead which lead to the village and campground.  Doing a bit of planning ahead, I called to ask about a campsite.  After getting busy signals several times I got through and asked about a "reservation for tomorrow".  The person on the other told me they were booked and to call back at 8am the next day to check on cancellations (I would later find that this place opens up for bookings each year in February and sells out extremely fast, making this story even more incredible).  I was five hours into the drive and thought about the psychic; take risks.  Big deal if I drive nine hours out of my way and can't get in right?  With that I said screw it, I'm still going.  I got to the trailhead at 2am and slept in my car.  I woke up around 6am to a beautiful sunrise and this sign which made my heart sink.  

Not looking good

I went over to the checkin booth and asked for details.  Yup I needed a reservation.  No way I could go down otherwise.  I felt somewhat defeated as I watched groups of people load up their packs preparing to hike into this canyon.  

I went to the edge of the canyon, did a short meditation, and as I came back I saw a group of people getting ready to hike down.  In that moment I again thought about the psychic: ask the questions.   Against my usual nature of not wanting to bother people, asked the group if they knew of any way to get down there without a reservation.  All replied that they didn't think so.  We chatted about where everyone was from for a moment before I thanked them and walked back to my car thinking "at least I tried".  A few moments later a woman from the group came back and said: "Hey, we are a large group and I think we are full but I am going to ask if there are any spots open".  I was grateful that she would have even given it a second thought.  Five minutes later another woman from the group came over and said: "Hey! Boston?! We have some from New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and we have an extra spot; you're in."  She told me they would add my name to their list and to meet up with them once I got down there since I wasn't packed yet.  They headed out on the ten mile hike through the canyon and a short bit later I did the same.  I couldn't believe it.  I'm telling you this letting go thing works!  I nearly cried feeling so full of gratitude in how things have played out for me on this journey.  

A bit later I caught up with the group.  There were twenty of us with me included and they welcomed me as one of their own.  Most of them were from Park City, Utah with others from the areas I mentioned earlier.  I camped with them, hiked with them, and swam in the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever seen with them.  This place was magical and it was no surprise to me that it was hard to book.  Crystal blue water, spectacular views, and a canyon more full of life and vegetation than I had imagined.  To all of you who allowed me this experience, if you are reading this, thanks once again from the bottom of my heart for the experience of a lifetime!!!

Take a look at all of my Havasu photos here

To close out my Havasu story, my group stayed two nights while I decided to stay a third.  On the afternoon of the day everyone left there was heavy rainstorm that came through.  During the storm I stayed in my tent reading.  When the rain stopped I emerged to find the river running through the canyon had flooded a bit and changed color to a dark red hue.  The water was rushing so much harder than before and it is always a humbling experience to see the power of water.  I prepped my things that evening to depart the next morning.  

I woke up at 3am to the sound of thunder and even heavier rain.  Luckily the day before I had moved my tent away from the river.  Other people who had not found themselves on an island unable to get out because of the rushing water.  I was thankful I had made the decision to move my things.  I packed up in the rain and began the hike out in which I walked past all the falls that had been beautiful blue just the day before.  All were flowing so much harder, flooding over with the reddish brown water from the rain the past two days of rain.  It was an amazing reminder that all things are in constant change.  Life is not always a crystal blue waterfall.   I felt a little bad for the people hiking into the camp as I departed.  I was told it would take 4-5 days for the water to return to it's normal color.  

Havasu was quite the heart and mind opening mini journey within my larger journey.  I left this place so full of love.  With an achy foot and the desire to get moving, I treated myself to a helicopter ride out of the village (ten minutes rather than 4 hours).  What a view!

After Havasu I've spent the last few days exploring Grand Canyon National Park.  This has been a lengthy post so I won't go into detail about the park other than it was great to see things from above after hiking down in the canyon.  Take a look at the pictures from that here.  

Off to Utah next week for Zion National Park and more.  Thank you for reading!!!