Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Last week, in the middle of the COVID pandemic,  my friend Gina and I drove over to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. We wore our masks and stayed 6 feet away from people, quite the pain. On the way over we stopped at Lake Havasu State Park; sand, wild cactus, blue water and more!

A saguaro cactus, one of those crazy cactus that looks like a person! 

That would be me, Rocking the Wagon Wheels!

Parker Dam, so huge, so amazing. I wanted to dive right in, but decided it was too risky. My old age is catching up on me and I am becoming more timid!

I behaved myself, probably because I was with Gina, and didn't even jump in the fountain at Lake Havasu City in Arizona.

This is the London Bridge that was originally built in 1830 over the River Thames in England. Way back in 1967 the bridge was dismantled and relocated to Lake Havasu City.  The bridge links an island in the Colorado River with the main part of Lake Havasu City. And I didn't even jump off the bridge into the Colorado River, although I thought about it. If my son David was with me, he would have done it.

This is Gina, enjoying a banana icee in a phone booth!

After Lake Havasu City, we drove over to Williams, Arizona and stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel. It was sooooo fun! Lots of old trains and history surround this old fashioned town. That would be me, up on an old train, looking down and wondering why I climbed up there.

How is it that trains age so beautifully but I struggle with old age, and all the lovely things that go with the process! God loves me in spite of my age, color, or gender. He made me unique. 

I like that very much.

We left my Subaru in Williams, and took the Grand Canyon Railway over to the park. So nice not to worry about parking and traffic. The depot is just a short walk up to the South Rim. This is my pretty friend Gina, after her very first glimpse of the Grand Canyon. She was in awe!

I first visited the Grand Canyon in 2005 when I got a job at the North Rim. Since that time, I have visited both the North and South Rim several times.

It was not that hot or crowded which made it very nice to view the canyon. However, even though I didn't dive into the Parker dam, or get into the Lake Havasu fountain, or jump from the bridge into the Colorado River, I did splash in the water faucet in the bathroom to cool down.

The Hopi House was built in 1905 and was modeled after the 10,000 year old pueblo dwellings of the Hopi village in Old Orabai. Mary Colter, one of the few female architects of her time, was hired as the architect to build an Indian Arts Building, and that she did. 

 Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most visited attractions in the country. The canyon is a mile deep, up to 18 miles wide, and about 277 miles long. It is also one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Now if you haven't seen it, I hope you get at least one chance in your lifetime to visit Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona!

So many colors, and rock formations in one place. So amazing!

After the Grand Canyon, we stopped in Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona, one of my favorite camping spots.  Love the reflection in the still water!

Oak Creek Canyon is south of Flagstaff, and is one of the prettiest canyons I have seen. 

After Oak Creek Canyon, we stopped in Sedona to photograph the red rock formations and shop in the little town. Sedona is a bit of a strange place, but I love all the red rock everywhere.

Thank you Gina for a wonderful trip! So much fun!

Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington

Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington is one of my favorite parks to visit. 

After visiting the Lower Lewis River Falls in Washington, where I had camped for a week, I drove up to Mt. Rainier National Park. I am so happy it was open, as so many campgrounds have closed due to the COVID-19 virus. The only campground open in Mt Rainier was the Cougar Rock campground, so that is where I camped for a week.

I am so happy to be outdoors, enjoying the natural places in our country.

Mt. Rainier is our nations fifth National Park. Now there are 62, and I am proud to say I have visited every one of them! Mt. Rainier is 14,410 feet tall, and is the tallest volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range.

 The day I arrived was filled with blue sky, puffy clouds and sunshine. I drove over to the Nisqually River and hiked around, then walked over the bridge and stood in the midst of this grandeur. The picture above is looking up the river, and the picture below is looking downriver from the bridge.

 When the rivers have that murky mocha look, it is usually due to crushed pieces of rock that the glaciers have ground up. 

 The Scenic Viewpoint drive on the road to Paradise, truly yielded some of the most perfect scenery. I met people all along the way who had stopped and were taking pictures just like me. My favorite were two young men who rode their motorcycles from Olympia to see Mt. Rainier. They were brimming with excitement and couldn't stop talking about all they had seen.

Christine Falls was one of the many waterfalls I saw on this trip. It seemed like everywhere I looked, water was flowing out of the rocks, down the hills and over the meadows. Even though snow is melting all over the mountain, a lot of the trails were still covered in snow. People were skiing down the hills in Paradise, and others were just hiking out in their boots,  then putting their skis on and going for it. 

One sweet white flower, so gentle and dainty.

Back at my campsite I was munching on salsa chips when this doe came in and wouldn't leave. Yes, I broke the rules and gave her a chip, and then she really wouldn't leave. She started licking my chair and my tablecloth, and then I got nervous. Deer germs everywhere. I shooed her out, got out my spray bottle of rubbing alcohol and sprayed everything in sight. No more chips for her!

Across from my campground at Cougar Rock in Mt. Rainier,  lies the trailhead for Carter Falls. 

The trail crosses Paradise Valley, which is covered by all this gorgeous driftwood and rocks. 

The trail itself is well marked and relatively easy. It was just that I had to cross this narrow bridge over the Nisqually River, TWICE, if I wanted to get up there and back to my campsite. It took me a very long time to work up the courage, and several times I started but had to turn back. It was terrifying for me. I made it across, and tried not to think about doing it on the way back. 

After I crossed the bridge, the trail headed up, and up and up. A bit of a challenge. 

Carter Falls was beautiful and I was so happy I didn't give up and miss out on this place.

Another area along the river where I would go and just sit and stare at everything. It made me so happy to see the trees, the rocks, the bushes, the flowers, the clouds, the sky, the mountains and the river. So very happy.

Some of the plants and wildflowers in Mt. Rainier National Park!

I walked down in the rain to another massive waterfall, Narada Falls. A bit slippery, but so incredibly gratifying to see. The rainbow across the falls looked so pretty. 

 Reflection Lake, still covered in the melting ice, was a gorgeous place. It was here I saw several guys get out their skis and start out into the snow. I later found out that while I was camping at Mt. Rainier, three non-related hikers, all young men, had gone missing. The body of one man who had been skiing on Liberty Ridge was found dead in a crevasse at the bottom of  a cliff. God be with his family and friends. Nature is fierce, which is why I love it.  However I do respect it, and take extra care while in the mountains. 

This view of Reflection Lake was taken in late June 2020. It looks like the dead of winter, but to us it is summer time. It rained almost every day of my stay in the park, but I kept warms with fires and down quilts. 

It is so cold here at Mt. Rainier, and so incredibly green. It seems especially green since I live in a relatively dry,  climate, with warm ocean breezes. 

Hot pink Shooting Star wildflowers were blooming throughout the park.

 There is a beautiful hike in the Longmire section of the park called the Trail of the Shadows. It winds through the marshlands, cedar forests, around the ruins of the mineral springs, an old 19th century cabin and several old bridges. 

It was a short trail which then branched upward to a longer trail that took me to the view overlooking Longmire. That part went up and up and up. I must be getting old as I almost died.

It was so nice to be in the forest, a place that always makes me feel safe. 

Lush greenery fills the marshland in Longmire.

One last trip to a small creek, where I ate my lunch and just relaxed. 

My last day in the park was cold and cloudy. I was so thankful to be out and about, enjoying the places I love so dearly. Thank you Lord for your goodness and kindness to me. 

Lower Lewis River Falls, Washington

At first I was on a 2-month trip, that was supposed to travel up the California coast, into the redwoods and beach campgrounds, then up into Oregon and Washington, culminating at Mt. Rainier National Park. Then with all the COVID cancellations, it brought me down to a 3 week trip, straight up the I-5 into Oregon and Washington. After leaving Silver Falls State Park in Oregon, I drove for what seemed like forever to get to Lower Falls Campground located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington. I went round and round in circles up and down forest roads until finally I stopped at the only open general store in the area. It was in that store where a nice young man in overalls, who was the size of a Wookie,  gave me the correct directions. Within the hour, I found the campground, set up camp and in a bit of a daze, wandered around exploring. 

Right down the path from my campsite I found the Lewis River,  cold, brave and flowing swiftly. It was a few days later that I was sitting in the shallows, allowing the water to run over my legs, when I set my hiking pole down for a minute and in that short of time, the river took it forever. It was a shock because it happened so quickly. I realized how easily it could take me out and down the waterfall. After that experience, I was much more careful.

 I love water, especially moving water. Rivers are one of my favorite things, especially when they are clear, cold and swift, like this one. 

 I also love trees. Towering pine trees, at least 100 get tall, were growing all around me. 

After a short while, I decided to go and see the Lower Lewis River Waterfalls. It looked like the path would take me right to it, and indeed it did. After a very short walk along a trail through the forest,  I came upon a prison work crew that were putting up guard rails. My son, Jon, was in the fire-camps for several years, and did work like that all over California.  I stopped and talked to the guys who immediately made me feel comfortable. After our conversation,  I continued on to  the overlook. 

I was astounded. After staring at the Lower Lewis River Falls for God only knows how long, I said to the Lord, "I can die now." It was as if I had seen it all and my life was complete.

Well i didn't die, and you can see that I am one happy camper. 

 The Gifford Pinchot National Forest was so beautiful with its twisted, moss covered trees, wild flowers and rocks of every size, color and shape. 

in spite of the gorgeous waterfall, it was the Lower Lewis River that I grew to love.  I examined every inch of shoreline for 5 days straight. I collected rocks, tossed branches in the water and watched them fly down the current. I found rock cairns and watched the rapids change, always moving, vibrant and alive.  I felt nourished and fortified as I soaked in the beauty. All the pandemic pandemonium had really got me down. In my short time at Lower Falls, I was rejuvenated  and restored. At times it was just me and the forest in all its grand beauty and simple solitude. 

 In the stillness and in the quiet, one can listen and hear the trees grow.

 I love these little rock cairns that people build  everywhere. I have never built one, but always take pictures of other peoples creation. To me it says, "I am here, I am alive." Isn't that wonderful!

 I walked over to the Lower Falls waterfall at least twice a day, enamored by its many moods. On that morning, a translucent rainbow appeared in the mist.  Rainbows always make me happy. I know God is near, and that He loves me.

 My goal while at Lower Falls was to cherish every minute, experience the moist air and the splashing cold water, feel the heat from the campfire, meet new people, and enjoy the outdoors.  I met all kinds of people there, but the ones that stand out are the little kids on their bikes. I kept waving at them as they rode by my campsite. It made me so happy to see them. It wasn't long before they stopped to talk, then a new one would join us. Every day they came and visited me, told me their secrets, showed me the tricks they knew on their bikes, told me about divorces, moving, half sisters and brothers. Children are resillient if they receive love. They can bounce back from just about anything if they feel loved. 

On the last day the big boys came out in droves. One of them jumped from the top of the falls and made a tremendous slap when he hit the water. They all got in that frigid water, then lay down on the hot rocks to dry off. It was beautiful. 

 Male bonding.

My goodbye to the river, the rocks, the trees, the sky, the earth, the waterfall. Until we meet again!