My Inspiration

I sometimes have difficulty walking and use a cane. Recently on a journey to Northern Arizona, I knew I was going to pass near an iconic image of the Colorado River and the desire to witness that sight kept teasing me. I had read about the access to Horseshoe Bend and knew that it included a walk through sand that was about a mile from the parking lot. Although the hike was described in the guidebook as easy, I have learned those descriptions can be inexact for some of us. And to immerse myself in the sunset image I hoped to view also meant a long walk back to the car in the dark. It seemed too daunting for a while. Fortunately, I’m blessed to have a partner in life, Kenne, who loves to hike and explore while I stand at my tripod, and I knew he would not leave me to struggle with the hike alone. Here we were at the trailhead, it was an hour before sunset, and with a bit of trepidation in my heart we decided to hike to the river’s edge. I struggled on the way there. Really struggled. The path was busy with photographers heavy laden with their gear. They bustled by us, hurrying to claim their place at the cliff for the best view. No gentle conversations or offers of help, they all seemed to be on a mission to get there before us. We made it while the sun was still a few inches high on the horizon. There was so much activity and so many more people than I expected. Some appeared to have been sitting there for hours claiming their spot for the perfect view, others had arrived shortly before me and nobody seemed willing to share their coveted space. It felt surprisingly contentious considering the place of spirit that we were sharing. But eventually we all HorsesHoe Bend: a HaIku