The Grand Canyon Essay

Because I am not a very adventurous traveler, I don't really have a list of places that I absolutely must visit and view before I expire.  That hasn't always been the case -- when I was a teenager and avid National Geographic reader, I couldn't imagine NOT wanting to travel to every single country on Earth and see with my own eyes all world's wonders.  Oh well, that didn't last long.  Instead I discovered the joys of independence and Vermont boys who worked on race cars (I know, I know... but it worked for me).  I also came to realize that all these historical places and lovely landscapes would be packed with, you know, People!  And what if I was exploring an ancient pyramid and discovered a gum wrapper in the sand? That would so totally ruin my vibe.

Thankfully, I discovered the genre of travel books.  Not guide books, but books written by actual travelers who went, saw and recorded, and most importantly, took excellent photos.  I even remember the first of this sort that I read, The Great Railway Bazaar-By Train Through Asia by Paul Theroux.  I've ploughed through all of his books over the years (no pictures but he's an excellent writer).  Though I've read so many wonderful travel books, I think my favorite has been Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard.  Oh, and I once read a beautifully written essay on the Tibetan custom of sky burial, but I can't seem to find it now, and don't Google it, fair warning, because the Google search gets gross and definitely not beautiful.

Soooo, oh yes, the Grand Canyon.  Since we were driving home from Utah via all the state roads that we could (highly recommend if you're not in a huge hurry), we decided to stop by and view 17 million years of geologic history, no big deal.

Having stayed the night before in Page, Arizona, Jim and I drove in from the east on Route 64 (East Rim Drive), and stopped at almost every viewing/parking area.  Our first reaction (after thank God for good truck brakes)?  We would never, ever, ever bring children to these spots.  I'm serious, there is the roadway, there are some bushy trees, there is a very low rock wall, and then there is air.  And way, way, way, way, way, way, way down at the bottom, 17 million years ago, there is a river.  So lovely I don't have the words to describe it and certainly not the photography skills to capture it, but my eyes know true beauty when they see it.

Which sort of brings me back around to my love of travel books and my belief that I really don't need to physically travel to see the world, especially these days when such gifted photographers exist and are willing to share.  I won't bore you with the rest of my photos because they are crap and occasionally hysterical, like our attempt at a selfie with this view in the background while we clung to each other in the brisk wind.  Deleted, you will be relieved to note.  --cds