My Nomad Journey – Flagstaff, Arizona & Grand Canyon

[Week of February 22] After my very busy week in Las Vegas, I headed back east again to Flagstaff Arizona to spend the weekend catching up with myself. The few days there would be part rest and also a place to be in case my runny nose turned into something more debilitating. I didn’t want to head to Shelly’s in Phoenix with a full-blown cold, so this would give me a place to convalesce if that was the case. If not, I could explore a bit. It turned out, I was able to do both!

Here’s what I did:

I arrived in Flagstaff in the afternoon, after taking my time driving from Las Vegas. I crossed time zones again, losing an hour on the way. I checked into my motel and unloaded my bags. It wasn’t the nicest property, but it was right in the heart of downtown, so it was convenient for food and walking around. After getting settled, I walked around the downtown area to see what all was available. There were a handful of blocks of historic buildings and a high density of restaurants, shops and attractions. Very cute and busy. I liked it. I stopped at a coffee shop for some hot tea and a scone. Then continued my explorations.

While deciding what to eat for dinner, I landed on Mexican. The restaurant was super friendly and even offered to make things that weren’t on the menu, since I was about to order my usual veggie burrito. Instead, I got Chilaquiles with eggs for my dinner! I took it to go, since the restaurant got crowded. I ate at the hotel, then lay down to watch TV for a while. By the way, I NEVER watch the TV in the hotel rooms. Generally, I’m just not interested. But since I was feeling tired, it was super cold out, and I had a very full belly, I was in the mood to just unplug. I ended up watching 2 very “fluffy” Hallmark movies and then called it a night. Oh, before bed, I mapped out and decided on a plan to drive to the Grand Canyon the next day!

Sunday, I slept in and took my time getting up. I got myself ready and drove to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This is only a 1.5 hour drive from Flagstaff and winds through some beautiful national forests on uncrowded roads. The drive to the Grand Canyon is as enjoyable as the canyon itself… almost. I arrived at the park entrance and remembered that I have a national park pass from my visit to Crater Lake last September. That saved me $35 entry! I parked and got the lay of the land for the visitor center and the overlook points. As I walked toward the overlook, I could already see the canyon coming into view and it was amazing!!! I had flown over this canyon in airplanes dozens of times over the years, but nothing compares to seeing this magnificent natural creation up close. The photos I post here won’t even come close to what the experience is like. I walked along the rim adjacent to the visitors center and got numerous pictures from many different viewpoints. You just can’t take it all in! Every time you move, you see something new and amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit. I had not planned to do any hikes on this trip. I just wanted to see it, since I was staying so close to it. One thing I noticed that I found to be sad was that most people don’t appreciate enjoying the experience in silence. Most everyone was chatting, talking or even being obnoxiously loud. People were talking about many things unrelated to the canyon at all. People talking on their phones with their backs to the canyon. I just don’t get it. It would be nice if there was a “silence only” spot, where people can enjoy the view in silence and wonder. Oh well, it’s a tourist spot. I supposed I should come back when the weather is warmer and do one of those hikes, right?

I finished soaking in as much as I could and went to get a snack and use the restroom before leaving. As I approached the car, I realized I had SEEN the nature, but I had not TOUCHED the nature! So I walked into a patch of trees near a picnic table and spent a few minutes touching the tree trunks, the branches and leaves, and then put my hands in the snow and made a snow ball. How sad would that have been if I had left such a meaningful place and never touched anything but the railing? I drove back to Flagstaff and went to the gym for a workout, before settling in for the afternoon.

Monday was a work day. After my calls and meetings, I ran to the grocery store for some items and then walked to get dinner after. The last day in Flagstaff was also a work day, but I had a cancellation that freed up much of my day. I took advantage of the time to go explore Overlook Park, with view points above the city, then walked to a coffee shop to catch up on these Substack posts. In fact, between the coffee shop and another couple hours in the evening, I was able to catch up on a whole month’s worth of posts. I did get outside though. The weather had warmed up to the 60s after being in the 30s when I arrived. I walked around downtown, did some talking to myself and practiced gratitude for life, with all of its challenges and joys. I had received some sad news on Sunday, so this prompted some of my self-reflection time on Tuesday. I’ll explain more below.

That evening, I had a quick dinner and packed to hit the road the next day. I realized that Sedona Arizona is less than an hour’s drive from Flagstaff, so instead of driving directly down to Phoenix, I decided to drive “through” Sedona on my way down. I’ve been there before, but it has been many years.

Here’s what I learned:

On Sunday morning in Flagstaff, I received word from one of my nephews that my oldest brother had passed away that week. This was sad news and he was only 67 when he passed. I mentioned in other posts that I did not have a close relationship with my birth family – not because of issues or malice, but because of time and distance. I was grateful to open conversation with my nephew and offer him support in any way I could. This has now presented an opportunity for my nephew and I to re-engage and potentially build more of a relationship. Perhaps even with my other nephews and nieces. I realize that my choice to not stay in contact in the past does not guarantee me any relationship in the future. But I do hope that we can build something over time. This passing of my brother now means that there are only 2 of the 6 of us left living. Regardless our relationship, I wish the best for my brothers – alive or not – and spent time reflecting on my own mortality and being grateful for the path that I am currently on.

Here’s what’s next:

Next up is a visit to Phoenix Arizona and to spend some time with my friend Shelly, who is like a younger sister to me. I will likely be there for a few weeks, before heading over to Southern California and my next in-person work engagement. The time in Phoenix will also allow me to take care of some domestic chores that are easier in a large city. There are a number of work projects beginning, so being in one place for a little while will make the work a little easier. As I mentioned, I will explore Sedona for a few hours on the way down.

As always, please interact with this post. I love getting your questions, your thoughts, and your comments. I’ll reply when I’m able.

Please enjoy yourselves in this week ahead and look for another update from me about the adventures of the journey. Be well my friends!

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