“Everything has a way of coming full circle. It takes patience and perseverance to see a dream through…to close that circle. Because some dreams, like some circles, can be much bigger than others” ~Karen Dale Trask
We spent two more days exploring and hiking the Grand Canyon. We were all thoroughly exhausted but made the most out of every moment. Our adventure was coming to an end and I didn’t want to waste a second, miss a sunrise or sunset. For my children this may just be another family vacation. Another trip where they had a lot of fun and saw new places. But for me this was just over two weeks of spending almost every hour together collecting priceless, long-lasting memories and new experiences. I hope they can look back one day and realize how special this was. I had always dreamed of taking a trip like this and I’m so happy I got to experience it with the people I love the most.
Again, no words to express what it felt like to watch the sun rise over the canyon and watch the world come to life in radiant color.
Taking a break from the hike and the heat. These guys were true troopers and explorers.
We left the Grand Canyon early in the day. Next destination was Las Vegas where our Grand Circle road trip would come full circle. Just as we passed the park exit we saw a wild herd of buffalo. We pulled over and I got out with my camera. I went as far as I dared and what I guessed was a safe distance as not to provoke the giant beasts. Where there are babies, there will be overprotective parents. It was a fantastic surprise to encounter these amazing animals. Even more fantastic was watching them all charging out of the valley and disappearing into the forest.
And just when we thought we’d seen the last of wild animals on this last leg of the trip, to my amazement I spotted a coyote running through the valley. It was the one wild animal my husband had been hoping to see before we ended this trip, and lucky for him I was looking at the right place at the right time. We also pulled over for this guy and watched him as he ran into the dense trees.
One stop shop for lotto, guns, ammo and beer!
I spotted a yellow Herbie out the window. A game we play on every road trip. It’s always fun for me to photograph random small towns out the window. It takes me back to the moment.
We made it back to Vegas. The place where we started off on this epic road trip.
Here’s my son at the airport anxiously waiting for his dad. We thought we’d be flying home without him. You see, we turned in the rental car at the airport and as we’re unloading the car my husband realizes he doesn’t have his wallet. Panic ensues as we rack our brain trying to figure out if he lost it or maybe was pick-pocketed as we walked the strip and several casinos. It was hard to say because we walked around for hours. Just when we thought all hope was lost we tracked it down to a Starbucks at the Westin Hotel. He left the wallet on the counter and a very nice cashier set it aside. So now he had to jump in a cab and hope the driver could get him to the Starbucks and back in time to catch the flight. It all worked out and we all boarded that flight, but what a way to end the high we were on just a couple of hours before.
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