I hope the day never comes when I am dead to adventure. The best kind, for me, is one arranged by a good friend where all details are taken care of and I can sink into the experience. A rare and beautiful one is the Canyon de Chelly trip, coming up October 19-22.
Doug has been organizing trips to the iconic spots in the Southwest for years, and he knows just how to put together a small group of like-minded spirits. We car pool from Santa Fe together, walk down into the gorgeous depths of the canyon—a truck brings our camping gear, and anyone can ride down who doesn’t want the two hour hike. We camped in a grove of cottonwoods deep in the canyon, part of a farm belonging to a Navajo Doug has known for years, a blessed presence, who prepares a sweat lodge for us and performs the essential ritual.
We set up our tents, participate in cooking and cleaning up meals—Doug provides all the ingredients—and sit around the camp fire at night, drumming and telling stories. This will be my second trip to the canyon, and I particularly appreciate the day of service where we all work together doing whatever needs to be done at a Navajo farm. The gentle hospitality of these amazing people is something I will never forget.
I’m including the website (earthwalks.org) and photos I took last summer below in the hope of stirring you to the best kind of gentle adventure.
[For more, please see The Beauty Way, about my trip last summer.]
Carol M. Johnson says
“A gentle adventure” – such an appealing phrase to someone who has never traveled in the west, nor even been interested. Your word pictures of your western world are drawing me closer and closer to plotting and planning a journey – westward ho!
Glenda Burrows on Facebook says
Sounds like an amazing adventure Sallie, stay young and enjoy your journey..
Jacquelyn Carruthers on Facebook says
Amen Sally. I am ready to travel again. I loved Italy…has given me so much spiritual artistic inspiration.