Road Trip Part 2: Grand Canyon, Mules, and Cliff Hanging

Welcome back,

Road trips are one of my favorite activities! Spending time with people you care about, talking and listening for hours on end, getting back to nature, listening to self-help programs on Mp3, and seeing new places are just a few of the obvious benefits to taking some time off, packing up the car, and heading out on the open road.

After leaving our new coach surfing friend and the beautiful city of Albuquerque, NM we started our 7 hour drive west.

john fedro eating on road trip

Stopping to grab some delicious lunch at an all-natural road side whole-foods restaurant was a great decision to fuel up prior to making the last leg of our journey from sea level to the 7,000 foot elevation of the Grand Canyon National Village.

After eating, working to close a real estate deal, and answering some detailed emails from Mobile Home Formula members we were off.

We made it to the Grand Canyon

Day 1: The air at 7,000 feet feels and smells so much cleaner than the desert air we had just driven through to get here. The temperature was also 20 degrees cooler which was a nice shock. Deer, eagles, and other wildlife roamed and lived right around us as we walked nature trails and enjoyed the natural beauty of the park. For the 3 nights here we would be camping in an over-sized tent fitted with power and running water nearby – my style of camping.

grand canyon john fedro  canyon john fedro

Day 2: We arose to the sunrise waking us up. Last night we sat around the campfire telling stories, having drinks, and falling asleep under the millions of tiny twinkling stars that lit up the night’s sky. Just before falling asleep I had the fleeting thought that in all my years alive I have never seen so many stars light up the sky as I did in that moment right before my eyes closed that night.

star filled sky john fedro

After a breakfast at the local restaurant we loaded up our mules for a ride around the park and just below the rim of the canyon. The ride was peaceful and almost on autopilot as I was told these mules walked this path for years. Our jobs were just to hold on to them and enjoy the ride.

That night we spent on the edge of the canyon. Dangling our feet over the edge of the canyon and watching the sun set on a beautiful day with a great friend.

grand canyon john fedro 1 grand canyon john john fedro

Day 3: We spent day 3 seeing all the local shops and eateries that we had missed the 2 days prior. Each time we set our eyes on the canyon there were new things to see. I distinctly remember my mouth dropping in amazement over a dozen times since we arrived just 2 days prior. These 2 days went by so quickly. That night we made a fire and talked about the coming travel plans and reflected on what we had seen in the past 72 hours since arriving.

The next morning we left before the sun came up. Our next destination was the Sequoia nation forest in California to sleep under the giant sequoia trees. Before we left we drove to the edge of the Canyon and stood by the railing. At this moment I was oddly overcome with fear. Looking back it was fear of the unknown, I knew in front of me was a cliff and canyon nearly 5,000 feet down, I knew this but could see nothing but black. The moon gave no reflection and kept hidden the natural beauty of the canyon. This was a great memory to leave on, and so we were off.

Sequoia Nation Forrest here we come.

Love what you do daily,

John Fedro