Goin' Solo Continued

This post is a continuation of a previous post entitled "Goin' Solo", where I wrote about a solo camping/hiking/backpacking trip I took from Long Beach, CA to Santa Fe, NM back in 1996.

After my backpacking experience in the Pecos National Forest alone, I did stick to either campgrounds or places that had some people nearby. After reading my previous post, it did seem like I was a bit overly concerned with mountain lions, particularly since it wasn't like I'd seen one. So I must follow up and tell you that I had talked with some backpackers in the morning just as I was heading back down the mountain who said they'd seen large claw marks in a tree and thought that they belonged to a mountain lion. So, as if I wasn't scared enough, I had that in my mind as I hiked all the way back down.

That evening I spent the night in a motel in Albuquerque, where I had a dead bolt and was able to relax and feel secure again. A nice, hot shower does wonders for the soul too. The next day I went to the historic Old Town of Albuquerque where I'd been a few times before in my life. I love walking the town and shopping in the stores that are filled with American Indian and Mexican art and other great items. I usually shop for things to decorate my house with, so that when I'm home, I still have something that reminds me of being in New Mexico.

In one of the Mexican folk art shops, I'd met the nicest woman that worked there named Lita, who couldn't have been more concerned that I was traveling alone! We talked for quite a while, and she told me some great stories about her family and life in Albuquerque, where she'd always lived. She told me that she'd always wanted to write a book that was filled with these family stories. She told me how her family used to visit the ice caves not too far from Albuquerque in Grants. She is probably one of the warmest people I ever met. When I left, she wished me well and told me to be careful. I was actually feeling sad to leave. When I visit New Mexico, I usually go to Santa Fe, but I was glad I stopped in Albuquerque this time...It was one of my favorite visits there. I managed to get back to the shop one more time on a trip I took with my mom the following year (we flew), and as luck would have it, Lita was there and she remembered me.

After I left the shop, I continued my journey back towards home. I tried to visit the ice caves that Lita had told me about. The signs on the freeway said to exit for the ice caves, but once I did, I couldn't figure out where to go, so I gave up looking. I went on my way to Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. I got there with plenty of daylight left and started touring around the South Rim of the canyon, taking in the views, which were absolutely spectacular. Despite the beauty, I felt incredibly lonely and a bit sad at that point. I just wasn't enjoying myself anymore and decided that I'd rather save Canyon de Chelly for another time and come back with someone special. I drove back to the ranger station so that I could call a friend who was going to meet me in Las Vegas (the last stop of my trip) a couple days from then. While I was on the phone, a girl next to me, also on the phone, was excitedly talking about a trip she'd taken at a "river". When I got off the phone, I could hear her tell the person she was talking to that she had to go, and she followed me to my car. I recall her telling me that there was a rodeo in town. I was planning on continuing to Sedona, Arizona and told her that I was leaving, when it dawned on me that she and I were the only people in the parking lot. I asked her if she was alone too, and she said yes. I couldn't have been more happy to find a fellow solo-er! I was hoping I'd find other solo-ers on my trip and she was it! She had just come from a trip with friends on the San Juan River (an arm of Lake Powell in Utah where I'd been the year before), and decided to continue a trip by herself. She was 34, ten years older than me, and a really interesting and spiritual person. We had a blast at the Navajo rodeo that we ended up going to that night. Afterward, we camped out together at the Canyon de Chelly campgrounds. She had some amazing stories from her trip on the San Juan, and she talked a lot about her spiritual beliefs (which were on the metaphysical side). Meeting her was exactly what I needed to keep my spirits up for the remainder of my trip. When I thought that I could not stand one more day alone, there she was, and she ended up being someone that I really connected with also. All I could think of was, 'What if I hadn't turned the car around to go back to the ranger station? I never would have met her.

In the morning, we went our separate ways, me to Sedona and her looking forward to a solo trip around the Southwest. When I got to Sedona, I relaxed by a cool, little creek for a couple hours, which unfortunately was pretty populated with other vacationers. Nonetheless, Sedona ended up being a very grounding place for me, and I camped out just off a road that went up the side of one of the steep hills there. I think the road was used for those pink jeep tours. I had been to that particular spot in Sedona the year before with friends, and miraculously found my way back to that same great spot that wasn't a crowded campground, yet wasn't deserted either. I camped out under the stars on the amazingly, red earth (no tent) and spent the entire evening writing the story of my trip in my journal by candlelight. It was probably the most peaceful and spiritual part of my trip. There's such a strong energy in Sedona; it's hard to describe in words. The views are absolutely breathtaking and sometimes when I need to bring peace to my life now, I close my eyes and picture myself there, camped out on the mountainside running the red, red earth through my fingers.

I continued on to Las Vegas the following morning, but not before I soaked up my surroundings there in Sedona and watched a family of quail walk by my sleeping bag. I felt happy.

Las Vegas was Las Vegas...A lot of interesting people-watching, and a little drinking and gambling. I had a room at Treasure Island Casino and met a friend there for some drinks, a little slot playing, and a lot of laughing.

I was happy to be home the next day and to see my cats! Needless to say, I was really tired of driving and it sure was nice to get back to the cool ocean breezes of Long Beach. I had a great adventure to look back on and was so glad that I did it alone.