Here in Arizona, the season is slowly creeping from the sweltering summer to the slightly cooler autumn days.
Yes, just 18 more days, and it’s days like these where nostalgia sometimes hits. Maybe, it’s the feeling that a year is already more than halfway through- a year that has flown by too quickly.
On this throwback Tuesday day and in the spirit of nostalgia, I will tell a story in reverse- from the end to start with photos from a few years back to accompany.
As I walked down the Wind Cave Trail (an out and back path), a speedy hiker tailgated as he bounced nimbly downhill like a mountain goat. I shakily paused on a rock slick from the rain to let him go ahead. To avoid eye contact as he passed, I turned about-face and was greeted with a beautiful view. Like stage curtains, the fog had parted, revealing a cactus standing tall and proud. The light misty white behind it contrasted with its dark-green trunk. The vegetation on the desert floor was lush, having had a generous serving of wet weather the last few days.
As I ascended, I felt like an airplane flying. All around me, the air was still heavy and humid from the recent downpour. The higher I got, the thicker the fog became until it melded with a cloud that hung absurdly low. It was my first time on the trail. Part of me was was thinking was how I would walk back down as the steps became steeper and steeper. The other part of me wanted to keep going, to see what was ahead- knowing that the farther I went, the more unpleasant the trip down would be. Almost near the top of the trail, only a few hardy plants grew out from the rocky terrain.
It started on a sunny day, with the sun still beaming down on the desert sand. I felt the wind picking up, and in the distance I could see the ominous looking patch of dark clouds. It was an odd juxtaposition- because the birds still chirped merrily nearby, while in the horizon, the sky wept a gray deluge of rainy tears. My hands were coated in salty Cheetos chips dust as I snacked away on a bench near the trailhead, while I drank a sweet indulgent sip of Gatorade juice.
Love your walks @AZ_2021 I think we need to see more of them, I could actually feel you breathing, 2 days of my recent vacation was marred a little by the wind change, and we felt and breathed the wild fires in Quebec. Not trying to hijack, but I could feel the difference in breathing. We need more of these posts.
I love hearing your stories too. You always share the most interesting tales, replete with stunning photography of murals, the landscape, and delicious food. Yes, that was so crazy about the fires in Canada. So many wildfires happening recently. You are right how with the smoke, it make it hard to breath.
Once, I was hiking and felt kind of funny and thought I smelled BBQ, but it was actually a fire. It was a few miles away, Luckily, I saw the smoke and turned out.
@TravellerG Too funny my friend. Yes, you are right- there are so many trails in Arizona, at least 50+ trails in the Maricopa County parks. So much to explore and see! That day I walked that trail was my first time doing the Wind Cave. I didn’t go back to do the full trail again because it was a bit of a steep downhill (at least for me), and I get super nervous going down.
Thank you friend for your kind words and supportive comments.
Hey @AZ_2021 this is a wonderful post and the photos are stunning. Just look at the clouds and we can see the rain pouring behind the cactus plant. Your posts are always wonderful to read.
Me encantó leer tu relato @AZ_2021 , tienes espíritu de novelista por la manera de relatar tu caminata
Me falto leer que dijeras el suave murmullo del viento entre las montañas …. Y me transportaba totalmente al sitio del cual estabas relatando. El detalle de los chetos muy bueno. Gracias por compartir.
i like arizona, specially arizona Indian tribal people & their art creation.
muy bueno. Gracias por compartir.