"Be still and the earth will speak to you." -Navajo Proverb
The name 'Canyon de Chelly' (pronounced "shay") derives from the Navajo word for the region, Tséyi', which translates to "deep in the rock." People have lived in this series of canyons for nearly 5,000 years—longer than anyone has lived uninterruptedly elsewhere on the Colorado Plateau. Shown here, Spider Rock Overlook is a marvel; an 800 foot freestanding spire overseeing the quilt of colors far below.
Our original intention was to stop for a night and visit our most sacred place in the US, the Grand Canyon. We're keen on being open to 'signs' and it wasn't lost on us that as Phyl attempted to book a room she kept getting disconnected and couldn't seem to complete the reservation. Then, we checked the weather and realized that a heavy all-night storm was going to be hovering over the Canyon - not the kind of weather to take in a sunset or sunrise which was our desire. This time around, it seemed that it just wasn't meant to be.
Though deeply disappointed, we trusted our instincts and opted to spend the night in Flagstaff. We reasoned that we should be practical, consoling ourselves that it had been a long cross country journey and it was probably best to get back to Chicago sooner versus later. We also had some banking business to address, and located a branch not far from our hotel that we could stop by the next morning before getting back on the road.
Next morning we headed to the Old Town section of Flagstaff where the bank was located. We found a parking space in front and started to walk in when a branch rep walked out and directed us to their private lot in back. Once inside, Kyle let us know that there was a short wait and suggested we walk around the shops across the street - we were captivated by the retro yet hip vibe of the stores, coffee shops and restaurants - so much so that we began to reconsider Flagstaff as a possible "forever home" location - in part because it's only an hour from the Grand Canyon.
When we returned to the bank, we continued our conversation with Kyle about our travels and being disappointed that we didn't get a chance to visit the Grand Canyon. Kyle quickly brought out his phone, and began showing pics of his favorite nature space; Canyon de Chelly - well off the normal travel routes, located within the Navajo Nation (northeastern Arizona).
We each smiled with a knowing look, conveying to each other the phrase that we have often utilized when encountering unexpected situations - This or something better! Also, we have a default attitude from our three years of nomading: when a local tells you to visit a specific site - go!
And so we did. As the quote at the top infers, we became still and silent as we made our way into the Canyon de Chelly, taking in the tapestry of color and hewn rock cliffs that drop over 700 hundred feet in some places.
We were only able to spend an afternoon at the Canyon - and vowed before leaving that we would return for at least a couple days to take in the variety of sites and insights - and that return trip will include a tour of the Canyon floor with a Navajo guide in a four-wheeler (this or something better)!
 |
"Keep trying. Stay humble, Trust your instincts. Most importantly, act. When you come to a fork in the road, take it." -Yogi Berra |
Comments