I like it like this.
W(here)TF have I been anyway? I just got back from an overnighter with friends to the south rim of the Grand fucking Canyon. It was a sweet ride and I’m already wanting to head out again on the same route, only this time… solo, solo. Each of the first few times, it was with friends. Now, All I got is a bike. My friend moved, so now I must progress in some way. I’ve had the bug for over night rides for a while. And, no so much because of anything other than the fact that they put you into the element yet, I’ve been scared still. Hell, I’ve got a 40 degree bag, a survival tarp and a couple of bags of top-ramen. WTF else could possibly “REALLY” nead?
On Sunday, I headed out with Randini, Hippy and Miss B for the South Rim. Randy and Miss B were to head into Utah at some point, as Randle has work waiting in Moab. The rest was a scam to be made enroute. We skinnied through a brief rain outside of Flagstaff, and headed into the Babbit Ranch soon to sundown. We made our beds, and lied in them, somewhere’s around the north side of the ranch, within the pinions of a canyonita wall. I slept well, free of sin that night.
We all awoke in syncronisity to the sun. It must have been 6am or even less. Fuck all, I dumped the juice into the alceehol stove and began the progression of my day. all I had was tea. I felt like a limp Brit, but then the Hippy offered up some of his fine cafe and I found light in the association with others. Ultimately, we broke camp after the light of the day had started to wear.
By that afternoon, we were already there, to Russle tank-proper. Another few miles and we’d be to Grandview. I hiked the steps half-way. Just high enough to see the beginings of the eastern Canyon. It was good and it had not changed since I was last there with my pheenie friends. Things were good, and as expected.
I lost Randy at that point. On a trip I wanted to make so memorable, I left my friends and found my own pace among the Ponderosa’s. I knew that they were not want of me, and I was fine with my loneliness.
And so I went. That was my good bye. It was weirdly overthought, and underexecuted.
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