The coolest thing about starting the journey is that the “hows” get figured out. I didn’t know how I was going to do some of the things I did but the “instruction book” reveals itself along the way, and not until you start! Plan, plan and plan … but don’t be afraid to start and don’t be afraid to change or take another road. Flexibility allowed me to nix one part of my route when I felt that I was driving too much. I wanted more time to enjoy the land, my photography and the adventure. I learned about the Antelope Canyon from a fellow twitterer and about California Condors on the Navajo Bridge from two photographers at Antelope Canyon. I learned the best place to stay and the only place to stay in Death Valley from a new friend that I met photographing the Condors at the Navajo Bridge.
I also learned to keep trusting my intuition. I had an incident at a grocery store in Page. It was dark but not late. I had finished photographing Horseshoe Bend. I walked out with three bags of groceries to replenish my cooler of supplies. Something told me to get into my car and lock the door. I would have put my groceries in the cooler, on the back seat but I listened to that gut instinct. I locked the door after getting in and with my 3 bags of groceries entangled on my left wrist, began to try to set the groceries in position on my passenger seat. There was a loud tapping on my driver side window and a guy trying to get into my car! I didn’t take the time to try to put my groceries down. I kept them wrapped around my wrist with my arm across my body. Thankfully my right hand was free and I started my vehicle. It clunked out as I started to pull forward and the guy followed, pounding now on the window and trying to get in. I got the car started again and pulled away. As I drove off with my left hand cuffed to my groceries I suddenly felt my heart racing and a wind tunnel in my car. As I had unlocked my door to get in I had unknowingly popped the back hatch of the car! Luckily this kooky character had not seen that!
He may have been a harmless drunk but no matter what the scenario it wasn’t worth finding out. That incident was not a scary feeling of woman being on her own. It was an empowering incident because I trusted my intuition. How many times do we not – when it comes to danger but also to what we want most in this lifetime, our dreams, our goals. How many times do we not honor that little voice inside?
I feel more empowered to listen to that voice after this trip. It was full of epiphanies that I will share in more of my writings. .. For now, this is simply meant to be an overview.
So back to the Free Bird driving through the desert. I stayed in Sedona the first night and the next morning photographed at Cathedral Rock. More on Cathedral Rock and the vortex later..
Later my travels took me to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim and the next day I photographed sunrise to sunset there. Sunset left me alone at the far east entrance to Grand Canyon on Hwy 64. It was hard to see my way out to the parking lot. It was a 50 mile drive on hwy 64 and through Painted Desert, which regret missing b/c of the dark.
I stayed in Cameron, AZ and the next morning ate my first hot meal on the go – pancakes!
Through a dust storm I drove to Page, AZ which is just chock full of great scenery! Though the grocery store “incident” happened there, the scenery there was amazing! Glen Canyon, Antelope Canyon (and I only got to the Southern Canyon), Horseshoe Bend.
The next morning I photographed California Condors while enroute to Zion National Park. I went from desert to snow in the mountains and back to huge rocks and desert of Zion.
I stopped at Best Friends Wildlife Santuary on the way to Zion and felt the spirit of the land and animals intensely!
Death Valley was a 5 hour trip from Zion National Park. I photographed the sand dunes on day 7 at sunrise. The temps went from 47 degrees to 80 something in a matter of a few hours.
Late morning had me heading back to LA through the harsh light time of day… and I got back to base before the traffic hit.
I was exhuasted and elated, did a tabata workout and ate a hot dinner. Food never tasted so good!
The next morning was my longest day taking me to the Salton Sea and then back up Box Canyon Road to the south entrance of Joshua Tree. I headed up and out the north entrance after hiking up Mt. Ryan and photographing sunset and the full moon through the beautiful Joshua Trees.
Hwy 10 provided some heavy cross winds after sunset on my drive back through the windy pass that accommodates windmill farms. My hands were white knuckled to the steering wheel. My phone rang several times and there was no way I was removing a hand from the wheel to answer.
… back through the winds and the rain to LA to complete the 8 day experience! …
More to come!

Stay tuned!
Kristen