Day 54

And so the boy returned, bleary but resolute, to the Virgin River and Zion Canyon. He rode the shuttle-bus to the very last stop, then disembarked and marveled at the towering court of standing rocks known as the Temple of Sinawava. He walked along the river, following its course upstream. Mule deer foraged nearby and the stream lapped and eddied. The canyon slowly grew closer on each side, until the path ended and sloped into the river. The boy pulled his traveling pack tight and stepped in.

The Narrows has no path. It is only stream and sandbar. Many other travelers set forth with the boy; some foolishly removed their shoes and waded, bare of foot; others wore sandals or flip-flops; others complained of the coldness of the river; and others complained that they might get wet at all. Such travelers turned away quickly, and as the boy began the second mile of The Narrows, the crowds had disappeared. For long moments he found himself alone, and he reveled in the serene majesty of canyon.

Good Lord. I would like to deeply apologize for the intrusive self-indulgence. I have had a stern conversation with myself, and there will be no more storybook mumbo-jumbo. You can’t stop me. I left Zion in the highest of spirits, and took Highway 89 through tunnels and past the canyon outskirts to the east. I arrived in Kanab, Utah, where Grandma and Jeff were coincidentally spending a couple of nights at the beginning of their own vacation. Naturally, as a dutiful grandson, the boy I had to say hello.

Finding a restaurant was a struggle, but at the plum hour of 9pm, we sat down for dinner. I was glad that I could still hold a conversation after so long away from society. Now we rest, as we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow touring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Live long and prosper Goodnight!