From The Pumpkin Patch

Hello from the USA!

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave and one of our favourite places to travel.

We’re coming to the end of a two-month trip to America, so I wanted to start documenting some of our experiences to ensure I never forget them.

At the beginning of April we drove from Utah to Arizona with plans to visit two must-see locations: Horseshoe Bend and the Grand Canyon.

Our travels took us right into the middle of skinwalker territory, so I was half-excited and half-terrified. According to Navajo legend, skinwalkers are malevolent entities filled with hatred. As shape-shifters they have the ability to transform into animals, primarily coyotes and wolves.

I’m not sure if I believe in skinwalkers, but the Navajo people certainly do – and so do many people who claim to have encountered them.

I’ve read countless stories online describing people being chased by coyotes who stand on two feet and can keep pace with a speeding car, or from those who locked eyes with a mysterious man standing on the side of the road and were then followed for years. Many of these tales took place on the same roads that we were driving on, so I made sure to keep my eyes peeled.

Thankfully, we arrived in Arizona without incident. And after snacking on peanut butter M&Ms throughout the entire journey (to help me stay alert for skinwalkers, of course) I was ready to see the sights.

So let’s go!

Horseshoe Bend

Our first stop was Horseshoe Bend, a short desert hike ending with the most beautiful view.

Just look at it.

As you can probably guess, Horseshoe Bend gets its name from the sweeping curve of the Colorado River as it meanders around a huge piece of sandstone. It looks just like a horseshoe!

The river began carving out this path around 5 million years ago, with the water eroding the sandstone to form the 1000 ft deep canyon that we see today.

We timed our visit perfectly to coincide with the sunset, and it was seriously beautiful. I say this a lot, but my photographs really don’t do it justice.

Of course, my emotional support water bottle came along for the ride – I just love this thing. I have a full Stanley cup review coming soon!

I felt pretty safe at Horseshoe Bend (although I didn’t go too close to the edge) but sadly, there have been a number of deaths there over the years. If you do visit, don’t risk your life for a pretty photograph.

That night I decided to immerse myself in the world of skinwalkers right before bed, reading more creepy stories on Reddit and watching YouTube videos. It felt like a good idea at the time, but then we had to turn out the lights…

My bed was right next to a huge window on the ground floor, with a beautiful view of the desert that suddenly seemed terrifying. I slept with my head under the blankets all night, convinced that a skinwalker was about to tap on the glass!

Thankfully I woke up the next day unscathed, and we were ready to hit the road on our trip to the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon (South Rim)

I had always pictured the Grand Canyon as being swelteringly hot, but in my experience it was absolutely freezing.

We actually got caught in a blizzard when we first arrived. It covered the entire canyon in a thick mist and we couldn’t see a thing! Thankfully the weather cleared up pretty quickly while we ate lunch, and we were treated to a stunning sight.

The size of the Grand Canyon is genuinely shocking, and I wasn’t surprised to learn that it can be seen from space. I think I wandered around in a daze repeating, ‘It’s just so…. huge.’

There are so many activities, hikes and tours available, but we were content to hike along the rim and admire the view. Of course, we somehow got caught up in a Japanese tour group at one point who were very impressed with my husband’s Japanese skills! They were even kind enough to take a photograph for us.

Like Horseshoe Bend, both accidental and intentional deaths at the Grand Canyon are common. I could see how easy it would be to slip at certain points, and there were signs everywhere warning tourists not to walk backwards or get too close to the edge for the sake of a photograph.

This spot may look dangerous, but it was actually pretty safe – as long as I didn’t look down.

I never imagined I would get the chance to visit the Grand Canyon – it’s the first time I’ve ever seen one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. How amazing.

It was a whirlwind three days exploring the beautiful state of Arizona. We survived the skinwalkers, watched the sun set over Horseshoe Bend and didn’t fall into the Grand Canyon. I consider that a successful trip!

I’m so grateful for all the new memories and experiences I’ve collected, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit.