Penny Thoughts

Day 8 – the last full day of vaca that does not end at 35,000 feet pointed toward home.

It’s so nice going to sleep without setting an alarm. I tried not to sleep in or settle into CA time. Makes post-vaca re-entry easier without jet lag to deal with. So it was no surprise that I would naturally wake up while it was still dark.

What was surprising in the early hours of Day 8 was to be met with fairly bright light when my eyes cracked open. Did I oversleep so much that this much sunlight was pouring in through closed curtains??

Nope.

I snuggled down the night before in the usual blackout black of drawn curtains between me and a moonless, streetlight-less night. And yet I woke to this…

Room door locked from the inside – a chain and a slidey thing. Nobody came in here.

I have no recollection of getting up in the middle of the night and even if I had, I would not (likely) have turned on all three bathroom lights…and certainly not to their fullest brightness.

It would appear someone is trying to say hello, get up, you’re going to miss the sunrise. Spooked? Not at all. I laughed, took this picture and told my invisible guest there was no early tee time today, I’m going back to sleep.

I love breakfast here. For starters, fewer people than at dinner. More relaxed because nobody seems in as much of a hurry…no reservations so you don’t have to eat and get out for the next people. It’s all very peaceful in the morning. I love all the fireplaces too.

The only agenda item today is a horseback sunset trail ride, be at the stables by 3. So another leisurely day of lounging, reading, walking the grounds. In other words, a perfect day.

Along the walk I came upon a painted rock.

Left by someone from Oregon City. Brought it home to help it on its journey. Will log it into their website and follow it along after the next person finds it.

Had some lunch and then over to the stables to hit the sunset trail. Why a sunset trail ride? The last time I was on a horse, Ronald Reagan was in the first year of his Presidency. But it sounded romantic, I’m out west and there’s a sunset trail ride. It had to be done.

They matched me with sweet Freckles, one of several mild tempered horses at the stables. They have to be mild mannered for all of us city chuckleheads coming for vacation rides.

The trail is well worn. The lovely couple behind me wondered how I could film with one hand and hold reins in the other. I probably don’t need to hold the reins at all. Freckles does this trail at least twice a day. He doesn’t need any input from me.

It was a great day and just a perfect end to this vacation. Tomorrow I get up, have breakfast and head back to Vegas for some knock around time before the redeye home.

This trip has been nothing but spirit filling, soul uplifting, and contentment finding. I am feeling so close to my Dad right now, spending time in some of his favorite places and seeing some of his favorite sights.

Seeing the elk at Grand Canyon National Park was a powerful, emotional moment. Waking up to a bunch of lights that turned themselves on overnight… ok let’s be honest, there’s no denying elk walking across the road in front of me. That happened. There’s some question about how those lights turned on…but there’s no question about how it made me feel.

I felt like he was there with me at one of his favorite places in the world. I felt that connection so much that it made me laugh as if he was in the room and had just told me a silly dad joke or was singing one of his dad-joke morning wake up songs. I loved it so much that I took a picture and acknowledged his presence and how hilarious he must think he is.

But as much as I loved it, I’m closing the bathroom door before bed tonight.