Thwarted Sunrise Hike At Papago Park
As I navigated through the last dark shades of pre-dawn, my path was suddenly obstructed by a city bus and a sheriff’s vehicle, its’ emergency strobe lights flashing brightly.
It’s 4:30 AM, and my first thought is, “I can’t wait to see the sunrise!” Eagerly getting ready, I head out to what I hope will be a breathtaking view from the well-known spot at Hole In The Rock in Papago Park, Phoenix. As I cruise down Interstate 202, the thrill of the open road and the allure of the unknown sweep through me, making every moment feel electric!
I gaze across the expansive valley, a sea of twinkling lights sparkles against the pre-dawn sky, each one a beacon of individual stories just waiting to unfold in the new day dawn. As I watch planes gracefully gliding toward the metro area, I can’t help but think their blinking lights are tapping out little messages of exciting adventures that await the travelers on board!
Then, as I pass the lights from hundreds of people zooming by in their cars, I can’t help but wonder about their travels, too. Where are they off to this early Sunday morning? Work? Church? Breakfast? Then I can’t help but smile as I see the guy in the car next to me joyfully car dancing along to his music.
Turning north off the 202, I can see the shadow of the mountain ahead of me. Every fiber of my being was buzzing with excitement at the thought of the short hike and the breathtaking sunrise awaiting me.
As I try to make my way to the park, though, I find myself repeatedly blocked by a combination of a city bus and a sheriff’s vehicle, which obstructs every possible route.
As the horizon painted itself in hues of orange and gold, the hope of reaching the sunrise on time slipped further away, transforming from a thrilling possibility into an elusive dream. As I embrace the adventure along the way, it is definitely beginning to feel like I am a mouse in one of those ‘find the cheese’ experiments as I am pushed further and further from my planned destination.
Now filled with a burning curiosity to uncover what was unfolding around me, I finally took a moment to chat with a friendly police officer, only to find out a sea of runners would soon flood the area as the Arizona Rock ‘n Roll running series concludes this morning along Scottsdale Road to Tempi with a half marathon and 10K run.
It's Time To Go
Life often throws us unexpected roadblocks. Today, it just happened to be preparations for a half marathon with over 12,000 runners.
Although I missed the opportunity to witness the breathtaking sunrise from the Hole In The Wall, I stumbled upon a profound truth: even in the depths of darkness, a glimmer of light always breaks through. We simply need to open our eyes and embrace the beauty that surrounds us.
Hi! I’m Kirsti, and for my whole life, I’ve been curious to know more.
I value what’s possible over the easily observable and believe a destination is less of a place to be and more of a new way of seeing the world.
I hope you will wander along.
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