11..., Lifestyle

11… Things I Learned Camping the Grand Canyon

Two and a half months ago, I road tripped to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon (again), and Santa Fe. It was a pretty spectacular trip if I do say so myself. I had to curb my chit chat because I’m sure everyone was tiring of my Canyon anecdotes. It was a trip I had been wanting to take for a long while. I went with one expectation: a view. Everything else, I would figure out on my own in the midst of it. 

I haven’t been camping since my 15th birthday party. And that was a camping in Iowa twenty minutes from my bed for a night with friends kind of a camping “trip”. I had never been camping camping. The good luck kind of camping trip. Not only was I camping for the first time in half my life, I was camping the Grand Canyon, where the nearest Walmart was 75 miles away. Oh, and I did it alone. 

Hopping in the car and driving away from my very cushy bed, I knew there were only two options for this trip: 

  1. I would LOVE it.
  2. I would HATE it. 

Luckily, I loved it. Truly, deeply loved it. In a subtle yet distinctive soul shifting fashion. 

Driving West into Arizona, the sun rose revealing mountains, plains, cliffs, plants, and life glowing gold in the early morning light. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I drove on. So much of what I do revolves around social justice with a focus on gender and racial equity. I’m not ignorant of this country’s history. Living in a city that has washed away every trace of the Native People makes it easy to forget I live on stolen land. But something about that particular drive, taking in the landscape, I was overwhelmed with the weight of my own privilege and the suffering that has occurred across the country in the past and in our present. 

Four hours away from the Grand Canyon, I knew I wanted to use this trip as more than an excuse to center myself, connect with nature, and take a break from the hustle of life. I was going to learn. As much as the Canyon itself has so much information to offer, I have always been more interested in the stories of people. I wanted to learn about the people who lived and died by the Canyon long before colonizers arrived. I needed to make it a point to honor the Indigenous People who continue to live and fight for their land. 

I drove straight to the canyon rim and looked on with awe. Then I turned around and walked straight to the book shop. Duh. I bought a bunch of books and asked rangers and employees about which ones they suggest or were written by Native authors. Along my walks and hikes, I read every single plaque I came across. Stopping in Flagstaff on my way to Las Vegas, I found a bookstore that had an entire section dedicated to Native History and another bigger section dedicated to local Native history and authors. I ended up accumulating a lot of knowledge on my trip, and I’m still working my way through the books I bought. So I’m going to share some Grand Canyon knowledge. 

  1. Havasupai people lived and farmed inside the canyon at Indian Garden along what is now Bright Angel Trail until 1928. 1928! Less than 100 years ago. They were forced to leave by the National Park Service. 
  2. Uranium was discovered in the Orphan Mine in 1951. From 1956 to 1969, Uranium was extracted from a mine near the South Rim of the Canyon. I could see where it was while walking the Rim Trail. There are fences and signs all over essentially saying keep out with a fun twist saying “ecologically fragile,” but the meaning is actually along the lines of, ‘Stay out because this area is inundated with toxic and radioactive waste that hasn’t been cleared.’ So really, don’t sneak past those fences.
  3. The six major tribes living around the Grand Canyon are the Hualapai, Havasupai, Navajo, Hopi, Paiute, and Zuni people. They have inhabited the Grand Canyon plateau for a very long time. 
  4. Mary Colter, a prominent architect, designed some of the most famous buildings in Grand Canyon National Park, including Desert View Watchtower. In the male dominated field, she managed to create an architectural aesthetic that would last and influence the American West for generations. 
  5. Humans have been living in and around the Grand Canyon for 12,000 years, at least, that’s how old the oldest documented human artifacts are. White people arrived via Norse settlements on the continent as early as the tenth century… So the Grand Canyon was inhabited a casual 11,000 years—give or take—before white people started fucking shit up.
  6. What looks like mountain goats are actually bighorn sheep. They’re cool. I saw a family of them, hiking the South Kaibab Trail.
  7. The Hualapai Tribe built the famous Skywalk that projects 70 miles over the canyon with a glass floor. It’s one of the most visited attractions in Grand Canyon West, and when you’re visiting it, you’re supporting the tribe instead of the federal government. So much of the Grand Canyon belongs to tribes, who benefit from that tourism. Make sure to be respectful, take the time to learn about their history, culture, traditions, and obstacles they face in today’s era. Oh, you should check because many require reservations in advance.
  8. There is a North Rim and South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. South Rim has more amenities and is the more visited of the two rims. It’s where I went, solely because there were no campsites available on the North Rim, which is known as being quieter and more remote. Though the two lodges are only ten miles apart if you hike through the Canyon, the drive takes five hours and 215 miles to go from one to the other. 
  9. The Canyon can be a luxury getaway or a wilderness exercise. I chose to lean more toward the latter. I camped on the South Rim, which has hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, rentals, campsites, a post office, general store, and so many amenities. I didn’t have any cell reception or internet access, but I definitely did not feel like I was in the wilderness… until I went below the rim. As the signs make sure to drive home the information: Once you go below the rim, you’re on your own. Rescue is not guaranteed, and even if help comes, it could be a good long wait. On all but Bright Angel Trail, the water you have is the water you have. There’s a sense of good luck and don’t be stupid every time I hit the trail. The further you go, the less people there are. On the South Kaibab Trail, I went well past Skeleton Point for a total of nine miles round trip. I didn’t see a single person from mile two to mile eight and a half. There was also a big storm, so the experience was a tad frightening at certain points.
  10. The Grand Canyon Pink Rattlesnake, or crotalus oreganus abyssus, is only found in the Grand Canyon, especially prevalent along the North Rim. It is venomous, so if you see one, do not approach. 
  11. There is one hotel inside the Canyon. When I say inside the Canyon, I mean it’s on the floor of the Canyon. Half a mile from the confluence of Bright Angel Creek and Colorado River, it was designed by Mary Colter. There’s a lottery for reservations that is pulled thirteen months in advance. There are three ways to get there. Raft the Colorado River. Take a mule. Or a ten mile hike via Bright Angel Trail or a seven and a half mile hike via South Kaibab Trail.

You could spend a lifetime exploring and researching the Grand Canyon, which many people have done and continue to do, so this is really just a highlight reel of interesting things I learned. The moment I left, I couldn’t wait to go back. I’m ready for my next adventure. 

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna

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11..., Lifestyle

11 Things About Hiking

If you know me, you know I avoid exercise like the plague. I consider hiking pseudo exercise because I don’t avoid it quite like the plague. 

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Hiking in Carson City, Nevada. | Sports Bra | Yoga Pants |

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Hiking in improper footwear in Lake Tahoe. | Jeans | Sweater | Shoes | Purse

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Looking at the gorgeous views outside Carson City, Nevada. | Camera Backpack | Sweater | Shoes | Yoga Pants |

  1. I don’t live and have never lived anywhere hiking can be done on a regular basis, so I only hike on vacation. This allows me to maintain the allusion hiking is super duper fun. 
  2. You can entice me into a hike for a good picture. 
  3. Hiking doesn’t suck when I’m with people I genuinely like. Exercise is unpleasant, so when I hike with people I don’t truly enjoy being with, I want to punch people.  
  4. If there’s a waterfall, I will really hike for that. 
  5. I’m a big fan of getting where I’m going. This factor is multiplied when I’m hiking. I will stop when I need to. Otherwise, I am a one direction, uphill, mountain climbing machine.
  6. Humidity doesn’t bother me, even when I’m hiking. 
  7. There is a very good chance my hike will double in length before I’m done. This usually happens because I accidentally took a wrong turn or decided I’m superwoman and wanted to go farther before remember I’m not. 
  8. I always feel like I’ve lost sixteen pounds after hiking. 
  9. When hiking with my bestie or boyfriend, I like to be ridiculous by making them wear matching shirts or in a more recent instance cat ears. 
  10. My favorite places to go hiking are Steamboat Springs Colorado and my new favorite place Lake Tahoe. They’re super beautiful, full of mountains, and great for picture taking opportunities. 
  11. The best compliment I’ve ever received was when I went hiking in Colorado with my boyfriend. I made him hike like there’s no tomorrow. He’s a retired Marine. He said hiking with me is “worse than the Crucible.” Best. Compliment. Ever. 

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna

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Soaking up the sun in Carson City, Nevada. | Pants | Sports Bra |

Experiences, Style, Travel

So Long, Jacksonville

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At Bush International Airport bright and early to fly to Jacksonville. I DID pair a Spider-Man tee with a Pink Satin Pleated Midi Skirt! I’m so avant garde! | Shoes | Suitcase | Sweater | Purse | Belt | Earrings | Watch |

I love traveling. Obviously. I do it all the time. I last left Jacksonville a month and four days ago, so why am I back so soon?

Jacksonville, North Carolina is an interesting place. I was not immediately smitten. The process took a few years. Situated in swamplandia, it’s not much to look at. Their main claim to fame is the Marine Base: Camp LeJeune. Like most military towns, there is an abundance of strip clubs, pawn shops, used car dealerships, tattoo parlors, and barbershops because what else could a young military man want (and I do mean man, well maybe guy). The average age of the town can’t be more than 25 because the military is notoriously young. The natives are ambivalent towards the transient military community, but they manage to coexist in the dysfunctionally-functional way people trend toward. When a civilian finds out I’m in town visiting a guy in the military, their eyes glaze over and I receive a cursory nod and “Oh…” before they move on to more interesting clichés of life. Wealth is not evident, and the town feels like it would immediately implode if the military ever forsook them. There are pieces of history and beauty scattered throughout. A river runs through downtown on its way to the ocean, where you can find a wooden boardwalk sloping from age and water. A cobblestone block runs in front of a cute café. Historic buildings, Victorian homes with wrap around porches, and a white-steepled church make the area quintessentially small town cute. It did take me four and a half years to find this spot in town devoid of strip malls and other less than tasteful establishments.  

All of that said, I have a warm spot in my heart for this hiccup of place. What the town lacks, nature makes up for. People are genuinely kind, whether I’m military adjacent or not. Many are far from home, hailing from every nook and cranny of the country. Where the city stops, the ocean and forest immediately begin. You don’t have to drive more than fifteen minutes to find a beach. If you’re willing to go a little farther, you can find lighthouses and islands and the North Carolina of postcards. 

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The small town cute in downtown Jacksonville.

I have no desire to live in Jacksonville. There is a HUGE chance, I’ll never be within city limits after this trip is done.

I’ve been a frequent and enthusiastic visitor to Jacksonville, Camp LeJeune, and MCAS New River because it has been home to my best friend for five and a half years. After finishing boot camp and his MOS training, he was stationed as a helicopter mechanic at MCAS New River. I visited him for the first time in Jacksonville exactly five years ago to the day for Labor Day weekend. We went to beaches and reconnected after eight months apart. My life has changed immensely in those five years. I quit my jobs in downtown Chicago’s corporate America, which allowed me to see him more often and for longer. I started freelancing – aka bartending to pay the bills. I moved to Houston and freelanced – for realsies, no bartending necessary. I began a blog. I started traveling even more. I adopted a dog. I rediscovered the fuel of my spirit. Alex and I fell apart and reconnected. It’s been a journey. 

Throughout it all, I’ve been a regular visitor to Jacksonville, North Carolina. But this is my last trip. I’m not ditching Alex for a sparkly new best friend forever and always. He is leaving the Marines behind him. In a few days, he will be discharged after six years honorable years of service, three deployments, and a lot of sleepless nights to start his life a civilian somewhere in the world. I’ll have a new place to frequently and enthusiastically visit.  

So this is a last minute farewell tour of a town I would have never gotten to know or grown to love if it weren’t for the Marines. 

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna

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I’m looking very confused as to what to do with this sweater, while trying not to over heat in the 6:00 am heat of Houston, Texas.

Blog + Dog, Travel, Travel Guides

How to Road Trip

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God, my car needs washed. Yuck.

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Isn’t she the cutest being in the entirety of all the universes???

Fly.

Just kidding.

Get a driver. 

Preferably one with a license and opposable. 

I’m kidding. Kind of. I love(ish) driving. I might be getting tired of road trips. Ergo, the driver comment. Twenty hours, give or take, in the car a couple times a month is a little bit like dying slowly alone in a box on wheels. That’s hyperbole. It’s like running a marathon; except, I’ve never run a marathon, so that is also a guess. It’s kind of terrible. I, also, am kind of addicted. Obviously. Expensive but still cheaper than heroine, I’m told. 

The first twelve hours feel like a bad TV marathon, but you’re too lazy to get up and change the channel back when the dial was on the TV. The next five hours are when you hit the too-delirious-to-give-a-shit phase. This is the money zone. I love that zone. It’s when my voice is the right amount of shitty and perfect for belting out all the songs I should never try to begin with. The last hour or three are the worst because I’m sooooo close but still 183.29 miles to go. That’s the math phase. If I were to go over the speed limit – I never do, for realsies, ask my best friends – I could make it there in two hours if I manage to average 98.5 miles per hour. Again this is fantasy because I’ve been in the car for 18 hours, and I’m ready to offer myself to my ancestors by way of seppuku to get out of this damn aluminum transportation device. 

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Peace out North Carolina! Actually, this was taken in Galveston, Texas. Shhh….

I like road tripping because I can take my dog. Beau doesn’t fly. I’m too poor and she’s too dog to fly. It’s also convenient to have a car at my end destination. I hate relying on people. Unless, it’s my best friends forever and always til the Big Crunch because where would I go without them anyways? It tends to be cheaper than flying but not always. I can bring as much ridiculous crap as I want without having to pay for checked bags. Who knows! I might need those seven pairs of shoes, a ballgown, all of my makeup, 26 books, and a yoga mat – I don’t do yoga, but I could be inspired on this latest adventure. You just don’t know!!! AND the apocalypse might happen or a house fire or I can’t stand the people I’m visiting all of a sudden out of the blue, and I don’t want to sleep on the sidewalk or a bench beating people away with a stick from stealing my stuff, so I bring my car because I can sleep in it push comes to shove. 

Any who… I’m leaving North Carolina this evening on the next leg of my road trip extravaganza. Let me know if you want a recording of the singing happening between hours fourteen and sixteen tonight. 

bisous,
Your Tired Blogger Friend

Travel, Travel Eats

Crawfish Boil 2019

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More people came before and after. We had fun. Can you find me?

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The last batch!!!

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Me, Mom, and my Aunt!

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My cutie patootie cousin!

Family is one of those complicated things. I have not always been close with mine. Extended family were around when I was younger, but they were never a huge part of my life especially in my teen and adult years. No one person’s fault, life just works out that way. I was also in a weird age bracket. I was the oldest by a lot (my brother not included) of my first cousins. The extended cousins were either much, much older or much, much younger. Now, as I’m nearing 30, my cousins view me as an adult like them [yay, finally!!!], or I get to be the fun much older cousin.

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The chef, my cousin, sharing the plunger of honor to cook the crawfish. It’s a thing. I promise.

In March, I went on a cruise for my Grandma’s 80th birthday. I hadn’t seen the aunts, uncles, or cousins in about fourteen years. I fell a little bit in love with them. While I was there, I was invited to my great aunt’s 80th birthday party in Maryland over Memorial Day weekend. The cousins I stayed with in Germany – eight years ago – throw an annual crawfish boil, which made the perfect birthday gathering.

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Kelsey pulling her weight in the… kitchen.

I would just like to inform you, my family has this ‘All Are Welcome’ attitude. I found out I come by that trait genetically. There was a swirl of cousins, aunts, uncles, relatives by marriage, friends, and strangers. As an introvert, I am not comfortable in crowds but I also hate feeling like an outsider. I hadn’t seen a lot of my family in a very long time, but they never made me feel like I wasn’t included. I wanted my bestie to see my grandma and also because I wanted someone to be able to lean on and know in a crowd. My family made her feel right at home and kept our plates well stocked.

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Precooked crawfish. Still alive and pinchin’.

This part of my family hails from New Orleans. I spent a huge amount of time there growing up, so it feels like home for me too. They moved all across the country; many are on the East coast. New Orleans is known for food. There’s nothing quite as Louisiana as a crawfish boil. Almost 200 pounds of crawfish were brought in fresh and consumed. I can’t really explain the scale of this party because it was immense. My great aunt is loved, so she brought in a crowd. My cousins are loved and make friends everywhere they go. Throughout the course of the afternoon, there had to have been close to 200 people at the party. Everyone had a blast and ate their fill of crawfish, shrimp, sausage, potatoes, corn, and mushrooms. I’m a fan of crawfish boils. Enjoying one surrounded by family made it even better.

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Kelsey trying crawfish for the VERY first time.

The food was amazing. The fun was even better. It’s been a long time since I have been to a party quite like that. Even longer since I was surrounded by family. I had a blast. I can’t wait to make it next year.

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Kelsey and I.

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Me sucking the head. Also a thing.

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Mama getting her crawfish on.