Backpacking (kind of...)

Okay, so here WAS the plan... since we're getting ready to go on a backpacking trip to Havasupai Falls, we thought we'd go on an overnighter just to try out our back packs. We thought we'd pack like we were going on a longer hike and just hike around for several hours just to make sure we had everything we'd need, and make sure our back packs were fitted right. James had mapped out where we'd go - the perfect short hike with great places to take pictures. The cactus was just starting to bloom... it was the perfect day...

The old road had been closed so we took the new route - right through a sandy dry creek bed. A VERY SANDY dry creek bed. Right when we hit the sand we sunk! So we thought, okay, we'll just get out of here and be on our way. Wrong. James has taken his Range Rover everywhere and never been stuck like this!

James became the operator of the jack. He'd jack it up, Terry would dig out and put down the grate (thank goodness we had that!), then James would try to drive it out of the sand. He'd go about 10 feet, it would get buried again, and they'd start the routine over again...
At first Nicole & I helped out, but then we were just more in the way, so we sat beside a bush in the shade and cheered them on.

Terry digging the wheels out...

They did this routine between 10-15 times! We lost count. When we first got stuck we emptied out the back of the car to reduce weight, so when we finally got UNSTUCK, our backpacking trip consisted of hauling our back packs back through the sand to the car.

We drove to a rocky spot and got out to rest. By then it was time to eat dinner and set up our tents. So much for hiking... but we had a great time anyway! We had a lot of laughs, great dinner, great company, and a great night's sleep under a full moon.

The next day on our way home we saw this full horse skeleton.

Perfect racoon tracks - aren't they cute? They look like tiny people tracks!