Deborah Bazeley Wanderlust

Lifestyle, Travel & Fitness

Feel Good Blogging Challenge Day #2: The Time I was Almost Left at the Grand Canyon

24th October 2014 · 5 Comments

(If you haven’t done so already, please read Day #1: A Simple Introduction.)

Today’s challenge is all about explaining why I am passionate about what I do (ie. why I am passionate about travel and encouraging others to do the same.) Well, let me tell you a little story that I always fondly entitle, “The time I was almost left at the Grand Canyon”:

IMG_4982

 

The absolute darkness pressed in around my eyes as I watched car after car vacate the parking lot. I squinted at the small number of occupied spaces filled with scraps of metal and flash SUV’s, trying to decipher whether any of the cars could somehow give any indication of where my friend and his car had gone.

The sun had well and truly sunk its way down into the ground of the Grand Canyon on which I now stood, my feet still covered in its dust, clutching my tiny day backpack as though it were my life raft.

Grand Canyon Sunset

Here are some key facts that you should probably know at this point:

1. I had taken a road trip for the day from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon with two fellow travellers from the hostel that I was staying at.

2. The guy driving got himself into a massive mood (apparently all-night gambling and alcohol abuse are not conducive to driving long distances), and insisted on splitting ways. He told us to meet him back at his car at 6pm.

3. The other girl and myself spent an awesome afternoon together but decided that we wanted to spend sunset at different lookout spots, so we agreed to also meet back at the car at 6pm.

4. None of us had exchanged contact details of any kind, not even Facebook or email (you can see where I’m going with this, right?)

5. I didn’t know which car park we had parked in.

6. I didn’t know what the car looked like specifically or have its licence plate number.

7. Once the sun goes down, the Grand Canyon is incredibly dark and poorly lit for optimum star gazing. You can’t see a thing.

8. We were 8 hours from Vegas. I had to get on a bus from Vegas to LA first thing the next morning in order to catch my flight to Fiji the day after that. Basically, if I didn’t get back to Vegas that night, I was screwed.

‘Has this guy seriously just left me on the Grand Canyon?’

That was the one single thought I had as I wondered from car park to car park searching for the lost car. With every lap the lots got emptier and emptier as the cars left.

‘Surely he wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave me?’ I asked myself. I still had some of my belongings in his car, after all. With a sinking heart I recalled his irrationality earlier in the day and could only murmur, ‘Probably.’

Dammit.

The darkness was suffocating as I felt its clammy hands feel their way around my face before clamping firmly over my eyes.

I waited for the panic and the fear to overwhelm. For the inevitable falling apart and sobbing on the concrete.

Instead I became calm to the point of absolute inner silence and began figuring out my options: I scouted the area for a central meeting point to wait at, I ran through places/options for the night, and I even thought out a rough plan of the changes that would need to be made to my flights and buses.

This sense of calm originated from one simple fact: I had just travelled South America alone as a first time backpacker – as a single female no less – and survived. And I didn’t speak a word of Spanish. After I had accomplished that, I knew that I could cope with anything that life threw my way.

I.could.do.this.

So, I pulled out my head torch, checked to see what supplies I had in my backpack and rallied.

Eventually, the guy pulled up (“I was about to leave! I thought you must have left!” Yes, I took off in my magic wishing chair with Chinky, Mollie and Peter) and we drove back to Vegas.

I will admit that right before the guy showed up, I realised that I had left my android tablet in his car (my only form of communication as I didn’t have a phone), and I finally began to panic. The tears fell as I stood in the middle of three very empty parking lots with no one around the ask for help. I am only human, after all!

 

Grand Canyon selfie

 

And how does this relate to explaining why it is that I am passionate about what I do?

I am passionate about travel, and encouraging others through my blog to take the plunge and embark on the adventure of a lifetime, because of the lessons that travelling teaches us and the capabilities it compels us to realise that we possessed all along.

When you travel, you are routinely put into situations that force you to confront some of your biggest fears (being lost, alone, unable to communicate adequately, homeless, scared, uncomfortable…)

THIS is why I blog. Because travel changed my life. Its lessons are applicable to the everyday and the ordinary. And it is this sense of empowerment that I want to bring to those who read my blog.

signature2

   

Posted by deborah / Filed In: Life Lessons & Self Love, Lifestyle & Wellbeing, Places, Stories, USA
Tagged: Feel Good Blogging Challenge, Grand Canyon, Lifestyle & Wellbeing, USA

Comments

  1. randomlittlefaves says

    24th October 2014 at 2:19 am

    Great post and great story! So glad your friend found you and you didn’t have to stay there overnight by yourself! I agree that travel is a great way to put yourself in situations to learn more about yourself! Looking forward to reading more of your adventures! #feelgoodblogging

    Reply
    • deborah says

      24th October 2014 at 11:35 pm

      Me too – it would have turned into a very cold stressful night and a costly ordeal otherwise! Thanks for commenting 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Feel Good Blogging Challenge Day #3: How to Hitchhike (as safely as you can!) | Deborah Bazeley Wanderlust says:
    25th October 2014 at 12:52 am

    […] ← Previous […]

    Reply
  2. Feel Good Blogging Challenge Day #4: 10 Random Facts About Me | Deborah Bazeley Wanderlust says:
    28th October 2014 at 9:36 am

    […] support my blog. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it! Make sure you check out Day #1, Day #2 and Day #3 of this […]

    Reply
  3. What to pack in your hand luggage (a guide for backpackers) | Deborah Bazeley Wanderlust says:
    4th November 2014 at 9:17 am

    […] Day #2: The Time I was Almost Left At The Grand Canyon […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • The temptation to crash diet is REAL! | Getting Back On Track Series, Chapter 3
  • 10 reasons why you need to go travelling | Travel Inspiration
  • Hobbiton Tour, New Zealand: Review
  • Traveling with contact lenses & glasses: A Quick Guide
  • Gymshark Leggings Review

Recent Comments

  • Deborah on New Year’s Resolution Inspiration | Getting your New Year’s Resolutions off the ground
  • Kajal on New Year’s Resolution Inspiration | Getting your New Year’s Resolutions off the ground
  • “Intercity Milford Sound Day Tour” Review + Is Milford Sound worth the visit? | Deborah Bazeley Wanderlust on Review: Abel Tasman, Great Walk
  • Deborah on Feel Good Blogging Challenge Day #7: Not Everyone Can Go Traveling
  • Deborah on 26 things that I have learned in 26 years

Archives

  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • July 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013

Categories

  • Australia
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Everyday Wanderlust
  • First Time Backpacker Series
  • Fitness
  • Food
  • Getting Back On Track
  • Life Lessons & Self Love
  • Lifestyle & Wellbeing
  • Moving Abroad
  • New Zealand
  • Peru
  • Places
  • Solo Female Travel
  • South America
  • Stories
  • Things to do & places to see
  • Travel Advice
  • Travel Inspiration
  • Travel Packing & Planning
  • Travel Reviews
  • USA

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org

Theme by 17th Avenue · Powered by WordPress & Genesis