Havasu Falls was a bust!  We didn’t make it because we kept getting confused on the dirt road of  Rte. 347.  There were many forks in the road with no directions, and the GPS kept losing us on the map.  We read the signs–that is, the spiritual ones– and made the decision to spend the next three days at the South Rim, instead.  No regrets!  The Grand Canyon is awe-inspiring!  It must be experienced, because one can never capture it in pictures. We had a blast hiking the Rim Trail and the Bright Angel’s Trail, taking in this wonder of the world.

So, it seems that my Lyme’s disease has subsided, hopefully, for good. I had no major problems, and we hiked every day for nine days except one.  I still have some pain in the arch of my right foot and am now using arch supports in my shoes. (Thanks again to the advice of my knowledgeable physical therapist).  I didn’t have any problems with the sun, but I did use a 55 SPF sunscreen, a garish yellow sun-protective jacket, and a floppy hat.  Only time will tell it the disease is really gone.  I’ll just have to wait and see if I get any “flare-ups.

Well, I’ve been on doxycycline for a little over a week, now, and I appear to be getting better!! Yay!  I could actually kneel in church this past Sunday, whereas I couldn’t the week before.  In addition to that, I jogged 2.5 miles and worked-out on the treadmill without my knees swelling or my hip getting stiff. I still can’t completely crouch without my knees hurting, but hopefully, when I finish the medication, I will mend completely.

The big question is this: Should I still plan to hike 10 miles to Havasu Falls in Arizona two weeks from now?

I planned this trip for Shawn and me this past winter.  Now, that our children are old enough to be left alone and are independent, Shawn and I are taking the time to do some more traveling that we couldn’t do when they were younger.  This is a big deal because I actually planned for us to hike 10 miles down into a canyon to see Havasu Falls and camp in a sleeping bag in a tent overnight!  This is something we haven’t done since we were engaged.  I’m not fond of camping, it is a lot of work.  But this trip is on my bucket list, and I want to do it before I get too old.  We had also planned to hike back the 10 miles the next day, but I think we will skip that and opt to take a helicopter back to the trail head, instead.  There are only three ways that you can reach Havasu falls: helicopter, mule, or hike.

Another concern is hiking in the Arizona sunlight.  Doxycycline has a side effect of causing extreme sun-sensitivity.  Therefore, I have purchased a UV protective wide brim hat and a UV protective light jacket.  Of course, I will also use a sunscreen with a high SPF, but I might also consider wearing pants.  It depends on how hot it is.  We’ll see.

Eight miles into the hike, down in the canyon, there is a little Indian village called Supai and a campground nearby. Instead of carrying a tent and sleeping bags, we are renting them and having them sent to the Supai post office.  After eating a big dinner at the Supai cafe, we will camp over night and then send back the camping equipment the next day. This will keep our backpacks light.

This trip is on my bucket list.  I’m looking forward to the crystal blue-green waterfalls against the red canyon backdrop, the camping experience for “old time’s sake,” the viewing of a multitude of stars in the Arizona sky, and the opportunity to spend some quality time alone with my husband.  Hope my joints cooperate!