Thirty

funny.

patient.

wise.

level headed.

kind.

talented.

good.

This man has made my life better than I ever thought it could be. I don't remember a day since I have known him that I haven't laughed. And even though he doesn't care about his birthday. I do. I'm so grateful he was born. Happy Birthday Bob. I love you.

Our Epic Adventure {the rest of our trip}

Some highlights of our stay in Boulder City. 
1. Winning 85 dollars from the penny slots with just one dollar.
2. The Hoover Dam video.  Bob's favorite. 
3. The How I Met Your Mother shirt.
4. Vegan Donuts.
5. Finally getting a shower.

The last day we decided we better check out Hoover Dam.  It was pretty cool, but everything was expensive and it was super hot.  So we just looked around for a bit and drove home.

It took us forever just to get out of Vegas with the crazy freeways.  So we didn't get home until midnight.  I might have forgotten to mention that Bob had a really bad cold the whole trip, and it just kept getting worse.  So when we got home Bob and I had to head straight to the ER to get him checked out.  We didn't get home to bed until 4 a.m.  Needless to say, I slept the whole next day.

The trip was awesome.  It was something I could see doing again, and makes me want to push myself more.  I also am hoping this turns into somewhat of a tradition.  I'm thinking the four of us need to go to Yosemite next year and hike Half Dome or something. 

Speaking of our partners in crime.  A HUGE thank you to Ami and Jon. For not only being awesome travel companions. But for taking most of the pictures from the trip. I am still reeling that I didn't at least buy a disposable camera!  I did take this awesome one though.  Ah, the Honey Pig.  Thanks again for an epic trip guys.

Our Epic Adventure {Day Four}

I have very few pictures to show you of day four. Why? Because that hike was brutal. We actually cruised through most of the hike with ease since we didn't have our packs weighing us down on the way out. But the last part was Hell. (This picture the only taken on the hike out of our campgrounds, and thankfully the only creepy crawly we saw the whole trip.)

There is this long gradual incline as you approach the switchbacks that provides no shade, and is quite the workout. So by the time you get to the actual switchbacks you are worn out, and it feels like you will never reach the top. (This picture was taken after the hill and right before the switch backs.)

I was proud of myself for doing as well as I did. (I think it helped I was at the gym at least 4 days a week prior to going on the hike.) I'm not saying I did awesome, but I did okay. The part that I was the most proud of, was about half way up I was completely exhausted and Bob suggested we get an "old man" pace going where we got into a rhythm and not stop until we get to the top.

It was such a mind game to not stop every time there was shade. And honestly people thought we were crazy as we passed them by. But it was quite the accomplishment mentally. Especially for me, since I usually just stop when I'm tired, instead of pushing myself to my limits.

My mantra the whole time was "cheeseburger, french fries, ranch, diet coke" over and over, and believe it or not, it helped. :)

I will tell you what, when we got to the end there was a mix of wanting to kiss the ground, screaming, and falling over from exhaustion. But I also felt a lot of pride. It was hard, but worth it.(I told everyone we had to take our "after pictures, and as you can see we were all pretty done with that crazy hike.)

Bob was nice enough to get us all cold Popsicles and drinks, and drive us back to the town. We were covered in dirt and exhausted. We finally got to Boulder City (where we staying later that night) and ran to the showers. We ate a yummy dinner, and hopped in the jacuzzi and then collapsed in bed. Just one more post about the remainder of our trip and our epic adventure comes to a close.

Our Epic Adventure {Day Three}

{fyi, Blogger is driving me bonkers.  It won't let me seperate paragraphs.  It won't let me move pictures.  It occasionally doesn't let me publish my posts.  In short it's driving me crazy.}

We started our third day insanely sore and stiff. I broke into uncontrollable laughter in the morning. Bob thought I had a screw loose. I was doubled over laughing hysterically. I think it just struck me so funny that we had just done a brutal hike until our bodies were exhausted, and then kept hiking more. Then that night we ate horrible freeze dried food, and then "slept" in a tiny tent the size that I can only imagine was made for a child. And let's be honest, Bob and I are tall people. We were cramped.

After my fit of hysteria I pulled myself together and tried to walk. Once I started moving around I felt a lot better. So we got ready and hiked to Mooney Falls. Luckily it was only about a mile outside of the campground. And let me tell you, IT WAS AWESOME.

We first had to hike down this crazy Indiana Jones cliff. I felt like I was on some crazy adventure. You hike down through a cave, and clutch chains as you descend to the majestic waterfall that mists you as you go.

Once we got to the bottom, we jumped in the gorgeous, blue, and slightly cold water to swim and play. We even swam to the waterfall. Well as close as we could get without being pelted to death.

Then we hiked back up the crazy cliff (behind a very scared woman that took forever going up because she thought she was going to fall)

Then we headed to Havasu Falls (the big waterfall) to swim and play in the pools that surround it. The water was a little warmer there.

We then went back to camp to have lunch and dry off. We were all tired from the day, but decided we better hike back to Navajo Falls so we could see it. (We were leaving early the next morning to hike out.)

We are SO glad we went to see it. It was not only gorgeous, but it was one of the funnest things we did all trip. We were able to get behind the waterfall and jump out. (I am still kicking myself for not buying a waterproof disposable camera.)

When we got to the waterfall (which was VERY high) we saw a bunch of guys at the top looking over. So it came as quite a surprise as we saw them jump off one at a time. So of course Bob saw that and had to do it too. He said it was super scary not because of how high up it was, but because you can't see down to where you are jumping. He said it was like jumping off a cliff and not knowing where you were going to land. He was awesome and did it though. He was the only one from our group to do it, so you know it was adventurous.

We ended the night by eating more freeze dried MRE's and shoving ourselves into the tiny tents for our last night in Havasupai. More tomorrow on the brutal hike out. It was one of the hardest things I think I've done. And one of the things I'm most proud of that I have done physically and honestly.. mentally.

Our Epic Adventure {Day Two}

Day two was a long one. We started out at the crack of dawn. (And as you can see below, looked awesome that early in the morning.)

We got to the beginning of the trail and loaded our packs on our backs, visited the porta-potties, (since it would be a while since we saw another one) and I downed as much Diet Coke as I could before I had to say goodbye to my precious caffeine. (My name is Caitlin, and I'm an addict.) I'm not proud to say that I contemplated putting Diet Coke in my camel back instead of water.

We set out on our very long, very pretty hike.

 

Along the way we were kept company by a variety of animals.

 

The hike was long. The packs were heavy. (very heavy) So when we saw a gorgeous blue stream we kicked off our hiking shoes and jumped in. The water is amazing in Havasupai. It is otter-pop blue and really clear. Seriously gorgeous.

We finally came to the sign saying the village was close and we got excited. Unfortunately that sign was a liar. A dirty little liar. We walked and walked. We crossed bridges, we saw plenty more signs.. but the village was nowhere to be found.

 

Finally we stumbled upon the long dirt road into the village. I would have ran to the village store that had diet coke in it if I could have. Alas, my feet were swollen and sore, so I hobbled to it.

 

We rested, had lunch at their cafe. (Lunch was insanely expensive. 45 dollars for a cheeseburger, grilled cheese and Navajo taco. They helicopter everything in so I assume that is part of the reason why it's so expensive. We were so starving that I think I would have given them a kidney if they asked for it.)

We finally got a little energy, and pushed ourselves the last two miles to the campgrounds. We passed two gorgeous waterfalls along the way.

When we finally found a place to camp, we jumped in the stream running along side our campsite and bathed. Then we made our MRE's (which were not the best tasting things ever) and collapsed in our tiny tents to rest our sore bodies.

 

  On a side note, please feel free to mock me for the stylish knee brace. I was referred to as the "pro volleyball player" that day.

Our Epic Adventure {Day One}

About six months ago we (Bob, me, Ami, and Jon) decided we wanted to go to Havasupai. It's this amazing hike down the Grand Canyon that ends up at paradise. Otter pop blue waterfalls, amazing scenery, adventures galore.

So we booked it, and at the end of September we embarked on our adventure. Day one was mainly just driving. We stopped along the way and ate Japanese food and got yummy vegan donuts. (Who knew vegan donuts tasted just like regular?) We saw strange towns. (Santa Claus, and Hackenberry.) And drove into camp at the top of the Grand Canyon right at sunset.

We set up camp in the dark, and tried to get a little sleep before we started our hike at dawn the next day. It was freezing, and not super comfortable, but I awoke with a startling amount of energy for the hike. But more on day two tomorrow.