#wanderlust

#wanderlust is my favorite hashtag of Instagram when I post my hiking photos. I don’t even know if it’s a real word… yes, I paused to go look it up, and sure enough, it’s a real word. Definition: a strong desire to travel. That does sum up my personality for the most part. Although I love to be home and enjoy the comforts of my house and gardens, there is something magnetic about the wonders of unknown territory to explore.

Throughout the years (especially 2020), I’ve learned that wanderlust doesn’t need to involve great amounts of money, luggage, or plane tickets. It can be as easy as filling up your gas tank and going an hour away from home in any direction. You may hike the same trail for the umpteenth time and realize that a sign that states “Area Closed to Bikers” doesn’t mean that it’s closed to hikers. When I made this realization on a very familiar path, I went down into a ravine and found a beautiful bubbling brook, complete with waterfalls, vivid green grass, and fascinating rock formations. On top of a cliff, there was a surprise I wasn’t expecting…

A very old man was sitting on a camping chair, with his golden retriever standing next to him. I honestly don’t know how he climbed the cliff wall to get to the top of the ledge, but it was evident that he had been sitting there for a while. He was as surprised to see me as I was to see him, but we were both happy to have someone to talk about the beauty of this secret desert gem. He told me stories of how high the water can rise after a summer monsoon, and how deep and treacherous the bubbling brook can become. He gave me ideas of where to go find hidden petroglyphs throughout the Sonoran Desert. It was a fun conversation, and when I turned to go, he made me promise one thing: keep this area a secret.

Let the other wanderers find it for themselves. Finding a surprise in the desert is the best gift in itself. Isn’t that the whole idea of wanderlust?