“Where the River Curves and Courage Rises”

As I was leaving Kanab, Utah on my way to Florida, I stopped by a place I’d seen in pictures many times as a kid and always wanted to visit in person: Horseshoe Bend. I pulled into the parking lot and noticed a line. I didn’t think there was a fee, but when I got to the gatekeeper, he said, “$10 please — and it’s dog friendly.” I figured, hey, I paid the money, might as well give it a shot.

As I got out of the car, I noticed there were a lot of people. I was really concerned about how Faith would act around the crowd — this was the first time Winston had been on the road, let alone in a crowd. The guy said, “Just follow the trail,” so we did.

The walk was about a mile and a half round-trip, and with the temperature at a pleasant 70°, it wasn’t bad. We finally reached the bend and got to look down and take a picture. There were different elevations you could climb up to, with railings for safety, and I managed to get a good photo considering how many people were there.

We turned around and made the trip back up the hill, stopping a few times along the way at shaded shelters placed for people who needed a break from the heat and the walk. We sat next to a couple and their baby, and both dogs did wonderfully.

We finally made it back to the car, and it felt like a real accomplishment — conquering my fear of adventuring alone, and watching the dogs meet strangers with calm and curiosity. Now I have a photo of a place you’ll see on most screensavers. Well worth it.