The Top of the World

The Top of the World

There are places to have dinner, and there are, well, places. Full the full effect, see the complete image.

If you go far enough up the Thunder River Trail from the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, or down from the North Rim, you reach the Esplanade — a wonderful table top plateau that affords an unparalleled view of the canyon. Bob Ribokas has some wonderful photographs of this region as well.

You feel like you own the world, while at the same time so insignificant as to be beneath contempt. That's the Canyon for you. Both empowering and belittling, it seeps through you in ways you're not aware of until it's too late. Meanwhile, it thrills you with sunrises that have you leaping out of your sleeping bag and sunsets that must be experienced to be believed.

It's not bad to feel humble and omnipotent simultaneously. You just need to know to which voice to listen at any particular time. I don't know about you, but I'm still working on it.

Driving Home

Driving home to Sonoma from work in Oakland.