A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to Agua Fria National Monument

I guess a few funny things happened on the way. For starters, I never actually went to Agua Fria Monument. Well technically I did. I turned at the exit. I even passed the sign that said "now entering..." But the next sign discouraged me. That one read "Not recommended for passenger cars". I assume that meant I was supposed to walk. Given the 100+ temps, I decided to get back on the road.

The "funnier" thing that happened along the way was that I felt peace. After 2 1/2 weeks of up and downs with the ex, I needed to wander. I needed to see if I could do it on my own and enjoy it as much. Just driving to the unexpected brought a sense of calm. The last week had included a text/email war/lovefest that bounced between happiness and complete mental exhaustion. The last 24 hours finally pushed me to the breaking point. The only option I could think of was to go wandering on my own to get my mind straight.

I decided to start small. I wasn't quite ready to try a lonely weekend in a tent without the person who I kept warm at night. Agua Fria seemed logical since it's only 45 minutes outside of Phoenix. But yet another funny thing happened while I was headed that direction. Along the way I thought maybe I had zoned out and passed the exit. Strangely, I thought "who cares?" and determined that I was just going to keep driving. Of course it would turn out I hadn't missed the exit. Luckily, I had already mentally prepared myself to keep going when I saw the passenger cars not recommended sign. Montezuma Castle was only another 45 miles and had been on my list of sights to see for a while. The choice was pretty easy.

At Montezuma Castle it felt strange getting out of the car and not having someone to wait on and put my arm around. I went back to the car twice once just because it seemed like I needed to and the second time to get my hiking bag and water. I entered the tourist center feeling awkward. I approached the person taking fees feeling awkward. I walked around the visitor's center feeling awkward. I would walk out onto the viewing trail feeling awkward for the last time.

For the first time, I could stroll the trail at my own slow pace. I could sit on the benches and stare at the ancient cliff dwelling for as long as I wanted. I could reflect on the knowledge that ancient peoples lived their daily lives in the very spots I was standing. It was peaceful and reflective even with all the kids complaining to their parents about the heat around me.

After touring the castle, I walked back into the visitor's center to look for a poster to frame (my newest hobby). I saw the poster for the castle and was thrilled that it matched the drawn likeness theme of my other posters. I noticed the Montezuma Well poster in the batch and knew I wasn't done wandering for the day.

Montezuma Well is a very interesting geological area. I won't go into the details because you can visit yourself or just Google it. The biggest takeaway and somewhat mind blowing revelation for me was that species exist there that have never been found anywhere else in the world: an odd shrimp, a water scorpion. An ecosystem like nowhere else in the world is only 90 miles outside of the "normal" world I inhabit every day. If I wasn't curious and I wasn't a wanderer, there is no way I would have learned such an intriguing fact.

I left the area only a few hours after I had entered, but I believe this trip may have been as significant as the trip I took to Payson with the ex. It was life altering because this was the day I realized the wandering spirit in me doesn't need someone else to bring it out. Although some day I hope I will find another woman who gets as much enjoyment from it as I do (or can at least tolerate it), I was capable of this type of spirit without any push.