#ThrowbackThursday: Each Thursday, I revisit a past adventure and publish more of the story than made the first cut.. Beginning the series, I will be recounting parts of the Gypsy Trip – a cross-country endeavor in 2010. 

For someone who has driven across the country a few times and roadtrips as often as absolutely possible, I have a terrible sense of direction. I do not have that innate sense some people have of just knowing which direction to go. Usually my gut is completely off and I end up somewhere I never wanted to be (like East St. Louis). And on the rare occasion when my gut is actually right, I NEVER listen to it because it is so often wrong that I have learned not to trust it.

Basically, unless I have very accurate turn-by-turn directions and a great cell signal, I’m unlikely to get anywhere by the most direct route. Instead, I will spend half the trip turning around and the other half of the trip going, “Do I want North? or South? I’m just not sure what I’m supposed to do! Which way IS North, anyway?” All this being said, I’ve been lost in some really great places.

One of those was the Grand Canyon.

We planned to go to the South Rim of the Canyon. We ended up at the North Rim. How, you may wonder? Well, instead of leaving our campground and heading South – like we should have – I navigated the driver north and then went to sleep. Imagine my surprise an hour later when I woke up.

If you’re planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, there are many differences between the North and South Rims. The North Rim is a bit more temperate – we hiked an easy trail without getting dehydrated. I ended up with heat stroke at the South Rim one August with my family. (Bring – and drink – lots of water. Don’t be a stubborn 16 year old.) For more information, check out the National Park Service’s website.