Old Brown of Bryce Canyon (Part 8 of 8)

When it was time for dinner, Mom and Dad asked us about what kinds of things we did with Old Brown. They seemed charmed that we could turn an old fallen tree with all its bark missing and all the branches broken off into a horse that gave us so much fun.
That night we hiked over to an amphitheater where a forest ranger gave us a slide show of the history of Bryce Canyon, as well as a look at some of the harder to reach areas of the Park. When we returned to our tent. It was very dark and we soon went to bed, making sure that we said our prayers first.
In the morning, Mom made pancakes for breakfast. Each child was assigned to help with at least one meal. It was my turn this time and I got to help make the hot chocolate. As I stirred the pot of chocolate that was over the Coleman stove, Dad was shaving. Christopher, Lisa, and Julie put shaving cream on their faces and scraped it off.
While we ate breakfast, Dad urged us, "You’d better eat really well, because right after this we are going to go on a hike on the Navajo Loop Trail."
Sure enough, as soon as the breakfast dishes were done, we said goodbye to Old Brown and piled in the station wagon and drove the short distance to the Navajo Loop trail-head.
This was very interesting since the trail started at the canyon rim and went down from there. We quickly descended down the switch backs and got to a place with benches. The walls of the canyon rose hundreds of feet above us and were so close together that it was more like we were in a tunnel. We then hiked along the canyon floor for a while. We had seen so many of the attractions of Bryce Canyon from up high. It was neat to be able to go down in them for once. Then we rose back up as we hiked the trail that led us back to the canyon rim.
All too soon, the days passed and it was time to go back home. Almost tearfully, my sisters and I said goodbye to Old Brown. The years have caused that old fallen tree to disappear entirely. But in my mind’s eye, I can still see my brothers and sisters and my parents riding on Old Brown through all eternity and enjoying every moment!

Coming Tomorrow: Quesodillas