The Great Grand Canyon Disc Golf Adventure

Packing Wanderlust

Wanderlust was packed. Backpacks, binoculars, maps, snacks, flying discs, and enough supplies to outfit a small expedition.

Jo stood at the rear doors, trying to fit one last bag inside.

Max: "Jo, we're going to the Grand Canyon, not moving there."

Jo: "You never know what you might need."

Rabbit: "According to my checklist, we're ready."

Henry: "Are we leaving?"

Joe: "Are we there yet?"

Richard: "We haven't even started!"

Crow: "This is going to be a very long trip."

The Long Ride

Everyone had finally squeezed into Wanderlust.

Richard unfolded his enormous map. Henry watched the passing scenery. Joe wriggled between the backpacks.

Joe: "Are we there yet?"

Jo: "No."

Joe: "How about now?"

Max: "We've traveled approximately three miles."

Rabbit: "Please remain calm. I have a travel schedule."

Crow: "I recently visited a conspiracy of ravens."

Rabbit: "I don't believe in conspiracies."

Crow: "Well, a gathering of ravens is called a conspiracy. A gathering of crows is called a murder."

Richard: "A murder?"

Crow: "That's correct."

Max: "Hmm. Murder, conspiracy. Strange birds."

Crow: "HUMPH! No comment."

Jo: "I think you've offended him, Max."

Max: "I was merely making an observation."

Crow: "And I'm merely reconsidering my traveling companions."

Joe: "Are we there yet?"

Last Chance Gas & Grub

Wanderlust pulled into the last stop before the canyon.

Jo: "Everybody out. Restrooms, snacks, and anything else you need."

Max: "This is your last chance."

Henry: "Last chance for what?"

Max: "The restroom."

Joe: "Why didn't we just use a tree?"

Henry: "There are trees everywhere!"

Max: "Because we're civilized explorers."

Joe: "We're part animals."

Crow: "He has a point."

Rabbit looked down at his clipboard.

Rabbit: "I'm adding a new category to the checklist."

Jo: "What's that?"

Rabbit: "Unforeseen bathroom discussions."

The Great Big Hole

The crew finally reached the Grand Canyon.

Everyone stopped.

Richard: "That's a REALLY big hole."

Henry: "I can't even see the bottom!"

Joe: "Can we throw something in it?"

Max: "Absolutely not."

Jo: "Just look at that view."

Crow: "I've seen holes before. This one is showing off."

The Adventure Committee

Jo and Max stood beneath the ancient, twisted tree, looking out across the Grand Canyon. The rest of the crew was still admiring the enormous hole.

Jo: "Max, I've got an idea."

Max: "Does it involve throwing things?"

Jo: "Possibly. We could play disc golf."

Max: "Golf?"

Jo: "With Frisbees."

Max: "Jo, we're standing beside a hole that's a mile deep, and you want to throw things?"

Jo: "Well, there's another possibility."

Max: "I'm almost afraid to ask."

Jo: "We could ride mules down into the canyon."

Max: "Jo, we've already got three boys, a rabbit, a wolf, a crow, and enough supplies to outfit an expedition. Now you want to add livestock?"

Jo: "Just a mule."

Max: "And who's riding it?"

Jo: "Well, you complained about your seat in Wanderlust."

Max: "I WANT MY SEAT BACK!"

Jo burst out laughing.

Jo: "Come on, Max. Let's put it to a vote."

Max: "I have a feeling I'm about to be outnumbered."

The Vote Is In!

The crew gathered beside Wanderlust, where Richard had spread out his enormous map. Henry adjusted his binoculars, Joe bounced excitedly on his paws, and Rabbit stood ready with his clipboard.

Jo: "All right, everyone! Max and I have been discussing our next adventure."

Henry: "Are we going exploring?"

Richard: "I've got the map ready!"

Joe: "Are we going to play something?"

Max: "We have two possibilities. A mule ride down into the canyon or a game of disc golf."

Rabbit: "I'll conduct the vote. All in favor of riding mules?"

Richard raised a wing. Wolf looked interested.

Crow: "Do mules fly?"

Max: "No, Crow."

Crow: "Then I'm abstaining."

Rabbit: "All in favor of disc golf?"

Henry's paw shot up. Joe raised both paws. Richard raised his other wing.

Joe: "Can we start NOW?"

Rabbit: "The votes have been counted."

Jo grinned at Max.

Jo: "THE VOTE IS IN! WE'RE PLAYING DISC GOLF IN THE GRAND CANYON!"

Max: "Somehow I knew that was going to happen."

Crow: "Democracy is a dangerous thing."

Rabbit: "I'll put that in the minutes."

Joe: "Do I get to win?"

Max: "We haven't even started, Joe."

Joe: "Just checking!"

A Word of Caution

The crew arrived at the trailhead, where an enormous caution sign stood beside the path.

Rabbit marched straight up to it, clipboard in hand.

Rabbit: "Before proceeding, we must review the safety regulations."

Joe: "All of them?"

Rabbit: "Every single one."

Max: "Finally! Someone who appreciates a little planning."

Rabbit cleared his throat.

Rabbit: "Steep drop-offs. Uneven terrain. Loose rocks. Extreme heat. Stay on marked trails. Carry plenty of water. Respect wildlife. No drones."

Crow: "No drones? What about birds?"

Richard: "You're not a drone, Crow."

Crow: "Just checking. I don't want to be grounded."

Henry: "What about flying discs?"

Rabbit studied the sign carefully.

Rabbit: "It doesn't specifically mention flying discs."

Max: "That doesn't mean it's a good idea!"

Joe: "So we're allowed?"

Max: "That's not what I said."

Jo: "Everybody stays together, nobody goes near the edge, and we follow the marked trail."

Rabbit: "Excellent. I'll add those instructions to the expedition rules."

Wolf: "And what happens if somebody breaks a rule?"

Crow: "We could hold a conspiracy."

Max: "NO MORE CONSPIRACIES!"

Joe was already holding up his orange disc.

Joe: "Are we ready to play?"

Max looked at Jo.

Max: "I should have taken the mule."

Jo: "Come on, Max. Where's your sense of adventure?"

Max: "Standing right next to my sense of self-preservation."

Richard and the Great Big Hole

Richard stepped forward, clutching his parchment map. His owl wings spread wide as he stared across the enormous canyon.

For once, the little navigator was speechless.

Richard: "WOW! It's HUGE!"

Henry: "You can see forever!"

Joe: "I wonder how far I could throw a disc?"

Max: "Don't even think about it."

Richard looked down at his map, then back at the canyon.

Richard: "This map doesn't do it justice."

Crow: "Perhaps you need a bigger map."

Richard: "It's already bigger than I am!"

Crow: "Then perhaps you need to be a bigger owl."

Henry: "Can you see the bottom, Richard?"

Richard leaned forward slightly.

Max: "Richard! Not so close!"

Richard quickly stepped back.

Richard: "I was just looking!"

Jo: "And that's exactly why we stay on the trail."

Rabbit: "I have that written down."

Joe: "How many times?"

Rabbit: "As many times as necessary."

Richard folded his map carefully.

Richard: "You know, I thought being an explorer meant knowing where everything was."

Jo: "Sometimes, Richard, the best part of exploring is discovering something bigger than you imagined."

Everyone stood quietly, taking in the magnificent view.

Then Joe broke the silence.

Joe: "So... who's throwing first?"

Max: "I knew that peaceful moment wouldn't last."

Disc Golf, Grand Canyon Style

The crew stood overlooking the winding canyon trail. Brightly colored flying discs dotted the rocky landscape, and somewhere in the distance was a disc golf basket.

Richard unfolded his map again.

Richard: "According to my calculations, the course goes along that trail."

Henry: "That's a very long trail."

Joe: "I can throw that far!"

Max: "Joe, you haven't even thrown your first disc."

Joe: "I'm warming up."

Joe swung his arm back and forth.

Rabbit: "Before we begin, we need to establish the rules."

Crow: "I thought we already had rules."

Rabbit: "Those were safety rules. These are game rules."

Max: "And I'd appreciate it if everyone remembered both."

Henry: "Where's the first hole?"

Richard pointed toward the distant basket.

Richard: "Over there."

Everyone stared.

Wolf: "That's a long way."

Crow: "Especially if you're walking."

Max: "Crow, you have wings."

Crow: "Exactly. I was thinking of you."

Jo laughed as Rabbit consulted his clipboard.

Rabbit: "Each player takes a turn. The object is to get the disc into the basket using the fewest throws."

Joe: "What happens if you get it in on the first throw?"

Rabbit: "That's called a hole in one."

Joe's raccoon ears perked up.

Joe: "And that means you win?"

Max: "Not necessarily. There are other holes."

Joe: "But you win that hole?"

Rabbit: "Technically, yes."

Joe grinned.

Joe: "I like this game!"

Jo: "All right, explorers. Remember, we stay together and keep our distance from the edge."

Crow: "And if anyone loses a disc, I'm not retrieving it from the bottom."

Max: "For once, Crow, we agree."

The crew started carefully along the trail, each carrying a brightly colored disc.

Rabbit checked one final box on his clipboard.

Rabbit: "Disc golf expedition officially underway."

Joe: "I'm going to win!"

Henry: "You haven't even thrown yet!"

Crow: "Confidence. He's certainly not short of that."

Max: "I have a feeling we're going to hear about this all the way home."

The Wall-Huggers

The trail had become considerably narrower.

On one side stood the towering canyon wall. On the other was a drop that seemed to go on forever.

The entire Rabbit Hole Crew was pressed against the rocks, clutching their flying discs.

Well, almost everyone.

Joe was still smiling.

Henry: "Does this trail get any wider?"

Richard: "According to my map, we're still on the trail."

Max: "Richard, I can SEE we're on the trail. What I want to know is how we get OFF it!"

Rabbit: "Everyone remain calm. Panic is not on the schedule."

Wolf: "Then you might want to revise the schedule."

Jo looked at Max, whose back was practically part of the canyon wall.

Jo: "Max, are you all right?"

Max: "Perfectly fine. I've decided to become a permanent geological feature."

Crow: "I'll tell future visitors where to find you."

Max: "Very thoughtful, Crow."

Henry tightened his grip on his disc.

Henry: "I think I'd rather be back in Wanderlust."

Richard: "Me too."

Rabbit: "I would like to propose an immediate meeting of the Adventure Committee."

Max: "Motion approved!"

Rabbit: "We haven't voted yet."

Max: "I DON'T CARE!"

Joe peered toward the distant basket.

Joe: "Hey! I can see the hole!"

Everyone turned toward him.

Jo: "Joe, stay right where you are."

Joe: "But I think I can make it!"

Henry: "From HERE?"

Richard: "That's impossible!"

Crow: "I've heard that before."

Max: "Joe, whatever you're thinking, stop thinking it."

Joe held up his orange disc.

Joe: "Just one throw?"

Rabbit looked at his clipboard.

Rabbit: "Technically, we haven't officially ended the game."

Max slowly turned toward Rabbit.

Max: "Rabbit, put down the clipboard."

Crow: "This should be interesting."

And Joe took aim.

Joe's Legendary Hole in One

Joe stood on the narrow canyon trail, his orange disc held high.

Everyone else remained pressed against the rock wall.

Max: "Joe, I am strongly advising against whatever you're about to do."

Joe: "I'm going to win!"

Henry: "You don't even know if you can throw that far!"

Richard: "The basket is on the OTHER SIDE of the canyon!"

Rabbit: "I believe this requires a special amendment to the rules."

Wolf: "I believe we should go home."

Jo: "Joe, be careful!"

Joe planted his feet, pulled back his arm, and let the orange disc fly.

Joe: "HERE IT GOES!"

The disc soared out over the Grand Canyon, catching the sunlight as it spun through the air.

Everyone watched, mouths open.

Henry: "LOOK AT IT GO!"

Richard: "It's still flying!"

Max: "Of course it's still flying. There's nothing underneath it!"

Crow launched himself into the air.

Crow: "I'LL FOLLOW IT!"

Rabbit: "Crow! Report back immediately!"

The orange disc sailed farther and farther across the canyon.

Wolf: "Can anybody still see it?"

Henry: "I lost it!"

Richard: "Crow's still following!"

Far across the canyon, Crow circled above the distant basket.

The disc dropped.

Crow swooped lower.

And then his voice echoed across the canyon.

Crow: "CAAAAAAW! HOLE IN ONE!"

Silence.

Everyone stared across the enormous gap.

Joe: "DID I WIN?"

Max looked at Jo.

Jo looked at Rabbit.

Rabbit looked at his clipboard.

Then, without a meeting, a motion, or a single additional vote, the entire crew shouted in perfect unison.

EVERYONE: "JOE! YOU WIN! TIME TO GO!"

Joe: "I WON! I WON!"

Max: "YES, YOU WON! NOW LET'S GET OFF THIS TRAIL!"

Rabbit: "For the record, that was a unanimous decision."

Crow: "And possibly the fastest one in Adventure Committee history."

Jo: "Everybody together. We're heading back!"

Joe threw both paws into the air.

Joe: "I WON!"

Max: "Something tells me we're never going to hear the end of this."

Crow: "I'd say that's a fairly safe prediction."

The Long Walk Back

The Rabbit Hole Crew made its way back up the narrow canyon trail, staying close to the rock wall.

Everyone was moving carefully.

Everyone except Joe.

Joe: "I WON! I WON! I WON!"

Joe bounced along the trail, his bushy raccoon tail swinging from side to side.

Henry: "Joe, we KNOW you won!"

Richard: "You don't have to keep telling us!"

Joe: "But I got a HOLE IN ONE!"

Max: "Joe, the entire Grand Canyon knows you got a hole in one."

Crow: "I believe they heard you in Utah."

Rabbit: "Please maintain an orderly procession. We are still on a narrow trail."

Wolf: "Can we make the procession move a little faster?"

Jo: "Carefully, everyone. We're almost back."

Joe raised both paws triumphantly.

Joe: "I'M THE CHAMPION!"

Max: "Joe! Both feet on the ground!"

Joe: "But I WON!"

Max: "And we'd like you to survive your victory."

Henry glanced back at the distant canyon.

Henry: "I don't think I'm ever playing disc golf here again."

Richard: "Next time, I'm choosing the adventure."

Rabbit: "All future recreational activities will require a written risk assessment."

Crow: "And a conspiracy of ravens to review it."

Max: "CROW!"

Crow: "Just offering professional consultation."

Jo chuckled as the crew finally reached the wider section of trail.

Jo: "Well, we certainly had an adventure."

Max: "Next time, Jo, we're playing miniature golf. On level ground. With fences."

Joe: "Can I play?"

Max: "Only if you promise not to win."

Joe: "I can't promise that!"

Rabbit: "I'll record that as a refusal."

The crew continued toward Wanderlust, tired, dusty, and more than ready to sit down.

Joe gave one final leap.

Joe: "I WON!"

Crow: "I wonder how many times he'll say that before we get home."

Max: "Don't count, Crow. Please don't count."

One Last Look

Before climbing back into Wanderlust, Jo stopped to watch the sun setting over the Grand Canyon.

Golden light spilled across the distant cliffs, and the canyon slowly settled into shadow.

Jo: "Wait a minute, everybody. Look at that sunset."

The crew gathered beside her.

Henry: "Wow. Look at all those colors!"

Richard: "It looks completely different from when we arrived."

Rabbit: "Sunset. An excellent time to conclude an expedition."

Wolf: "Especially this expedition."

Max: "For once, Rabbit, I couldn't agree more."

Jo raised her camera and captured the beautiful scene.

Jo: "There. One last photograph to remember our adventure."

Crow: "I believe we'll remember this adventure without photographic assistance."

Max: "Particularly the part where we nearly became permanent residents of the canyon wall."

Richard: "I'm glad we came, though."

Henry: "Me too. Even if the trail was scary."

Jo: "Sometimes an adventure doesn't turn out quite the way we planned."

Rabbit: "I've made extensive notes for future improvements."

Max: "Please put 'no disc golf beside enormous cliffs' at the top."

Crow: "Right underneath 'no conspiracies,' I presume."

Jo laughed.

For a few moments, everyone stood quietly watching the last light disappear.

Then a small voice broke the silence.

Joe: "That was the best day EVER!"

Henry: "Because you won?"

Joe: "YEP!"

Max: "There goes our peaceful sunset."

Jo: "Come on, everybody. Time to go home."

Crow: "An excellent suggestion."

And with one last look at the Grand Canyon, the Rabbit Hole Crew headed for Wanderlust.

Joe: "Hey, Max?"

Max: "Yes, Joe?"

Joe: "Did I tell you I won?"

Max: "Only about a hundred times."

Joe: "Just making sure!"

The Long Ride Home

Wanderlust rolled along the highway as the last colors of sunset faded from the sky.

Jo was driving, wearing her black Prepper Shops cap. Max sat beside her in his matching cap, looking considerably more relaxed than he had on the canyon trail.

Behind them, the mighty explorers had surrendered to exhaustion.

Henry was curled up with his binoculars tucked beside him. Richard's map lay folded on a backpack. Rabbit's clipboard had finally been abandoned. Wolf was fast asleep beneath a blanket, and Crow rested quietly on top of the luggage.

Joe was buried face-first in a pillow, his ringed tail sticking out from beneath a pile of camping gear.

For the first time all day, Wanderlust was completely quiet.

Jo: "Well, Max, that was quite an adventure."

Max: "That's one way to describe it."

Jo: "Everybody had fun."

Max: "Everybody survived. I'm putting that in the win column."

Jo chuckled.

Jo: "You have to admit, Joe made an incredible throw."

Max: "I admit nothing until we're safely home."

Jo: "And Richard did a wonderful job with the map."

Max: "Except for the part where it led us to the edge of a very large hole."

Jo: "Henry loved exploring."

Max: "And Rabbit has enough notes to write a government report."

They both laughed softly.

Max glanced over his shoulder at the sleeping crew.

Max: "Look at them. Not a sound."

Jo: "Wore themselves right out."

Max: "Even Crow is quiet."

From the luggage came a sleepy murmur.

Crow: "I heard that."

Max: "Of course you did."

Jo smiled and settled back into her seat.

Jo: "So, Max, where should we take them next?"

Max slowly turned toward her.

Max: "Jo."

Jo: "What?"

Max: "Please tell me you're joking."

Jo: "Well, I was thinking..."

Max: "NO."

Jo: "You haven't even heard my idea!"

Max: "That's what worries me."

Jo laughed, and Wanderlust continued down the highway.

A few peaceful miles passed.

Then, from somewhere beneath the mountain of pillows and backpacks, came a tiny, muffled voice.

Joe: "I won."

Max stared straight ahead.

Jo pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

Crow opened one eye.

Crow: "For the record, he's still undefeated."

Max: "I'm buying earplugs before our next adventure."

Jo: "So there IS going to be a next adventure!"

Max pulled his cap down over his eyes.

Max: "I walked right into that one."

And somewhere in the back of Wanderlust, a sleepy little raccoon smiled into his pillow.

Joe: "I won."

THE END

Until the next Rabbit Hole adventure...