Friday May 14, 2010

Once again we were up and at ‘em at an earlier hour than is reasonable. We wanted to get going so we could photograph as many locations as humanly possible. We were entering the Park at 7:30 AM.

The weather, despite the prediction, was overcast and in the north it looked like rain. That was not promising, as we will be shooting most pictures towards the north. Well, we have seen some dramatic pictures of the Grand Canyon in difficult weather. We’ll have to look at the possibilities.

We scoped out the parking spots yesterday that would be closest to our starting point. The Park has rules about where RV’s can park and so we wanted to be sure to find a good spot that was also “legal”.

We ate some toast and peanut butter in the parking lot and then began our hike to the beginning of the trail. The Grand Canyon has really perfected the art of moving people. Over thirty years ago they devised a free bus system for the busiest part of the park. Visitors can board and exit at the many available vista points. Buses come every fifteen minutes. Even though this is the middle of May, the place is bustling already. Can’t imagine it in the summertime.

The morning weather is iffy, with a little sun and a lot of clouds. We move from stop to stop, snapping pics and hoping to stay ahead of the rain. At almost every stop, someone asks others to take their picture. Some just want a record shot; others want to stand precariously on an edge so that they can show the folks at home where they are and how fearless they are. One guy who was a long distance runner from Los Angeles, stopped at one of the vistas (he was running, not riding like we wimps!) he pulled out his cell phone. From the edge of a cliff he “reached out and touched someone” via AT&T. Gotta love it. He told us that he was going to RUN 46 miles tomorrow down across and up the canyon to the North Rim. Sure would like to be able to consume his caloric intake for a day.

At another stop, we spoke with a couple from Arkansas. Sounded like seeing the Grand Canyon was a religious experience for the fellow. He repeated several times in our conversation about the hand of God in creating this natural wonder.

Here’s a trivia question for you: What two things can astronauts see from outer space? Answer at the end…no cheating…

Overlook Point, Powell, Mojave, Pima, Hopi, Hermit’s Rest…each stop had a different angle on the Canyon. The weather continued to change and so the lighting had dramatic shifts. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the lookouts in the Park during the Depression. Beautiful rocks and sturdy railings make most of areas safe and accessible. The buses used to transport visitors are handicap accessible. In fact, we watched an elderly man exit the bus with his daughter. As the father approached the steps to the curb, the bus driver hit a magic button, which gently lowered the vehicle so that the gentleman just took a regular step as he left the bus. Wow. The bus also had wheel-chaired people able to visit the park.

We met a couple from Belgium who are visiting the States for two weeks. They flew into Phoenix and are going to spend the next two weeks touring the country, hitting many National Parks. They will end their trip in San Francisco. We had a very interesting conversation with them and asked them about traveling in Europe. We have thought about a boat trip down one of the European rivers. They frowned and encouraged us to rent a car. Gulp. They both spoke English very well. They explained that the Belgians who live in the Flemish part of Belgium learn English as a matter of course.

Rain was overtaking our travels. It began to drizzle and the dark clouds hung over the Canyon like a blanket over the area. While it was not the weather we imagined, it did make for some very dramatic imagery.

By the time we arrived at the last stop on the main route, Hermit’s Rest, we were ready for one. We bought a couple sandwiches a cup a coffee and a great big cinnamon bun for two. Yum. A very friendly squirrel, called an Abert Squirrel, cozied up to us. Dennis obliged him by giving him some morsels of the sugary delight. The squirrel obliged by posing. When we were finished, Dennis laid the paper plate on the ground and the squirrel cleaned the plate so no trace of food was left. The snack bar could probably reuse the plate. Just kidding.

Hermit’s Rest was built in 1912. One of its hallmarks is a fireplace so large you can stand in it. Another is an arch with a bell. It is said that those who stand under it are blessed with good luck. There were lots of people looking for luck today.

Being at the Grand Canyon is similar to being at Niagara Falls. If you sit and listen, there is a cacophony of voices in so many tongues. Italian, French, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, and Spanish languages were heard today. In fact, while we were waiting for a bus today, Dennis was seated next two young Koreans. The one was reading a book about the Grand Canyon. It was obviously not in English. Dennis asked the one guy what language it was. He said, “Korean”. Dennis said, “I knew that. I can read it. It says (as he pointed to a line in the book) the Grand Canyon is a very big place.” The two Koreans roared.

By 3:30, we were both zapped and decided to head back to the campground (just one mile from the Park’s south entrance). Going to do some laundry, look at our pics and post this blog!

Tomorrow we will rise early, catch a few last images and head towards the Hoover Dam via Route 66.

Trivia answer: Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon!