The Granyon

     We finally arrived in Grand Canyon National Park after two full days of driving across New Mexico and Arizona. Katie and I couldn't be happier. The drive did improved with our decision to take Route 180 instead of Route 10 and we drove through Apache National park.

We landed just before the sunset in time to set up the tent, eat, and fall fast asleep. We woke early the next day to set out and see the Granyon! (as we like to call it) This was my third trip to the canyon and Katie's second. We both came when we were younger with our family on vacation. What I remember most of that trip was when our Dad hiked us out onto some precipice and our Mom almost had a heart attack. On my second trip I white-water rafted the Colorado River for seven days with my best friend and her family. I was seventeen then and old enough to fully appreciate it. It was the trip of a lifetime and it left a huge impression on me. No matter how many times you visit, it never prepares you for the first glimpse. Too put it simply, it really is quite grand. It measures a mile deep, about three Empire State Buildings tall, and nine miles wide. When standing near the edge you understand how fragile we are and how quickly the canyon could swallow you up. One stumble, one trip, and it's all over. It humbles you. Katie and I walked the rim trail for a while and "oooo'd and ahhhh'd" at all the touristy spots. We only encountered one ungrateful child who proclaimed loudly, " Mommy, I want to play games on your phone!" When she denied him he exclaimed, "But there's nothing to do here!" Youth these days.

 One recurring theme did followed us throughout the day, dads. I mean there were dads everywhere. Dads in fanny packs and khaki cargo shorts. Dads with maps and binoculars reciting historic and geological facts. It was a dad free-for-all! So it was funny that over breakfast Katie and I had both remarked how we were thinking about our own Dad and the trips we used to take with him. As children he took us camping every summer to the back woods of Maine. It was "real" camping out on an island with no showers and no other campers. We loved it. I will say that both of our parents taught us the importance of respecting and appreciating nature but it was our dad who taught us to love camping. So we both had a giggle about the many tall-shocked and baseball cap wearing dads at the canyon that day and felt nostalgic about our camping adventures with our own one-of-a-kind dad. 

Later that day we had a nice siesta and were woken by some neighbors just passing through! It wouldn't be the last run-in we had with them.

Naturally we watched the sun set…….

and then it rise…….

and we were off again, but not before sharing a cup of coffee with Uncle Buck.

So here we are on the way to Yosemite National Park. It's another long day of driving but we got to pass through the Mojave Desert which entertained us for a while. We also stopped off on a section of the old historic Route 66 and had some tasty Californian burgers. Radiator Springs might be a real place.

So happy 4th of July everyone, I hope you are all enjoying yourselves on a lake somewhere and staying cool!