Friday, April 8, 2016

The Big Day

April 6, 2016
Williams, AZ

We've been enjoying second cup as our neighbors make their way to the train depot each morning, but Wednesday we're out the driveway in the Jeep as the train pulls from the station. 

In addition to the train(s) entering the Grand Canyon at the South Rim, lots of buses, RVs, and even more cars arrive each day. We prepare ourselves for lines, crowded photo ops, and lack of parking.


Five lanes, all at least a dozen vehicles deep. We get behind the guy who needs each pass explained four times....sigh.
Bill saw the canyon when he was nine, and vaguely remembers it. I've never been. We've both seen hundreds of amazing photos. We know it's going to blow our minds.

Parking is full at Mather Point Visitors' Center, but we find a spot at the Yavapai Geology Museum. The fact that you can't see the canyon from the road, makes that short walk from the lot full of anticipation. We can see where the rim trail is from all the people in a line looking north.

Even though it's not cloudy, the sky is hazy, the colors muted. But......seriously, Wow!  


Nothing can prepare you for the reality of this in person.
We're  here!
 I'm surprised by how open the trail is to the edge. While others are stepping on to the rocks, and climbing around the trees, I'm hugging the far side of the trail. I can feel the depth pulling me :-( Eventually I get more comfortable with the trail, but it takes me a while.

I expect the depth, but I'm indeed blown away by the width! 10 miles across to North Rim - and so many incredible layers. You've probably all seen it, so you know. I'll always remember this first time.

Although small, the geology museum is full of well-presented information. It is laid out to move people efficiently so even with the crowd, we're able to enjoy it at our own pace. We're only slowed by the number of people getting their doggie fix from Tessa (who takes her job seriously).

Many, many canyons
The relief map is impressive and educational
The stories told in the layers



More cameras per foot than most photography stores
We plan to take the shuttle into the Village, and then to Hermit Road, but at the museum stop the number of people waiting is overwhelming. I can't imagine packing into the big bus on narrow roads, getting in and out to take pics. I know we missed a lot of beautiful vistas, but the shuttle isn't for me this time.

We have a sandwich at the Village where it feels like an amusement park. Should have brought our own and enjoyed it at the rim - next time.

Around the corner is an RV campground with FHUs. While the number of people wouldn't be less, having a couple days to figure it all out, and being embedded in the park seems like the ideal way to see this wonder. 



The smaller visitors' center near ALL the hotels and lodges is more souvenirs than information, but the exhibit on those who have lived at the Grand Canyon is fascinating.
Several scruffy elk graze near the lodge
After several hours enjoying a "wonder of the world", we head south for home. In a couple weeks we are in Cameron, AZ. From there we'll visit the western end at Desert View and see the Watchtower. 

Everyone is right. We had to see it. We're so happy we did. It was a very big day.


20 comments:

  1. What can I say? I'm biased about the canyon and hope everyone gets to see it at least once. I think you'll enjoy the east side even better. Are you staying at the Cameron Trading Post? If so, enjoy the Indian Tacos.

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    1. You should be - it's amazing. Yes we are, and yes we will!!

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  2. I just found your blog today and added it to my blog sidebar so I can keep up with the great photos you take. With the weather too cold here, I'll grab some coffee and see if I can start your blog from the first and get caught up. I went through a similar process but decided my number of hounds needed to decrease before I did full-time travel. Great Grand Canyon photos!!!

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    1. Hi Steve! Welcome to the blog. Saw the comment on the earlier post - it didn't go to Spam :-) We didn't get to the islands but have them on the list for next time in the PNW. Your hounds are adorable!

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    2. Thanks ... all are taking their normal afternoon siesta.

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  3. We stayed at Trailer Village at Grand Canyon and it was really nice to be right there and had elk in the campground as a bonus!

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    1. Oh good! We thought it looked like a pretty good place to stay! Those elk were so unimpressed with people :-)

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  4. Yay, you made it! You did a good job of capturing the grandeur -- not an easy thing to do. Eric and I have never been to the south rim of the canyon together, so it's on our list. I would just like to figure out a time to be there when there aren't so many people (hah, right!!).

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    1. Thanks Laurel. It is definitely hard to capture what you feel there. Funny thing is today is Saturday and it's the most vacant the RV park has been in over a week - a little bit of rain and nobody stayed to take the train. Or spring break is really finally over!

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  5. I've seen a lot of this big ol' country, Jodee...but I've yet to see the Grand Canyon. Great post...you have got me wanting to go there!

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    1. Thanks Jim - I thought I might have been the last adult :-) You guys will love it.

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  6. I love Grand Canyon. I don't think you can ever get tired of the views.

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    1. Agreed. Think we could have sat on that bench and just looked at every little detail for hours, or at least in between people.

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  7. So glad you got to see the Grand Canyon. Everyone needs to see it at least once:) Sorry everyone else chose the same time as you to visit. I personally really like the North Rim better. It seems more intimate:)

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    1. We very much want to see North Rim as well - Gaelyn has made sure of that!

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  8. It really is amazing. We booked a week at the park campground to hike the trails EARLY. It was great. The Watchtower is great. Love all her buildings. North rim is great too and less crowded though still lots of folks. How are all these people not working?

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    1. I do think that's the best way to do it, and everything except the tower seems close to the rv park - plus I could try the shuttle in small doses first :-) We can't wait to see the North as well. We figure they're all teachers and hopefully all going back to work this week.

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  9. It really is amazing. We booked a week at the park campground to hike the trails EARLY. It was great. The Watchtower is great. Love all her buildings. North rim is great too and less crowded though still lots of folks. How are all these people not working?

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  10. You took some very pretty photos Jodee. Ron went there as a small boy when his family moved from NY to CA. I've never been myself. I bet it just takes your breath away!

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  11. Bill and Jodee, thanks for the pics. 1st time seeing the GC was in 2009 and then spent 7 days/6 nights and hiked about 64 miles. There is nothing like see the canyon on foot at the bottom. Hard to get there, but worth it. Been back 3 mores times and have stayed inside the canyon 23 nights and hiked about 220 miles. backpackerwdogs@gmail.com

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