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Published: June 14th 2010
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Cali Sleeps Cool
Cali doing her thing in the bathroom sink! April 2—Another month gone! The time here has really flown! Boo-hoo. Dan and Joy have gone, on their way back to Texas and points east. I will stay around here until the 15th. This weekend, however, I drove to Mesa to park in Bruce and Lisa's yard again. It will give me a chance to get in a visit with them. Since it is Easter weekend, Bruce had his three children. I was happy to see them again, too.
April 4—We all drove to Surprise, to attend church with the children who are singing in their choir for Easter. The church building is new and built with money from the congregation. They are still finishing the decorating inside, but it is beautiful, nonetheless. I enjoyed the worship. They sang songs and hymns that I knew!
After we got back to Mesa, I visited awhile longer then headed back to Casa Grande. I had thought about spending another night, but didn't want to fight the Phoenix area traffic to get back to work!
April 5-14 It is starting to get hot during the day. Cali stays in the RV in the parking lot while I am at work. (I
never found a rental car I could afford, so just drove back and forth) She has found a new place to sleep, in the bathroom sink! It's a little snug, but she likes it!
April 15—Last day at work. We stayed steady with clients all day, and closed the office at 5:00. I said good-bye to all my new friends, there. I really enjoyed working with all of them. They ask if I would be back next winter. At this point I don't know. That is the joy of being retired and on my own!!! I take each day as it comes and thank God for all the blessings He keeps pouring onto me.
April 16—After dry camping at the casino--(yes I played and lost my prescribed $5 pretty fast) I headed out to Prescott to see my sister-in-law, Dawna. If you read last year's blog, you will remember that Arnie's brother Bob died just a few months after Arnie did, so Dawna and I have that in common. I took her news of her son Larry and our visit with him. We had a supper of TV dinners! Since we both live alone, we don't cook! (Of
The Canyon Admirer
Click on the photo to enlarge and find the man sitting on the rock ledge. Than will give you a little idea of the size of just one area of the canyon. course, I “don't cook” anyway, except on rare occasions! Those who know me know that! Lol) It was good to see her again.
April 17/18—I left Dawna about mid-morning and drove on up to the Grand Canyon. I was able to get into one of the RV parks in the National Park itself. For those who may not know, if you have the senior pass that allows free entrance to all national parks, it also allows you to camp in the RV parks for half price. Most parks have electricity, if not water and sewer hook-ups or dumps. I stayed at Grand Canyon for $9 a night.
What can I say about the Grand Canyon that hasn't already been said? Nothing, and I mean nothing prepares one for it. Not even flying over it like I did last year. Think of all the fantastic words you can and none will describe it adequately. It is HUGE! The Park Service has done a wonderful job with making it accessible for the millions of tourists that visit it annually. The handicap accessible rim trail follows the rim for miles if someone wants to walk the whole way. I mean, it
Rim Walk
One could get really close to nature here!!! is right on the rim and the view changes with every step. There are places to sit and rest or crawl out onto a ledge if you dare. There are several hiking trails to lower plateaus. The Bright Angel Trail goes clear to the bottom. If I remember correctly it is about 7 miles long. That is also the trail one can ride the mules to the bottom I hiked down about ½ mile just to get a few pictures. The trail starts out through an arched rock. The trail was slippery, wet from melted snow and one had to sidestep the mule leavings from the last group to go down!
I have forgotten all the statistics I read about the various depths of the canyon and the width across. I do remember it is at least a mile across in some places. I thought and wondered about the people who first discovered this place. How astonishing to be walking or riding along a flat mesa covered with scrub bushes and mesquite and then wham------I just can't imagine what they must have thought. Even knowing ahead that it is there still leaves one awestruck!!
It was cold while
Gift Shop
One of several gift shops along the rim. I liked the way it blends into the environment. I was there. Several places along the rim walk still had snow. I had planned to stay out until sunset and see what pictures I could catch, but the wind was fierce along the rim and the temp was in the 40's. Having been in south Arizona, I had packed all my really heavy winter stuff away.
Sunday I attended one of several worships held at one of the educational centers. There weren't a lot of us, but it was so meaningful to be with others who appreciated God's incredible handiwork here and everywhere else.
I like the way the buildings in the Park are designed to blend into the landscape. There is one building that is dedicated to the Hopi and is designed in the pueblo design. There is Hopi art and jewelry on display there. I spent two days at the Canyon and saw pretty much what I wanted to see. One can spend a week or more there, however and certainly not see everything. And this is just the south rim!
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anonymous
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Martha, these pics are so beautiful! I'm so glad I am on your blog list - I'm enjoying your travels! Kathy