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Published: July 14th 2009
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The GRAND CANYON today. But first, a stop in Winslow, Arizona, along historic Route 66 to see the famous "Standin' on a Corner" park. The town was charming and all the people we encountered both passing through and stationed there were very friendly. Israel asked one guy if Vincenzo could pose on his Harley and he agreed, adding now's the time to buy them. We made sandwiches and sat across from the famous corner and people-watched. We didn't know how far we'd make it given our 200 miles behind schedule start and the fear of a traffic jam at the Grand Canyon. We thought we'd camp before the Grand Canyon, get up early the next morning and head north to Utah. When we arrived in Flagstaff at 1:30, a mountain top university town about 2 hours from the park, we knew we could fit the Grand Canyon into our day. The scenery changed from desert to forest and a nice breeze entered the car for the first time since Maine. Although it looked like a forest, it is still considered desert, just at a higher elevation. When we arrived at the Grand Canyon park entrance Vincenzo received a Grand Canyon journal
in italian! The cost was $25 per vehicle, and gives you 7 days entrance to both the North and South rim. RV's only have two designated parking lots and a shuttle runs from the farthest one, about 10 miles from the park entrance- pretty slow at 35 mph. As we drove past hundreds of cars in the first parking lot we were teased with a glimpse of the grand view. We saw the line for the shuttle and opted to walk until we got tired and then take the shuttle to see the rest. We walked to Mohave Point and heard no English around us. I was surprised by the amount of international tourists. We even heard some northern Italians and a guy from Bari frantically trying to communicate with the bus driver in Italian. "I don't speak your language" was all he got, but an Indian family understood his gestures for "Does this bus go back down?" and nodded their heads at him to sit down. He gathered an armful of water bottles and was trying to give them out to people, no doubt to lighten his load.
In my opinion, the Grand Canyon is not overrated and
World's largest Petrified Tree
lying down there by the teepees in pieces. is truly spectacular. I can't imagine any landscape more surreal and immensely impressive. Almost just as enjoyable was the view as we exited by Desert View, still along the South Rim. I guess it's owned by Native Americans because about every 300 feet there were a bunch of stands. We drove out at sunset and the experience has made Vincenzo change his favorite state from Pennsylvania to Arizona. We stayed at the first town out of the Grand Canyon park, Cameron, at the Trading Post. The park has no bathrooms or showers, but there is a motel, and we have internet, water, electricity, and sewer hookups, all for $13.50. The lodge is very organized and the friendly cashier gave us a brochure with a free postcard, a coupon for the shop, and a plethora of historical information about the Historic Cameron Trading Post.
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