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Going to the Grand Canyon together had been a trip Teresa and I looked forward to for a long time.
After a couple of days in beautiful Sedona, the time arrived for us to see the huge colourful hole in the ground carved by the Colorado river.
There's no other word to describe it: this canyon is GRAND!
After a quick glance and the first photos taken, we found a camping space, bought some beer and snacks and went back to the rim. We sat on the rocks on the edge of the huge colourful cliff, happy to have reached our destination. It was lovely to chat, drink, eat and laugh there observing the sun going down as the colours in the enormous gap on the ground drew closer and closer to dark gray, the evening falling in.
On the next morning Teresa and I got ready for a long hike. We started walking down the South Kaibab Trail amazed to observe the changes in the scenery every 30 metres or so when the trail bent around a sharp corner or came to an open, exposed ledge. Teresa patiently waited the hundred times I stopped to take
photos, especially of the signs of spring on the dry rocky scenery, which seem to be my favourite at the moment (and also takes me a long time to get the correct focus).
There were lots of hikers on the trail: young people exuding energy, older ones showing a lot of determination, couples carrying toddlers; people descending with us or coming back up exhausted from somewhere far down below the point where we were. Passing clouds made a dance of their own up in the high blue, projecting shadows and changing the colours of the scenery. Flowers emerging from the bare sand or from tiny cracks in the rock surprised us with their wonderful perfume, delicate shapes and bright colours. Squirrels were suspiciously over friendly, probably over-accustomed to the high numbers of tourists who venture themselves into these less wild parts of the canyon.
We really wanted to get all the way to the bottom, to the Colorado River. However, if you pass a point on the trail about three quarters to the river, you must carry a tent and spend the night there. Returning on the same day is not recommended. We understood the reason when we
arrived at Skeleton Point! Drained out of energy, we were glad to have a glimpse of the old Colorado running green in its home on the bottom of the canyon. We reverenced the talented sculptor as we had a picnic and then started our way back to the top. Going down is hard on one's knees but the way up certainly requires a lot of stamina! We stopped a few times to breath deeply and when we finally made it to the top we were radiant for doing it in half the time we were told it would be necessary.
After a lazy day off walking on the rim, looking at the lodges, shops and art galleries, we took the Bright Angel Trail and ventured ourselves down the canyon once more. On the first part of this steep, strenuous track there were less open views. Looking back up from the point we reached, it was difficult to believe we had descended such a vertical drop from the South Rim, however still far from the river bed. Again it was time to climb up. Seeing mules carrying people up made us wonder if we really wanted to get to the
top on our own legs' expense... That thought soon gave us strength to carry on and made us feel proud of doing so completely unaided.
Teresa and I had a great time in the master of all canyons. We both wanted to stay. Teresa talked about returning. I knew I had still a lot of other amazing landscapes to see in Utah and at so many other locations throughout western US and Canada. But it was time to drive Teresa back south to large Phoenix, and I did so in a great hurry as we miscalculated the time we would need to get there. We arrived at the terminal a few minutes before check in was closed.
Off went my dear Teresa. There stands the lonely road in front of me. Again the dusty road, leading to exciting places and various experiences. Towards California it promises to take me this time. I don't hesitate.
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John
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Wow (again, again)!
Absolutely stunning! The scenery just looks absolutely amazing. Everything seems to be on such a grand scale it's unbelieveable. Shame you're on your own again, but I'm sure you'll keep having fun! :)