Yeah it is Grand

---

We stopped at Flagstaff to catch up with blogging etc and then we visited an area of Indian ruins called Walnut Canyon. This whole canyon was once a triving community about 1100s and all the dwellings were built into the cliffs. It was quite a cool place that we spent an hour or two just wandering looking at ruins etc and then headed off to Mathers campground at the Grand Canyon late in the afternoon. We decided to forgo a quick peek at the Canyon and did house hold chores like washing and showering then made dinner in the dark which judging by the one pot wonder that I turned out was probably the best way to eat dinner. There is something quite romantic about eating a mixture of tuna,rice and veggies huddled over table by head-torch light.I would recommend it to all! Headed off to bed with the promise of below zero temperatures as the forecast was for an overnight low of 27 fahrenheit. Once you take off 30 and divide by 2 ?? Anyway my arithmetic got quite muddled below zero. The next morning we were greeted by a beautifully sunny day with not a cloud in sight. As I was preparing breakfast we had a couple of stray deer wander past the campsite..this was heading to be a great day. We headed off to the Grand Canyon village (GCV) and caught a bus to the end of a trail which follows the rim of the Canyon. At about 9.30 am we started walking back towards the GCV. All the way along this trail it follows the rim of the Canyon with what I could only describe as fantastic views down into the Canyon itself. At times you walk right alongside sheer drops and hold your breath until you get rid of the vertigo feeling deep inside. There are no words that can describe this place it is breath takingly amazing. We spent the next 7 hours walking this trail passing very few people until we hit the GCV itself and wham! You are met by all the day trippers who arrive in their multitudes to jump out of the bus snap a holiday shot and leap back on the bus and off to the next sight. Judging by the size of a lot of them I would say MacDonalds would be the next sight in mind. Once past the GCV we reached the end of our days walking which was a mere 21 kms not a bad days walk and worth every step. We headed off to a view point at dusk and watched the sunset from heaven unfold before us. The blues were so vivid and the reds were fiery..it was great to stand in awe and enjoy the end of a great day. We hit the hay early that night and slept pretty soundly. Today we awoke to yet another beautiful blue day and so decided to do a tramp down under the rim of the Canyon at a place called South Kaibab trail. We walked about two miles down and when I say down I mead straight down! Into the Canyon and sat and took a breather whilst being passed by a mule train. The view from down under the rim is fantastic but the walk back up far from it. We finished up the day by taking in a few more view points and then headed off saying goodbye to the Grand Canyon and north to a place called Page where we are booked in for a tour of a slot canyon tomorrow. You will all be please to know that we are sleeping between real sheets tonight at a flash hotel....well hotel anyway

---

Comments

[Sandy / Mike & Ankle biters]

Tripod coming in useful...
Now, you can keep your camp grounds in sub zero temperatures conveniently placed alongside railway docking yards and adjacent to interstates and your cheap and cheerful (read nasty) hotels and your one pot tuna and rice and veges...but... this looks like a good day at the office. Amazing scenery, wild life, one of the wonders of the world and we are envious of that big time. Not a theme park to be seen either - marvellous!! That is all worth making the effort for. Very cool colours. Being a national park... are the mules steam or diesel? From here... all good. Kids well and we are showing them the blog... keep posting the photographs...they are great. I thought Steph was going to be the wordsmith on this epic adventure??? Looking forward to the next installment...