Tuesday, September 1, 2015

1936, Tue, 090115. Grand Canyon, North Rim, Arizona.

We headed out for a couple days of driving. Roads across Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico were about average but they really go all out with their overpasses and freeway walls. They were all painted in local Indian colors with reliefs and art work that reflects the Indian heritage. Very pretty but shouldn't form follow function?
We had planned on stopping in El Paso at their KOA only to find they had no pool. In this heat that wasn't an option so we pushed on to Las Cruces. El Paso is about as close to Mexico as you can get without actually being there. I think we were close enough to throw a rock, which would land in the infamous Juarez if it made it across the Rio Grande. Not a place on the bucket list I assure you. Next day, on to Apache Junction.
Upon arriving in AJ we quickly found our spot at their KOA and headed to the pool. Hot, hot, hot. Like being in Mexico once again. Although some relief, it needed some kind of a cooler to ice down the water. We hung out by and in the pool all afternoon.
We called on an old buddy of mine from Auburn days and were able to hang out in town for some catching up over the past few years. We met his wife, a very nice lady indeed, and enjoyed both their company.
Once back at the campground Sue climbed in the van to open things up. She discovered a bird hiding on the dash board. She came out with a scream which must have scared the bird out the window. We opened our little abode up for cooling, impossible with the heat, and headed back to the pool for one last dip. In the distance we could see four good sized storms brewing that would scare any boater for miles around. Sue and I simply chuckled. We had lightning flashing in all four directions. If on a boat you could depend on at least one swinging your way before it was all over. Back at the van we put up screens to keep out the night time critters and hit the sack. No sooner did we hit the sack and the wind started up, blowing the screens all over. I got up, closing things for the coming rain then headed back inside to a now stuffy hot van, all closed up. No sooner inside and the skies let loose, good timing. I took one last look at the anchor with dreams of being back at sea floating through my head. After an early morning visit with Mike at the local Starbucks we said our good byes as Sue and I hit the road once again.
Today's destination was the Grand Canyon, but first we drove through Sedona. This is about six or seven thousand feet elevation so the weather was perfect. Sedona is a must if you are even close. The rocks and mountains are simply awesome. Sedona is a great looking town with all the buildings blending in with the brown colors of the mountain side. We stopped for a stretch, an ice cream for Sue, and a coffee for me. We really enjoyed our short visit.
Arriving at the canyon we headed out to see the sights. It was like seeing the panorama on the train at Disneyland, but this was the real thing. It is so massive and colorful it is hard to grasp the reality of it. We shuttled from view to view and got a thorough tour of the South Rim. Well worth the ride out to it. The rim sits about 6000 feet above sea level and the canyon is about one mile deep. That makes the floor of the canyon pretty close to sea level, whew......more later..