Austin July 7, 2010

We actually got up at 5:30 AM with a goal to leave at 7:30 for the Grand Canyon. I can't believe we made it! We were all very excited, as none of us had ever seen it from the ground (I've flown over it but, unless you fly when the sun shines at an angle, you miss the impact). On the way, we saw a rock formation we named "Finger Rock".

We stopped at viewpoints in the National Park, which is on a reservation (we saw some natives with tables set up before we entered the park but we did not stop to shop). We entered the park from the best end, we decided, as we were able to turn right into the viewpoint parking areas, and felt we were going against a majority of the traffic. Once stop included the Watchtower, which Matt, Anna and Katie climbed but I didn't feel I had the stamina.









We took several shots of the canyon, too many to post here. At one point, someone took a picture of our group. When we approached this spot, I saw a boy hanging over the seating area, and I thought (frantically) "Where's his parents? He's going to fall!" I saw when I got closer that there's a path below the seating area. Anna and Katie walked down that path and I took some pictures of them on the lower side.

I like the shot of Katie standing and Anna sitting behind a bush (it looks like Anna's head over a bush).






Following are various shots of the Grand Canyon.



































While there, we walked through the Tusayan Ruin; our wildlife count was 2 lizards. I spotted this very red plant against the weathered wood.


















Leaving the Grand Canyon at 1:30, we headed back to Flagstaff for lunch at "Altitudes". Someone had fun with the camera while I was away from the table. I don't know what Matt is doing with my credit card.











There was a railroad track next to the restaurant, and a sign that advertised "$2 shots served when the train goes by". Katie ordered nachos for lunch, without tomatoes or jalapenos. When the bill came, we saw the note, "No toms, no japs". We left Flagstaff about 4 PM, with a goal to reach Albuquerque by 9. We found a Super 8 in Grants, short of Albuquerque, but it cost $75 so we voted to drive on, arriving at 11:30. All the food places we saw were closed, or just offered drive-thru. After checking in, Matt and I walked to a Denny's and ordered takeout. For all the heat we have been suffering through, that restaurant, that late at night, was frigid!

We drove toward a huge thunderstorm, but missed it. Katie drove from 4 - 11 PM today; no driving for Anna or Connie; not sure how that worked out. We decided that, when Katie gets behind the wheel, we'll either be driving through a huge thunderstorm or down a steep grade.

At one point, Katie saw a sign for a meteor crater; we decided not to go since it was 6 miles each way off our highway. We spent the rest of the trip regretting that decision. We found out after we got home that it's quite a site; with an viewing spot overlooking the crater. Katie really wanted to go and we are sorry we didn't oblige.

Through this trip, we saw several road signs: "Gusty Winds May Exist"; "Deer Crossing"; "Bull Crossing"; "Elk Crossing"; "Cougar Crossing".