It's about an hour drive from Williams to the Grand Canyon. Last time we took the train up and back, but decided we'd drive it this time. We saw a sign to turn on the radio for park information so we did. In the summer, they use a shuttle system and you can't use your vehicle to drive from each viewpoint. The town outside the canyon, Tusayan, is one of the stops now on the shuttle system. We parked at the IMAX Theater and grabbed the free shuttle. It got even better once on board.
David looked down and there was a brand new Dockers floppy hat at his feet! He asked the couple in front of us if they dropped it, but they didn't respond. Not sure they spoke or understood English. No on else claimed it, so he got a new hat! It was like one I wanted, but not exactly the one. Found the one I wanted later in a gift shop - $74 for a Tilly hat. It's still there!
Like other National Parks we've been in this summer, there is a lot of construction and road construction going on. The Grand Canyon was no exception. We got off the purple route at the transfer station at the Visitor's Center at Mather Point. To get to Mather Point now, you have to walk a long way through and around a construction area, but it's worth the walk.
We continued walking the Rim Trail instead of walking back and catching another bus. We met Hardy Quaid, a painter, on the rim. He is from Germany, but lives here now. He paints frequently on the rim and sells his photos in the gift shop. Enjoyed talking to him. His work is beautiful, too!
More walking on the rim trail! We discovered just how dumb some people can be. Standing right on the edge of the rim, putting their kids on the edge, and throwing things off the rim. There are hikers below!
We wondered to the blue line station and caught the shuttle into the hotel area of the Canyon. It was lunch time, so we decided to have lunch at the El Tovar Hotel. It's a great old hotel. I always enjoy visiting here and sitting on the porch that overlooks the Canyon, but today it's lunch here!
Off to more rim walking...except I have to visit the Bright Angel gift shop. More postcards and t-shirts this time! Also got a book on the deaths in the Grand Canyon. Sounds creepy right? When we hiked the Canyon from South Rim to North Rim (1989) we know of two who died while we were hiking. One blown off the trail and drowned in the Colorado River. The store was being renovated and it was packed! The lady who checked me out used to live in Alabama!
Back to the rim trail. We visited the bookstore and the photography studio that was originally owned by the Kolb Brothers many years ago. Normally there is an exhibit here, but it was being renovated so it was closed, too.
It's getting late in the day and it's getting hot, so we catch the blue line bus to go back to the transfer station. This route took us through many areas of the park including park employee housing. It covers almost 4 square miles. The single men's dorm and the single women's dorm are a great distance from each other!
We get back to the station and grab the purple route back to Tusayan and our truck. Great way to visit the Canyon. We headed back to Williams. We got Chrissy out of the kennel and she was thrilled to see us. But then, she also is glad to see us if we just walk out of the room!
Packed up the trailer for our next move...off to Cortez, CO to see Mesa Verde!
See ya down the road!
Jenny :)
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