Thursday, 29 June 2023: Grand Canyon

Up at 4:15am to go see sunrise… yes, we had an alarm.  

Simply amazing… magnificent…magical 

Words cannot convey and photographs cannot capture. 

Back to our hotel for breakfast. Back in bed by 9am again at the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel. 

We enjoyed a nap, lunch, another nap and even a bit of hot tub time before we headed out for sunset. 

We’ve been able to use our National Parks Pass to gain entrance to the Grand Canyon each day and that includes the shuttle bus. This afternoon we boarded the west-bound bus bound for Hermits Rest, specifically Pima Point for the sunset view. 

Interesting plant with oversized pistols or stamens. The plant has had to adapt to do whatever it can to attract pollinators. Survival of the fittest. 

Meanwhile, there are currently over 500 wild fires in Canada. Over 1/3 of the US is under air quality alerts. 

Justin and I met 10 years ago today in Chicago. My oh my!

Wednesday, 28 June 2023: Grand Canyon

 

Justin talked to several individuals today trying to get a grasp of the Delaware North Group that operates this part of the park. 

Sunset and a moonlight walk along the rim.  Our lodging for tonight was at the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel. 

Tuesday, 27 June 2023: Yavapai lodge.

 

With promises to meet with Christina and Brian soon in either Chicago or Green Bay, we were ready to continue our journey. 

At Valvoline by 7am for an. oil change. Now, this proves it, we know how to have fun. 

$4.67/gallon. 17.02 gallons. $79.67

Mileage 159,276

$3.99/gallon. 21.51 gallons. $86.85

Mileage 159,593

15.15 mpg

At the west rim of the Grand Canyon!  Yes, the Skywalk was great. Next time I’d consider buying the ticket for admission and then having lunch beside the window. When you go on the skywalk you can’t take you own camera. For the same price, I’d rather have my own pics. 

At the guano stop I could see where people fall. The sign warned of “extreme danger”. I heard one lady say “I don’t need extreme danger; minimal danger is fine with me.”

The kayaks/ boats in the Colorado river look exciting and I’d even consider the mules going down into the canyon but even though the helicopters look inviting — no thanks. 

We spent the night at Yavapai Lodge right in the park.