When we woke in Page, AZ this morning the temperature was still in the 70s. That is too much like home. It wasn’t humid but it is still hot. It is a myth that it isn’t as hot because it is a dry heat. Hot is hot.
We set out for the Grand Canyon at about 7:00 AM. The drive took us through the Navajo Reservation. The road was lined with stands where Native Americans sell their crafts. We stopped at one of these set ups to look at what they had. We broke our agreement to only buy souvenirs we could wear. These people depend on their sales for their livelihood. We just couldn’t get back into the MH and drive away without buying something.
First we stopped and visited with Winter Hawk. He had a large assortment of items for sale. One thing that caught my eye were hand made arrows. Winter Hawk had made them himself. He explained the meaning of the different bead patterns on them. We chose one that stood for the “people”. We visited awhile and took his photo and moved to the next booth.
Winter Hawk
Lorraine had a display of pottery. Many of the most beautiful pieces were made by a Navaho man named Black Horse. Each piece was signed on the bottom. We chose one that had a sand painting on it that told the life of the Navaho. We took Lorraine’s photo with the beautiful scenery in the background. We told her she was now forever part of our adventure. This seemed to please her.
Lorraine
Lunar Base One Calling Earth
A Few Miles Later It Looked Like This
We entered the Grand Canyon park at 10:00 AM. We stopped at the Mather Visitor’s Center and caught the shuttle to Grand Canyon Village. There we caught the red shuttle which takes you to some of the most scenic overlooks.
Let me say right here if you are planning a first time trip to this area in general, come to the Grand Canyon first. The size and depth of it will strike you with awe.
We went to some of the other National Parks before coming here as you know if you have been following this blog. After seeing Bryce Canyon there is nothing that could hold a candle to it for sheer beauty. The colors, shapes and variety is far superior to the Grand Canyon. Everyone should see the Canyon if they can because it is immense and is beautiful in that way. But it lacks the color and variety of other Canyons we have visited.
Darlie took this right after she called search and rescue to come pull me back up.
The park was very busy. It was a weekend and probably not the best time to stop here. We were packed on shuttles like fish in a can. The last time I remember that experience is the last time I let someone talk me into taking them to Disney World. I am sure there is much to do here if you hike, like to go off road or rafting. None of these things interest us. After looking over several overlooks, Darlie said this is all the same thing lets go. She was disappointed. This was the one big thing she wanted to see. Had we come here first as we once planned, I think she would have enjoyed it more. Hind sight is 20/20.
Darlie wanted to bring this tree home.
We were in the park exactly four and a half hours. The campgrounds were packed and there were lines everywhere. We came out here for the wilderness not this.
We drove down Rt 64 towards Williams. We decided to stop and dry camp for the night at Kaibab National Forest Ten X campground. This is a nice campground as sites are spaced far apart so you have a real sense of being in the wilderness. There were plenty of sites available. An added bonus was that tonight was free for some reason. We didn’t argue.
It was quite warm when we got here. We sat outside in the shade till evening. We saw all kinds of birds and a squirrel with very large ears. It was a funny looking critter.
There is a water spigot adjacent to our site. People came to fill containers with water periodically. As we watched, a guy came up with a little jar to get some water. He began to pump the handle up and down like a water pump. We wondered why he was doing that. You just lift the handle and it runs like any spigot. This guy probably was from the city and thought these things worked like an old hand pump he saw in a western.
Soon a crowd gathered at the “pump”. This guy was still struggling to fill his little jar with a little squirt with each pump. Soon we heard laughter. Someone in the crowd explained how the thing worked.
The water pump turned out to be a source of entertainment all evening. There was the rather large woman that came out wearing a bikini. She stood by while another man filled his bucket. They seemed to be getting on rather well. Then there was the man who came out and took his bath right under the faucet. The birds came when the people left and took their baths. There must have been a rather large puddle there because the water flew in every direction as they flapped their wings.
As the evening cooled, we decided to stay out until we could see the stars. They are much brighter here because there is less ambient light. We saw 3 satellites and 3 shooting stars. We hadn’t done anything like this since we were first married. It was fun. By the time we decided to call it a night the MH had cooled down nicely for sleeping.
Quiet time here is from 10:00 PM until 6:00 AM so I am hoping the people singing at the top of their lungs a half mile away call it a night soon. I have the feeling some spirits of some sort are involved.
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