Farewell, Big Ditch

One more afternoon spent at the Grand Canyon, and many more sites to see. We thought it was strangely empty at Mather Point and the Visitor Center yesterday, but we realized why today. All of the crowds are around the lodges and the head of the Bright Angel Trail, which can take you all the way across the Park to the North Rim - in about 2 days hike. Our friends George and Denise did that a few years back - or, did they?

We passed on that strenuous exercise and opted for the touristy stuff, walking on the Rim Trail and seeing a few new vistas (but to be frank, they all kinda look the same after a couple days). We also walked around the historic El Tovar Hotel, which opened in 1905, just up the hill from the Grand Canyon Railroad. It's quite a view from the 3rd floor rooms, since they are maybe 50 feet from the edge of the abyss.

We did find this view, on the Trail of Time (don't ask unless your REALLY love geology, gneiss, and that sort of schist) to be pretty sweet. The bright foreground gives a nice perspective on the vastness of it all.

Instead of being adventerous by hiking down into the Canyon, Allegra and Blythe decided to live on the edge, as it were. Legs thought we had something of a death wish, posing all the way out there. "Ok, move back just a little bit more...."



And with that, we say "Farewell, Big Ditch!" Someday we may come back and get down to the Colorado River, but until then many new places await. We are off to Durango, Colorado tomorrow, passing through the Hopi, Navajo, and Mountain Ute Reservations. We'll talk to you again then!