May 24, 2012 - Grand Canyon

The winds continued today but were a bit lighter than we expected as we pulled out of Gallup heading west on I-40. We managed about 8 mpg for today’s drive. The highway from Gallup to Holbrook isn’t beautiful, but the views are vast. We stopped at a roadside rest near the meteor crater and had some fun romping around the rock formations there. As we got closer to Flagstaff the terrain changed. As we gained altitude we began to see mesquite, then larger mesquite, and then some pine. We stopped at a grocery store in Flagstaff so that Jeff...

May 23, 2012 - Grand Canyon - South Rim

We drove from Zion yesterday through some of the most barren desert area. Nothing much to see for most of the trip, but we did stop and have lunch across from the Vermilion Cliffs, which have some magnificent colors. We are staying inside the park at the Mathers campground. No hook ups here, but all is good. They have a great shuttle bus system here and we took one to the south rim last night to watch the sunset. Really something to see. If we get so motivated we may get up really, really early tomorrow for the sunrise. Today we plan on...

May 8, 2012 - We are so excited!!

We were up early, because we were so excited to get to the Shuttles. We walked approximatly a 1/4 mile to the shuttle stop and found our way to the Visitors Center. We took lots of pictures, but were surprised that there were not more Rangers present. The Visitors Center was not the usual help that we were accustommed to....oh well, maybe this is where the cut backs took place. We climbed a small mountain to make our way to the lookout. I must say that I was not all that impressed with what I was seeing. It could have been the wind but...

May 8, 2012 - Desert Towers

We are such early birds.....no one has to tell us twice to get up. We were ready to roll by 8 am. I must admit that the Grand Canyon has the best Road Signage of any National Park. No getting lost here. Heading east, almost no traffic!!! Once we past the visitors center, we began to see the beauty of the Grand Canyon. We stopped at every pull out, we just couldn't get enough of the scenery. Benji was loving the fact that he was allowed to go out with us. We then finally arrived at Desert Towers which is what I had been reading about. Mom,...

May 7, 2012 - Grand Canyon

We left Page Springs and went north through Sedona. I just love the colors of Sedona. Sedona has become another victem of the Roundabouts. I know there great for traffic control but when your driving a motorhome with a TOAD, your taking most of the circle up. Onward north into the canyon towards Flagstaff. What a beautiful drive. We definitly would have made it there sooner had we taken the Interstate, but we would have missed the gorgeous scenery. We stopped at Walgreens in Flagstaff for a prescription and then we were on are way. The last...

Apr 30, 2012 - More Grand Canyon

I awoke early to another beautiful morning. Did my exercises and took Pepper for a walk to the National Park Headquarters, about 45 minutes return which was enough for him. There are lovely wooded paths throughout the village which make it very pleasant and quiet. Today is a quasi work day for me. After breakfast we went to the Park Headquarters where there is good (and free) WiFi. We sat at a lovely picnic table on a quadrangle near the library. The librarian invited us in but it was so nice outside. Bob did go in for moment and said he...

Apr 30, 2012 - Grand Canyon Day Three

The floor heater went on several times during the night. The temp inside is 55 but does not seem cold. I was up with the 5:30 sunrise. Pepper knows the drill. He hears me take off my wrist band and knows that it will be twenty minutes before he goes out whiled I do my floor exercises. He is very patient. Beautifully clear but crisp morning in the high 30’s at Mather Camp. Short drive to the General store where we bought coffee to go along with our breakfast of bagels, fruit and yogurt. Wanted to hit the Rim Trail early ( although we missed...

Apr 29, 2012 - LV Oasis and Travels to Grand Canyon

I’m back! Good trip but glad to be back home! Amazing how we can change and adapt to our comfort zones. Pepper has adopted the “rig” as his home too. He loves his little bed behind the driver’s seat. Bob totally relaxed while I was gone. Molly and Dave cooked two dinners for him and he walked to Steiners, a brew pub, for a third (just to get away from Dave who can talk a blue streak!) He had breakfast and lunch out and lounged by the pool reading the NYT. Using the Rotary Meeting Finder app, he found a lunch meeting on Thursday and...

Apr 27, 2012 - Grand Canyon

Une superbe journee ensoleillee, mais longue. Environ 16-18 Celcius dans l'apres-midi. On est parti a 0800 h et revenus vers 1930 h. On a fini la journee avec une petite "hike" de 3 kilometres le long du "Rim", pres du village. Murielle n'a pas aime certaines parties de ce parcous, qui pourtant etait bien protege par des pousses d'herbe :-). Elle avait le vertige un peu mais le paysage etait a couper le souffle (quand elle regardait). Murielle ne voulait plus revenir. Quelques photos pour vous donner un avant gout. Le reste des photos sur...

Apr 27, 2012 - Grand Canyon National Park

(Art Writing) Put away the shorts. Break out the heavy jackets and raincoats. We are now in Grand Canyon National Park (south rim). After weeks of dry weather with daytime temperatures in the high 80s with cool nights, we are forced to endure colder and rainier weather. On Thursday, the temperature was in the low 50s during the day and it rained all day. For the next couple of nights the temperature will drop to 30 degrees. Yup, time to take in the water hoses and cartridges. We’ve even dusted off our propane heater to keep our house warm!...

Apr 18, 2012 - Day 7 A Grand Canyon

A fusty English village mystery on "tape" got me westbound on Route 66 (I 40's alter ego) across New Mexico and into Arizona, many long and very straight miles today. The carrot at the end of the driving stick was the Grand Canyon and it was worth the butt-numbing effort. Sure, I've seen the Grand Canyon before but the picture I carry in my head does not compare to the real (and unreal) thing. This is an uncrowded, fresh-air time of year to visit. There's still a little snow in shaded spots and plenty atop the San Francisco mountains but...

Apr 12, 2012 - The Grand Canyon

We headed North to Flagstaff as the weather changed and based on the forecast, we knew we'd only have one day to hike before the snow started to fly. This was our first trip to the Grand Canyon and we agree with what everyone says: no matter how many photos or videos you've seen, the real thing is even more spectacular! We decided to hike down part of the Kaibob Trail and back. A not too strenuous trail that switches back along ridges and has great views in all directions. Although it was cool and windy on the rim of the canyon, it warmed...