I am not sure how many times I have been to the Grand Canyon. A dozen? Two dozen? Growing up in the Phoenix area meant that nearly every year of the 13 I spent in Arizona meant at least one or two trips to the Grand Canyon. I love this place. It truly feels like an old friend, one who is just as amazing from one visit to the next no matter how long it’s been since you’ve seen her. I think one of my favorite things is taking friends to visit the Canyon for the first time. There is nothing quite like seeing someone experience the magnificence of a first visit. Today, I got to watch my friend Cat, who I have known for almost 20 years, see the Canyon for the first time. There is just something special about this place, and it’s even more special sharing it.
We set up camp (and in a teardrop camper, that meant backing her into the site, and putting a tablecloth out), and then rode our bikes a couple of miles to the Visitor Center and Mather Point. The latter was overrun with people, but the view was spectacular, even in the noon-day sun that flattens the gorgeous peaks and valleys of the Canyon, and mutes the amazing colors.
After lunch, we headed to Grand Canyon village, this time via the bus, so Cat could rest her foot which is currently sporting a designer boot of the orthopedic variety for an ankle injury. We had a cocktail at the El Tovar (a first for me… as a child, my parents brought me there but the only thing I got to drink was a Shirley Temple!), and then headed for the Hermit’s Rest buses to head to Hopi Point.
Teardrops & Ales 