By breakfast today the Grand Canyon’s weather had won twice, with Cat and I being the big losers.
Last night we were evacuated from Hopi Point on the West Rim Drive about an hour before sunset due to a crazy (and scary) thunderstorm. We were soaked and freezing by the time we got back to our campsite. A fire was in order, and brats (or vegetarian brats, in my case) was a good end to the day. I even helped a young Chinese couple start a fire. And by help I mean I chopped their wood, laid out the kindling and lit it (even using one of my own fire starters) and showed them how to fan the flame slowly.
We set the alarm for 4:30am (yikes!!!!) and headed to Mather Point to see the sunrise.
Boy, was it a doozy, unless your idea of a good time is watching thick fog roll in and the sun not have a chance to make an appearance. We went back to bed and woke up to clear blue skies, and puffy clouds, so at least the second wake up was nice.
We also experienced our first pay showers. They were actually quite nice, and mine worked without putting quarters in it. After my first shower in four days, I felt heavenly.
Today was filled with memories of my youth. We spent the better part of an hour wandering through the Grand Canyon cemetery, something I often did as a child. I don’t want to be buried, but if I did, I would want it to be here, under the Ponderosa pine forest with a rock carved by the Colorado River as my headstone.
Today would have also been my Grammy’s 101st birthday. For her 70th birthday, 31 years ago, my entire family gathered at the Grand Canyon to celebrate, including a Canyon view suite at the El Tovar hotel. It was pretty special to spend the day thinking of my Grammy, and remembering how much she loved this place!
We wandered along the village rim, and watched a thunderstorm pass through the canyon, and I was even able to catch a few lightning strikes on camera (something I’d always wanted to do!) We headed towards the bus to head to Hermit’s Rest (mother nature couldn’t fail us two days in a row, right?) and found that the bus line was closed due to weather. We decided to wait for it to (hopefully) reopen and after 20-30 minutes, were able to ride to Hermit’s Rest where the view was great, and the memories of family trips, especially in Winter with a roaring fire, made me smile.
We decided to watch sunset at Pima point. The thought was it would be less crowded than Hopi (it was), and we’d be on a bus sooner, and therefore more likely to get a seat and not be in the sardine aisle.
The sunset did not disappoint. The color of the canyon walls, and the glistening Colorado River below us was truly breathtaking. I even decided to break the law a bit and had my photo taken on the edge of the canyon. Needless to say, it’s a photo I will treasure forever. It was a great day (and night).
The plan tomorrow is to give the sunrise a second chance, and enjoy another relaxing day at the Canyon!
Teardrops & Ales 