Grand Canyon, North Rim

Grand Canyon, North Rim

There is no point in trying to describe how incredible it was to be at the North Rim for almost a week since it is impossible for the human mind to make sense of how overwhelming the Grand Canyon is, even while standing there looking at it, let alone to try and explain it. 

 Instead, I’ll tell you about two experiences there.

1. Mule Ride Down into the Canyon

I took a 3 hour mule ride down (and back)  the North Kaibob Trail to the Supai Tunnel, 1,600 feet below the rim. Bob did not join me. He doesn’t like cliff edges.

My trusty steed, Teddy, and I

I hate horseback or mule riding. Mainly because by the end of the ride, my knees always hurt so badly that I can barely walk.

But I really wanted to go below the rim and riding a mule rather than having to hike back up 1,600 feet in the heat on a trail also used by mules (if you know what I mean) was the lesser of two evils.

I spoke to one of the wranglers about my knee problem and he told me that if my knees hurt, the stirrups are set too short, if my back hurts, the stirrups set are too long. And if everything hurts, the stirrups are set just right.

Just before the Supai Tunnel

Upon my return, (unable to walk) I was presented with this certificate declaring me a “Grand Canyon Master Muleteer”.

Read the hilarious text.

2. Sing Along with Ranger Doug

Ranger Doug. Photo credit, the internet

Bob and I attended the evening “Sing along with Ranger Doug,” ranger program in the Grand Canyon Lodge Auditorium. Featuring Ranger Doug Crispen and his original Grand Canyon themed parodies of hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Such as his wildly popular “(Don’t Be) Free Falling”, to the tune of Tom Petty’s, “Free Falling”. And the hiking song, “As My Old Knees Loudly Creak,” to the tune of George Harrison’s, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.

Ranger Doug displayed the song title and lyrics on a presentation screen, karaoke style, and the audience sang along while he accompanied on guitar. Mostly everyone sang in a different key (or keys). And not knowing the tune didn’t stop anyone from enthusiastically singing along. In fact, for some of the songs, if the title hadn’t been displayed, I might not have known what song the parody was based on.

Watch this Facebook post of The Grand Canyon Rangers singing “Take Me Out to Grand Canyon,” and get a sense of what excellent entertainment the sing along was!

Sing Along Link

 And we were able to watch the sun set over the Grand Canyon through the big picture windows the whole time.

Thursday, Feb 24th - The Past Two Weeks...

I have had no time to blog! Between doing, planning, food shopping, food prep, eating the food, locating the brochure or map that we currently need in the ever growing collection of travel info we are amassing, downloading photos from my camera, phone, and Bob’s camera to my laptop (and rarely even looking at them!), keeping a log of everything we do, throwing in an occasional trip to a laundromat - if there is a minute to spare, I like to unwind with my Kindle.

We dawdled in the Tucson area for almost 2 months and were in the Phoenix area for about 2 1/2 weeks (kosher restaurants, kosher frozen yogurt!)

Then with less than a month to go before we needed to be back in Jersey, we were trying to cram everything else we would like to do into the remaining short time.

Here are some pictures of what we did in the last two weeks:

Sedona

A hot air balloon almost landed on us at our campsite

Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff

The Grand Canyon

Marble Canyon and Lee’s Ferry
The day we left the Grand Canyon for Lee’s Ferry the wind picked up and there was a rare sandstorm. Tumbleweeds and garbage gusted across the road, and I was expecting cows or houses to follow at any moment. We had to struggle to open or close the van doors against the wind. Visibility was poor and the light was weirdly dim. We got a fine coating of sand on our skin and on everything in Our V, and grit in our teeth.

On the drive

A patch of clear sky

The Vermillion Cliffs and Marble Canyon

Condors! circling above Marble Canyon

Condor #3 coming in for a landing

Lee’s Ferry. Pioneers and their wagons were ferried across the Colorado River here. Impossible to imagine how the wagons made it down the cliffs on one side and up the cliffs on the other.  Sand is still suspended in the air.

A private group loading up for a 30 day trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. They are bringing everything they need for the full 30 days. Between the remnants of the sandstorm, the high winds, the rain coming later this evening, the freezing temps forecasted for the rest of the week, and the lateness of the day in getting going, they are not off to an auspicious start. I hope they are OK.

Page

Lower Antelope Canyon

Horseshoe Bend

What remains of Lake Powell. All the bleached rock used to be underwater.

The Beehive Loop Trail

Today we started on our way home, and after almost 3 months, have left Arizona.

My next post will be what we did today on our drive from Page to where we are now and will be through Shabbos - Santa Rosa Lake St Park. NM.