Friday - Day 16

We drove to Grand Canyon National Park today, 184 miles round trip, now 2,136 miles since leaving Centertown.

Yesterday’s drive to Tuba City, from Bryce Canyon, was almost all 2 lane highway. Most of the roads were in good shape until maybe the last 50 miles in Arizona. The road surface was looked in good shape but there was one dip after another in the roadway. It was like riding a bucking bronco. The roads to and from the Grand Canyon were also all 2 lane and a little rough. No huge potholes but lots of patches that made bumps.

Our first impression of Grand Canyon National Park was pretty negative. It seems that the National Park Service isn’t aware that we have a Constitution. Prior to entering the general area where the Visitors Center is located we found that our 1^st Amendment right to free speech was no longer in effect.

As we entered the Visitor’s Center we found that our 2^nd Amendment right to bear arms was no longer in effect.

 We have not seen a similar warning in the other national park visitor centers we have entered. It is a sad commentary on how we have allowed the federal government to run amok, trampling our rights/freedoms.

Kathy and I both were tired today and we agreed that our impressions were probably somewhat skewed because we were tired. We also think our judgment was tempered because of the several days we spent in Bryce Canyon & Red Canyon. Even though Bryce Canyon is not nearly as large at the Grand Canyon we thought the scenery was much more impressive. We would suggest that anyone who comes out here sightseeing should see the Grand Canyon first and then go to Bryce Canyon. If you can only do one then go to Bryce. We did not have time to go to Zion National Park, in Utah, but we had people tell us that the scenery there was also grand.

We were amazed at the crowds. We had to wait for the 3rd shuttle bus.

 The canyon was impressive.

 This is a photo of the far (north) side of the canyon, with my camera zoomed out. It is 10 miles across the canyon.

 A glimpse of the Colorado River down below, again with the camera zoomed out. The river is over 3,000 feet below the rim

 Some rapids in the river, again over 3,000 feet below where I am standing.

 A menu from a snack stand. For those who have cruised with me, imagine my disappointment, NO HOT DOGS!

Actually we were favorably impressed at the food prices. Kathy had a coffee from another stand earlier in the AM. It cost $1.30 and she said it was good coffee. We had to wait for 15 minutes to be seated for lunch but the food was good. I had beef stew in a bread bowl. It was very good. Kathy had an Arizona Cob salad which she said was good. $24 total, including tax. We thought that was very reasonable considering the location. (We didn't have drinks. Cokes and ice teas were $2.90.)

This tower was the first area we explored. I was unimpressed when I learned that it was not really a stone tower. It was stone veneer over a steel frame. Some of the other "stone" buildings were also just veneers. It reminded me of Disney World.

When we were in this area we watched a fool enter a prohibited area and climb onto a rock outcropping so his friends could take his photo. In 2014 there were 24 fatalities in the park, normally there are about a dozen a year. It is interesting that the number of people falling to their deaths is declining while the number dying from exposure, dehydration, etc is increasing. One bus driver said we would not believe how unprepared some hikers are when they head out onto the trails.

Tomorrow we head to Cortez, Colorado. While there we want to visit Mesa Verde National Park to see the cliff dwellings.

God is good, may He bless you and yours.