Head 'Em Up, Move 'Em Out!

I certainly didn't get much blogging done in September, did I? Here it is October 5 already. Time to plan my route to San Antonio for the big RVing Women National Convention. Should I take the southern route or head due east to Albuquerque? I've planned it both ways but I think I'll go east so I can get that souvenir capitol building postcard in Santa Fe. And I'll stop off in Madrid, NM, to see if it is still as cute as it was when I first saw it in 1995. At that time my partner and I were looking around for a warmer place to live than Minneapolis, and we thought Santa Fe might be the place. Alas, not enough trees and water for either of us, so we ended up in Asheville, NC, still my home base.

Lots to do and little time before I go, so I'll just put up a few photos of brother Steve's and my overnight camping trip to the Canyon with his pals Jeff and Rhonda. I love tent camping, and was looking forward to being with "Mr. Stuff" out in the wilderness. But it was so windy that the camping was not very good: no breakfast for starters, which is my favorite campout meal. At least we made it into the Canyon this time, if not very far, so I can now claim to have hiked the Grand Canyon.

But we had a great breakfast; don't think we didn't, in the restaurant at Bright Angel Lodge, built in 1935. Steve says it hasn't changed since the first time he was there in 1981, including the front of the menu. Some things you can count on.

Jeff and Rhonda headed back to Flagstaff and Steve and I headed for the Bright Angel Trailhead, where we arrived just as a mule train returned, carrying passengers who had been all the way down to Phantom Ranch, on the Colorado River, and back, a ride of about three hours.

Being with Steve, who, as I said in a previous post, has hiked the Canyon 20 or 30 times, and rafted the Colorado twice, was a big treat for me. I only wish I had done it back when I might have been able to put on a pack and do it for real.





Mules have right-of-way.















One sign we saw told the story of a world class runner who tried to cross the Canyon rim to rim without enough water. She didn't make it.



If you look closely at the second level down from the top of this rock formation you'll see people, which helps to give perspective to our location inside the Canyon.



The Bright Angel Trail from where I was, near the beginning.









Bright Angel Trail from the south rim. The trees are growing in what is known as Indian Gardens. The trail forks right, down into the Canyon, to Phantom Ranch.












Back up from the warmth of the Canyon, carrying my jacket, which I needed again as soon as I reached the rim, where the wind that day was fierce and the temperature was much lower than inside the Canyon. Many hikers returned wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

Onward. Much to do and it's already 3:45. More later, from the road.