Remember what I said about the west being Big?

Nothing demonstrates that more than the Grand Canyon.  The thing is indescribably vast.  It overwhelms when you come to it.  That actually might work against it for staying there more than a day or two.  You drive for an hour to pull up to a viewpoint that looks incrementally different than the last one because you just can’t go far enough to really change the perspective.  You could, if you were simultaneously stupid, crazy, and suicidal, ride a mule into the canyon a mile down so you could get really hot if you survive the trip down. 

The North Rim is higher and more wooded than the South Rim.  It’s cooler and, in our case, rainier.  We put the tent through its paces this time, I’ll say.  We got to the canyon on Saturday under ominous skies and had enough time to set the tent up.  I suggested we wait to set up the beds in case we needed to spend time in the tent during the rain.  Score one for John. When the rain started, we set up the 3 chairs and a table in the tent and played Chinese checkers quite comfortably thank you very much.  That rain was brief and we were able to go to the Lodge for a family photo op:

                     

Sunday was a day for the aforementioned hour drive to a spot 25 miles away where you could walk out on this ridiculous promontory and see the Colorado River in the distance while fearing for your life.  There’s also a nearby place set aside for weddings.  It’s basically a bunch of log benches facing the canyon.  I see several issues with this idea.  It’s an easy 2 hour drive from the closest thing called a town, the minister has to stand with his/her back to the canyon, so they can’t see how far they are from the edge, and the references to taking the leap/plunge in getting married can be all too literal. 

Back at the campsite, the clouds became ominous again, so we packed all our stuff away and headed to the lodge where we had dinner reservations a couple hours later.  The thunderstorm in the canyon was spectacular from the huge windows of the lodge.  You could see lightning strikes and the sides of the canyon were richer and deeper.  The storm ended right about the time our table next to the picture window was ready.  There happened to be a quite lovely double rainbow that dove down into the canyon right outside, so every asshole with a camera crowded around our table to take a picture.  GET THE HELL AWAY FROM US!  This is America, we made it big like this so we didn’t have to be touching all over each other like you decadent commie hive living European tourist bastards.  Clare whipped out her best “Eat shit and Back off” look and we were left to eat in peace. 

Then it was back to the campsite where it, of course, started raining again, so family games and bedtime soon followed.  Thankfully, it was dry this morning when we packed up, ending the camping portion of our program.  Lily was actually a little sad about that, so we must have done it right.  We’re on the way to Vegas now, for one night then on to the final stretch in San Diego and LA.  I just had my first ever IN-N-OUT burger and it was pretty good.  I’ve been spoiled by 5 Guys and the gourmet joints back home, but now I’ve had one and the fries were pretty good too.  

On to the bright lights and hot heat.