Navajo Point looking down on the Colorado River
Grand Canyon National Park
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Part 3 - Grand Canyon National Park
Desert View Watchtower
Grand Canyon National Park
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It was around 4 pm when we arrived at the east entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. This 22 mile stretch along the eastern rim can only be reached by car as none of the park shuttle busses service this area. Our first stop was at Desert View and Navajo Point - at 7,461’ it is the highest viewpoint in the park. Both of these spots offer amazing views of the canyon and one of the only full views of the Colorado River below! Desert View Watchtower is a circular 4 story stone building designed by the architect Mary Colter who also created and designed many other buildings in the park. Completed in 1932, the tower was designed to resemble early Pueblo watchtowers. There are 2 large balcony patios and the top interior floor provides 360 degree views of the canyon. Inside the walls are decorated with murals by Fred Kabootie and Fred Greer.
Needless to say, it was a beautiful visual introduction to the canyon!
Rim Trail
Grand Canyon National Park
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We settled into our room/camp within the park - Tyler, Amy and Rosemarie were staying at the Yavapai Lodge while Tim and I were at the Village Campground - happy to be back in the POD. After the initial shock of realizing that we had absolutely no way to communicate with each other - FYI, the Grand Canyon does not have that much in the way of WIFI!!!! - Tim and I proceeded to head to the kids’ hotel room to make dinner plans the old fashion way - in person. Dinner was a grave disappointment as the cafeteria style “restaurant” in the hotel was both lackluster and overpriced for what it was. At least they had craft beers and Rosie had a good time!
*note - there are 2 other actual restaurants within the park; one at El Tovar which is upscale, white table cloth and probably not a good choice for a 2 year old and one at Bright Angel, a shuttle ride from where we were.
just exploring....
Grand Canyon National Park
The park did have a market with a good selection of fresh and prepared foods as well as beer, wine, and liquor. And the market had the ONLY free WIFI connection in the entire park. We vowed we would make our own meals for the rest of our stay.
Rim Trail
Grand Canyon National Park
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The kids picked us up at the campground around 8:30 the next morning and we plotted our day. We began at Yavapai Point and Geology Museum. The museum gave us a general overview of the canyon’s formation and there was a scale model of the canyon. Most importantly Rosie got to touch a lot of rocks. We proceeded to walk the rim trail heading west from there taking in all the spectacular views. Geology exhibits and a time line are posted along the trail, helping to point out specific formations and geologic events. Rosemarie continued to be a trooper; hiking and finding benches to sit on and rocks to look at.
Rosemarie deciding that crawling was the new hiking!
Grand Canyon National Park
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By the time we hit the main Village area it was lunch/rest time and we took the shuttle back. This was arguably Rosie’s favorite part of the Grand Canyon … riding “the school bus”.
another bench, another snack
El Tovar, Grand Canyon National Park
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After lunch we headed back out to walk the rim to the east of the Geology Museum. And, once again, Rosie fell asleep during the short car ride. This time Ty stayed with her and napped. At the end of the day the weather began to turn on us. Clouds arrived and the rains came.
When the weather is cooperating picnic lunches and dinners around the POD work out just fine - but the weather now added a new wrinkle to the logistics! 4 adults and a 2 year old in a 19’x 6’ space that has approximately 25 sq ft of actual floor area….. crazy. And yet - we did it! Skirt steak tostadas for Tim and Tyler and salmon tostadas for Amy and I. Rosemarie dined on chick peas, cucumber, cheese and whatever she asked to try from our plates. Sometimes you just have to roll with it and the best is achieved.
Geologic layers
Grand Canyon National Park
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The Grand Canyon is spectacular; over 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide and a mile deep. Its colors are as varied as the geologic forces that shaped it. Two billion years of colliding, drifting, and the relentless forces of nature have created a masterpiece.
Our second full day in the park turned out to be a very cloudy one - on a number of fronts. There were clouds hanging low over and down into the canyon; beautiful in their own way and as they shifted small vistas would suddenly be exposed. Peek-a-boo. And Tyler was concerned that the impending New England snow storm would, once again, impact their flight. We shuttled back to the Village area and using El Tovar’s grand, yet rustic lobby as his base Tyler began rearranging flights. Damn. They would now need to fly home early the next morning in order to beat the snow storm - missing another full day in the park.
Deep breath.
Rim Trail in clouds
Grand Canyon National Park
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We visited the Hopi House, another of Mary Colter’s designs, which is a gallery of Native American art and souvenirs and continued west on the rim trail from the Village stopping at Old Studio and the lookout point there, visited the Train Depot so Rosie could have up close and personal time with “Thomas” (which she was thrilled with).
After lunch Ty, Amy and the baby went back to do the part of the trail he had missed. They returned there again after dinner when the fog and clouds cleared - and were able to watch a spectacular sunset!
Our final dinner in the POD that night was Green Chili Shakshuka - needless to say we got the tight quarters worked out by this point. It was sad knowing that our vacation with them was over but also knowing that we all had such a good time. As we sat there eating and talking Rosie looked up from her mac and cheese and said simply…. “Rosie, so happy.”
It was a perfect ending.
Rosemarie at El Tovar
Grand Canyon National Park
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