Including an account of an off-road visit to the Grand Canyon at sunset.
Geographically, I have been much further away from home. But north Arizona feels further than anywhere I have ever travelled to. I feel as if I am seeing a part of the country less visited by people from the U.K. However, the Grand Canyon is a household name world-wide, and I have former colleagues and friends, some who have even gone hiking even to the bottom of this astonishing natural wonder.
I wanted to see more of Williams, but although away for seventy-four days, I am on a pretty tight schedule.
Much needed (not by me!) rain prevented me from exploring Williams more, particularly the railway side of things. Eventually, the transportation arrived at the front of the hotel to transfer me the approximately 55 miles to the small town of Tusayan very close to the Canyon itself. We drove along Highway 64 for just about all of the way, in fact, I think my hotel for tonight only is on Highway 64. It was around an hour’s drive and I was the only passenger. It was just like having my own chauffeur driven vehicle.
I settled into my room before having a very late lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant. Soon, it was time to venture over the road to where the jeep-like vehicles would take seven of us along dirt tracks to various vantage points along the rim of the Canyon. Our first call was close to where we called yesterday. However, grey clouds and intermittent sunshine made for a very different look to what I saw yesterday. Our tour guide was superb, and a credit to the tourist industry. What alarms me that although I am walking far more frequently than ever in the past, I am increasingly less sure-footed on uneven terrain. The tour guide assisted me several times when I felt uncertain. However, I did get to see the Canyon as the sun dipped behind what appears to be a distant plateau.
What surprised me was that it was quite cool and at times very wet. This made for some dramatic effects which I tried to capture.
Sunshine, grey clouds and precipitation make for wondrous sights at the Grand Canyon.
It has been another splendid day. Tomorrow, I do one final Grand Canyon trip before heading back for the sleeper from Flagstaff to Los Angeles, where I arrive shortly after 8am the day after tomorrow. I took similar pictures on the Lumix.
Many thanks for reading,
David, 23.05 hrs The Red Feather Lodge, Tusayan. Thanks for reading.
David's Cruise 