I wrap up the trip today.
I got up this morning at Grand Canyon. Not too cold last night. As I was moving the car, I kinda, sorta ran into a boulder. I was moving forward and there are these 2 foot high boulders all around the campsite, well I obviously did not see it. It cracked the whole front end. I pushed the frame back together and duct taped from inside but if you look close you can see the damage.
When I got out this little Chinese man was standing there and said, "Sorry", kinda like I just lost the big prize in a game show.
I was planning on working on the car some more before returning (door and fender) but I did not have time to without missing my 10 pm flight. Let's hope it goes unnoticed…right
After getting over the car issue, I snapped this shot of the biggest Mule Deer of the week.
I boarded the shuttle for one of the few trail heads that goes down into the canyon. I am amazed at how crowded this place is. I have been spoiled all week with solitude and only now am able to really appreciate it.
It was pretty funny hiking down into the canyon. You have babies crying, kids running and elderly struggling. You wonder what they are thinking as you still see them a mile in, "don't they realize that they have to hike out?" There was no way some of these people were going to make it out without help…and oxygen.
Here are some pics of the canyon.
I must say, that although the Grand Canyon was large, it was my least favorite of the parks. I am also a little desensitized, but all the other parks had a uniqueness to them, where this is just a big hole.
I did not make it the whole 5 miles down to the Colorado River before turning around to make it back to Vegas, and I am glad I did not as the hike out from 2 miles in was rough enough.
If I come back, I would like to hike in and camp along the river and hike out the next day. I saw many people along the trial who had done just that.
After getting back up to the rim I headed back to Vegas via route 93. This is a shortcut that goes by Lake Meade and over the Hoover Dam. If you ever, ever think about going to the Hoover Dam, or going through route 93, please call me so I can tell you how idiotic that plan is.
When I got 3 miles from the Dam, it became a standstill and I literally moved 3 miles in 2 hours. That breaks down to about 10 minutes for one lap around a track…that is a pretty poor 400M dash.
It is absolutely crazy, the freeway runs right over the Dam and all the tourists are snapping pictures and walking through traffic. They are now building a bypass (been working on since 2001) but who thought this would be a good idea? Let's just say I was mildly frustrated.
I made it to Vegas in time to make the 10pm flight and got home to Detroit at 6am, snapping the final portrait. A great trip, but I am too tired to think right now.
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