june13

June 13, 2000

Flagstaff to Phoenix: The Grand Canyon

Starting odometer = 5066

Distance = 366 miles

Some observations about the Grand Canyon:

It's freaking hot. Dry heat my ass. With or without humidity, 110 F in the sun is flat out hot.
It's a much bigger hole in the ground than I could have imagined. You can hardly get a handle on the scope due to the size. Dave Mowry makes an interesting observation, he says that it is so big it almost seems two dimensional. I believe that I agree with him.
The crowds are as big as or bigger than Yellowstone; however, they do a much better job of controlling them. Much of the South Rim of the park is only accessible by a very organized shuttle system. Very efficient.

On US-64 toward Grand Canyon National Park

Sidebar -- I considered not writing about this, but I've been pretty candid so far... It falls somewhere between embarrassingly hilarious to absolutely disgusting. I think I might prefer that the handful of you who have a modicum of respect for me not read the rest of this passage.

So, I get gas this morning along the way to the Grand Canyon. About 15 minutes after I stopped to fill up, I realize that I have to go... Well, being the obessive idiot that I am when it comes to "making good time," I decide that I can't afford to stop to pee since I've already stopped once. I look around, and there are no other cars around. So I grab an empty McDonald's cup that I have left over from yesterday. I fill up the container and snap the lid back into place -- meanwhile, I'm flying down the road at 80 mph at the same time. I put the full cup into the back seat cup holder figuring I'll dispose of it when I get to the Grand Canyon. About 10 minutes later, I hit a 2nd gear corner. I downshift and power through the turn. Stupid. The cup flies out of the cup holder and explodes all over the back of the car! What a moron. I should have just pissed all over the back seat myself. It would have been more entertaining.

Poor Avis. It certainly isn't a new car anymore. Oh well. What are you going to do... (sing it with me now) IT'S-a-REN-tal.

Views from outside, inside, and looking out of the Watchtower -- which was erected in 1930 to be a gift shop and visitor center.

Ranger Joab (JO ab) bashfully hides in the shadow as I snap his picture.

Lipan Point, just west of Watchtower

The Tusayan Ruins. Built by the Pueblo Indians over 800 years ago, these ruins were excavated in the 1930's. The upper left shows what they speculate were the living quarters. The upper right they call a "Kiva," and speculate that it was a large circular public meeting area. The lower left shows an artist's rendering of life before it was "ruined"...

I'm from Tex-ass, and my car is so cool that I feel the need to take up two freaking parking spots at all times.

Oooh oooh that smell... Just imagine what this mass of humanity smells like at 110 in the sun.

Trailview Point. Although it's not that clear, the image on the right shows the visitor center.

Along the trail between Maricopa Point and Powell Point

Birds. Apparently, the two giant birds on the left are California Condors just recently re-introduced into the wild. There are only about 24 left in the world.

Downtown Phoenix at 95 mph

Sidebar -- I have a confession to make. For the last three days -- and the duration of this trip -- I have started smoking again...

Ironically, I am smoking again for my health. It is one of the few things that keep me awake at the wheel when I am feeling drowsy. I'm proud that I made it as far as I did without it.

The Mowrys at their new home