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Ok, didn't think it would happen to me on this trip and especially this part of the trip (the US leg) but its official, I have fallen in love!
Of course, it's with the Grand Canyon....
When the shuttle dropped me off that evening, I was stood not 50 meters from the edge of the Canyon and because of the buildings you don't see it at all, you know its close but you just can't see it.
The driver, realising he had 2 Canyon novices on the bus, decided he needed to show us it, so led us "eyes down ladies, eyes down..." to the edge where he allowed us to take the first glimpse (very theatrical.. lol)
What can I say that would do it justice, I know the pictures I have taken won't do it any justice at all (and there is well over 100 of those so beware if you select the link below, you have been warned!).
It's the kind of thing you will love, or say "well yes, its a hole in the ground but I guess it's ok", for me, it was breathtaking and the first thought I had was how long can I afford to stay here, but then I realised that the answer was that I would go back.
I stood and watched the sunset over the Canyon and resolved to hike one of the day trails the next day, but even in the evening, when I walked to Bright Angel lodge to get some food, I stood looking over the edge (well over the wall) and looking at the Canyon with the moon barely lighting it, yet it lost none of it's magic.
From the night light, to the first light and then when the sunrise (yes I was up to watch it) starts to hit the canyon and wake her up, the landscape changes and looks so different as the shadows change - I think I can only describe it as a must see thing, so, if you haven't seen it already - go book your flights...
All the advice given is that even for a day trek, you don't trek alone (oopps) since it is possible that an accident will take you off the well walked paths and to accentuate the point, the trail I took had patches where the ice was covered with the dust that covers the trail.
So yes, I plan to go back there again, and stay for 5 days or so with the sole purpose of trekking into the Canyon and down to the river (not a 1 day hike to get there and back) in May or October when the weather is at its best, not too hot and not too cold.
Since this time of the year, at the rim, the temperature dropped to -12 Celcius/10 Farenheit the night I stayed .. so anyone looking for a hiking holiday possibly next year May/October drop me a mail...... go on, you know you want to ;-)
For those brave souls, the link to the photographs is here, unsorted/edited as yet (and yes there is sunset, sunrise and daytime ones all looking very similar to you guys...)
p.s. Jim, you have alot to answer for, as I passed some German tourists who were descending the Canyon as I was climbing back up and do you know what song got stuck in my head.......
previous travel blog entry
The Expat says:
Plesae don't tell me the song was 'VALDEREE, VALDERAR, VALDEREE VALDERAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH...'LOL (which by the way I can't spell and which by the way, JC loves!)