Since I couldn’t decide which of these I liked the best, you get a double view from Point Imperial at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona this week. It was a nice clear day, it had been raining so the ground was wet and the colors were vibrant. Did you know that the full name for this place is The Grand Canyon of The Colorado River? I learned that this week–I never knew that before.
Fun Stuff
Hiking The Cape Final Trail
I am don’t normally have Wednesdays off, but this week I traded days off so one of my co-workers could spend time with visiting family members. Since my friend, Gaelyn from Geogypsy was also off, we decided to go for a hike.
(The beginning of the Cape Final Trail)When she asked me where I wanted to hike, I had originally suggested the Arizona Trail. The part of the Arizona Trail that goes from the entrance station of the North Rim to the developed area is 12 miles. She thought was too ambitious for me, and she was very right. I don’t know what I was thinking! So, we hiked the 4 mile round trip of the Cape Final Trail instead.
(A Horned Toad hiding in the pinestraw)
We got started bright and early at the crack of 10:00 a.m., and got to the trail head about 11:00 a.m. To get there, you drive up the Cape Royal Road until you see the sign. There is a small dirt parking area there. We got out of the truck, and tried to take pictures of ourselves, but my camera didn’t do so great. Finally, we were on our way.
(Fire burned a hole between the trunks of these two Ponderosa pines, but they are both still living)The trail starts off on a gentle incline, through Ponderosa forest. It is rocky, which makes walking a bit hazardous until you get used to it. Although I took enough water with me this time, I think I wore the wrong shoes. Next time, I’ll wear my work boots for the support they give.
(the view from the edge where we ate our lunch)
And speaking of water, it was a hot, dry, windy day out there. I was surprised by the number of visitors who were out there hiking with NO WATER AT ALL! People were out there hiking with children, carrying NO water, no food, no nothing.
(amazing!)The views up here are some of the best in the canyon, but I say that about every trail I go on. I keep telling people, “I can’t see it enough!” Every eyefull of this place is gorgeous.
(More ponderosa forest)
After eating lunch, we started hiking again. The trail turned to the right, and went up and down through ponderosa forest again. We didn’t meet many people on this trail, unless one of had to use the bathroom. But, every time I started to go visit Mrs. Murphy, I’d see someone coming down the trail.
(Gaelyn on the edge.)
At last, we made to the end of the trail. The views up there, again, were amazing, gorgeous, fabulous, every way you looked was a new and different wonder!
(precariously perched pile of rocks)
There were quite a few people up at the top. We had to step around people to get to the view points. We rested some more, and took lots of pictures, before turning around to hike back.
(Notice the layer in the rock–Gaelyn says it an ancient algae layer. I say gorgeous!)
We walked out on top of this overhang, which is where Gaelyn is standing near the edge in a previous photo. I still can’t get my head around how all these layers were formed.
(Me on the way down, at the Cape Final sign)
I have heard lots of people say they are afraid of heights, but I am not. I love going close to the edge and looking over. Last year, I was talking to a visitor, who said it was not that she was afraid she might FALL, it was that she was afraid that she might JUMP! I had never heard that before. So, if it were you, would you be more afraid you would fall, or that you would jump?
Remember Whensday
In July of 1985, my kids and I went to Stone Mountain for the day. We picnicked on the lawn in front of the carving, went swimming and stayed for the laser show. It was the second time we went there. The first time was when my son, Seth, was about three years old. He was so scared that the giant rock was going to roll over on us that he couldn’t eat his lunch!
Scenic Sunday
Friday afternoon at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. There was a thunderstorm rolling in, with heavy dark clouds and lots of noise. We sat outside waiting for the rain, but only got a few drops!
Remember Whensday
This photo is not the best ever made, but it is of me and my daughter, Becca in April 1989. She was the only girl in Girl Scout Troop 147 who wanted to go backpacking. I found a council sponsored two day trip hiking the Appalachian Trail near Cleveland, Georgia. We went to two evening training sessions, where they taught the basic things we needed to know about hiking, and gave us a list of what to bring.
I was a little apprehensive about it because I was not the most athletic person even way back then. But, I hiked for two days, carried my own pack and part of tent, and even climbed down a root ladder about 80 feet! Our guide got us lost, and we wandered around for a couple of hours in mountain laurel that was taller than me. We finally got to the place we were supposed to be to meet our ride back home. I was really proud of myself, but alas, this is the only picture that survived.
To see more Remember Whensday photos, click here.
Scenic Sunday
A gorgeous view of the Vermillion Cliffs in northern Arizona, taken in September, 2008 on a trip from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to Page, Arizona.
For more Scenic Sunday shots, click here.
Remember Whensday
In 1986 I went to Atlantic City, New Jersey with two of my girlfriends. For $199, we got round trip airfare from Atlanta to Philadelphia, roundtrip bus fare from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, one night hotel room, $10 in coins to play in the casino, three meals, and a heck of a good time.
We played the slots, ate at the buffet, saw Nipsey Russell in “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum”, and listened to a band that was so bad I can’t remember the name of it.
I won a $250 jackpot, and quarters poured out of the slot machine. It was very exciting! Do you know how heavy $1000 quarters are?? I was the only one of the three of us to come home with money.
We left the Atlanta airport early on Saturday morning, and returned late on Sunday night. My dumb butt ex-husband (we were still married at the time) forgot to pick us up at the airport. When I called home to find out where he was, he wasn’t there, so I had to call my sister in the middle of the night and have my brother-in-law come pick us up. They weren’t happy with that. We had to ride the MARTA train from the airport out to Hightower Station at 2:00 a.m. Not fun.
Even with the bad ending, I still had some of the most fun I ever had with those two girls.
For more Remember Whensday, click here.
Scenic Sunday
We drove from Georgia to south Texas in our pick-up truck, pulling a pop-up camper in 1997. We camped at Bentsen Rio Grand Valley State Park in Mission. This was on an oxbow lake near the Rio Grand River. You can no longer camp at this state park. We were very lucky to go there when we did.
To see more photos from Scenic Sunday, click here.
