This photo was taken out the window of my truck last year in July, when we were driving up Hwy 89 on our way to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.
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Places We've Been
The View From My Cubicle
On the days that I work the morning shift at the entrance station, it can be pretty slow in the early hours of the day. On those days, I like to watch the flowers grow.
These little asters are in reality, only about four inches tall. But, they can seem like towering plants, depending on your perspective.
Yes, I was practically lying on the ground, in my spiffy uniform, hat and all, trying to get a good shot of them. And while most of them are pathetically out of focus, I still like the feel of the photos enough to share them.
I can only imagine that this is the what a bug or a ground squirrel would see on their little journey through that patch of weeds.
And while there is no picture of him, one of those little ground squirrels did come by, and peek his head in my door that day. I just wasn’t fast enough to capture him. The view from my cubicle is great!
Scenic Sunday
This is the view from the entrance station on Friday, July 24, 2009, where I work. A thunderstorm was approaching from the north. The rain and the breeze it created helped to cool the temps down to 70 degrees. Nice!
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Going To Flagstaff, or Who Says It Never Rains In Arizona???
We started out from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon this morning around 8:00 a.m. The sun was shining, so bright I had to wear shades:
Going across Marble Canyon, the sun was still out, but we could see the clouds building up as we went along:
When we turned towards Flagstaff on Highway 89, the coulds started looking dark, heavy, and omnious:
The farther we went, the darker the clouds got. We could tell it was going to rain soon:
When we got to Gap, Arizona, we could see the rain falling from the sky across the desert:
And when we stopped for a potty break, the bottom fell out while we were in the store:
It rained on us almost all the rest of the way to Flagstaff, and has continued to rain all afternoon and most of the evening. Who said it never rains in Arizona???
Working In The Campground Has Its Rewards…
I have many duties on my job. My first love, the part of my job that I love the best, is being out at the entrance station, welcoming visitors to the park, selling passes, and giving directions to scenic viewpoints.
(Me at the entrance station)I also work at the campground, checking people in when they arrive, and IF there happens to be a vacancy or cancellation, selling sites to campers. The campground here at the North Rim is very nice, with spacious sites. There are no hook-ups, but we do provide every site with a fire ring and picnic table.
(The group area of the campground in early spring)Today, one of my duties was to walk through the campground inspecting all the fire rings, and noting if any of them need to be replaced or repaired. Every time I walk through this campground, people camping here invite me to eat with them–breakfast, or lunch, or dinner depending on the time of day. I usually decline the invitation, saying that I can’t eat wheat so I have to be careful what I eat.
(the North Rim Campground in early spring before any campers arrived)Today, though, as I was walking through, there was a family camping in a pop-up, cooking a delicious smelling chocolate cake in their covered grill. As usual, they invited me to have a piece, indicating it would be ready in a few minutes. I gave my usual reply, “It smells very good, but I can’t eat wheat.” And THEY said, “Well, lady, this cake is for you!”
(the North Rim Campground in fall)The mother said they have been eating a strict gluten free, egg free, and dairy free diet since October of last year, and the cake they were making was made with chick pea flour, tapioca flour, brown rice flour, and potato starch. So, of course, I stopped for a piece of it. It was out of this world delicious! Tanya, the mother, said she makes her own homemade mixes, even grinds her own chick pea flour. I was very impressed.
I didn’t have my camera with me, so no photos, but trust me when I say this was a very good cake. She also asked me not to publish her recipe on my blog because she is trying to write a cookbook. Well, let me tell ya, I will be her first customer when that book is published! Tanya also gave me three of her mixes to bring home–a chocolate cake mix, buckwheat pancake mix (that her teenage son raved about), and a corn bread mix. I can not wait to try that cornbread!
I should get out there and walk that campground more often!
Scenic Sunday
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.
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?
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!
