May 6 - Grand Canyon - Day 2

Very windy and cool here today, such a change from yesterday.

We opted for a long walk along the Canyon rim from the Trailview Overlook to Maricopa Point where Claire got to tick off a few of her Jnr Ranger requirements like finding and identifying animal scat and their tracks and we got some great pictures of the Canyon. I never fail to be amazed by its absolute awesomeness. It is just simply beautiful. Claire asked yesterday if it is real. And to be fair, it does look, as she says, like the front, up close part of the Canyon is real but as if there's a huge painting in the background. She's pretty overwhelmed by it all too.



Admiring the magnificent views.

It truly does look like a picture or painting.

A Geology Timeline

We sat down on a bench and Claire wrote a "cinquain" poem which follows a particular format:

Line 1:  One word to name the subject (noun)
Line 2:  Two words to describe it (adjectives)
Line 3:   Three words of action about it (verbs)
Line 4:  Four-word phrase about it
Line 5:  One new word that names the subject (noun)

 

Squirrels

Brown, fluffy

Scavenging, running, bounding

So cute and small

Adorable

 

On with our walk to Powell Point but we were getting hungry and the apples we'd brought along weren't sustaining us. So we grabbed a ride on the hop-on-hop-off bus that takes everyone to the major scenic spots. Of course we got off at Hopi Point and took pics of John (sounds the same, but different spelling, Hoppe).


John at Hope Point

On to the end stop, Hermits Rest, where we grabbed some snacks and a hot chocolate.  

Claire, as part of her Jnr Ranger's program had to think of what she would like to remember most about her visit to Grand Canyon and write a nature poem about it using the "haiku" format.  Haiku is a traditional Japanese form of poetry about nature.  Unlike some forms of poetry, haiku does not rhyme.

Line 1:  5 syllables
Line 2:  7 syllables
Line 3:  5 syllables

Hiked Bright Angel Trail

I am one with Grand Canyon

Strong, cold winds freeze us. 

 



A lovely young man from LA, Scot Riddle ("but everyone calls me 'Riddle',) offered us some of his home-grown, organic cumquats. They were certainly not my cup of tea, but Claire loved them and ate several, skin and all, and is keen to find them at home.

 

Jumping for joy - at Hermits Rest

 

We chatted for over an hour with Scot - about the state of things in LA and the country in general: the lack of alternative energy here; the resistance of people to accept water restrictions; smoking laws; water waste and the deterioration of courtesy on the roads.  He was a real character.  We caught the bus straight back to the Village, and left Scot and his companions to ride their bicycles back into a strong, cool headwind. Brrrrr!





"There was a Coyote that Swallowed a Fly"

 

We stopped by the village stores and bought a few gifts and Claire read a favourite that has been adapted for the Canyon - "There was a Coyote that Swallowed a Fly".

There wasn't much of a sunset due to the cloud cover, so dinner, blogging and an early night in our uncomfortable sloping beds - in fact the whole floor slopes in Thunderbird Lodge, it is most uncomfortable. Zanterra needs to spend some money upgrading the beds and lodges, that's for sure.