June 24th, 2001

To the Grand Canyon...

Hoover has had a new surname added... he is now Grand Hoover.

Left Williams, Arizona around 9:30am to begin our trek to the Grand Canyon. Most of the reveling bikers had departed by now, but there still remained a large number of Harley Davidson touring bikes scattered throughout the town. We headed north from Williams on Highway 64, which runs into Highway 180, which we took the rest of the way north to the canyon.

Alie brought up a scene from one of the National Lampoon Vacation movies... the first one I think. The part where all the Grizwalds get to the Grand Canyon and the father goes, "Well there it is. The Grand Canyon." They all look at it for a minute, then turn around and leave. After altering our course so that we wouldn't miss seeing it, we were hoping that it wouldn't suck.

The drive up seemed to take forever. Oh, and it costs $20 to get into the Grand Canyon National Park, just so you know. The pass is good for 7 days, so we debated standing outside the entrance when we were done with it and scalping it for like $10. "Get your Grand Canyon Pass, only 10 dollah!"

On the way up you run into a town called Tusayan, basically a last chance sort of town before you get to the canyon. A few fast food places, a general store, an airport with flight tours of the area and other assorted little shops. We discover they have a post office there and stop to get postcard stamps. Apparently they're sold out and won't get any back in until the next day at 10am. Feh.

I make Alie drive the Grand Canyon. I'm pretty whacked out from driving most the past couple of days, so I want some time off to stare at things all slackjawed like. The drive up to the canyon once you enter the park is pretty much all forest. It's 2 laned highway too. This is important, because it was on this stretch of road Alie postulated that when you're on a road trip anyone who gives you any sort of grief while you're driving... riding your tail, driving 10 below the speed limit, cuts you off or does anything that falls into the realm of "driving like a moron" is more likely than not driving a white vehicle. This wild generalization has pretty much held true throughout the trip up to the point when I'm writing all of this(the 27th).

Anyone I know who drives a white car or truck, you're exempt. Unless you're driving like a moron, in which case thanks for proving Alie's point.

I could write tons about the Grand Canyon. But in this case, not unlike Yosemite, pictures are worth more than words ever could be. So... I took about 60 pictures of different sights. Take a look at them... I find myself rendered speechless, but some general comments.

This is the general approach to the Canyon. Gorgeous baren high desert countryside until you get to the park itself, when it gives way to largely evergreen forest.

This is the first stop in the park... and offers an amazing view of the canyon. In sheer awesomeness (is that a word?) of spectacle, the Grand Canyon surpasses Yosemite. It's amazing to behold. In the bottom right photo you can get a glimpse of the Colorado River.

The view from Yavapai Observation Station. Again... the camera doesn't do it true justice.

These pictures are from around, as you can probably guess, Mather's Point.

These are all from Grandview Point. Aptly named... here I come to a realization about experiencing the park like this...
I find that while the Grand Canyon wins in sheer visual spectacle... it is a remote sort of experience. The plunging cliffs and sheer dropoffs forcing one to regard the sights with a sense of distance, whereas in Yosemite most all of the places are there in front of you. You can touch them, interact, climb them, wade in and drink from them. Perhaps you can do this in other areas of the canyon, but in this area it is a removed experience... but still dazzling.