The Grand Canyon is, of course, just Grand! One spectacular view after another, and another,…and spectacular becomes commonplace. It seems that to fully appreciate this wonder is to visit in different seasons, or at least different weather patterns. While scattered thunderstorms may be the most interesting to observe, especially around sunset, the Ranger pointed out the 8 lightning rods on and around the Yavapai Geology Overlook bldg, announcing that this was the most lighting-struck developed site in North America.
After 2 nights camping at the Grand Canyon, during which we had no wi-fi and almost no cell phone service, we’re sitting in a cafe in the Park, catching up. (Ray has 79 new non-spam eMails to which to reply). And Jack is catching up on phone calls.
Our first night at Grand Canyon was very windy, and neither of us got much sleep.
So we moved last nite to the Mather Campground near the center of the Park, and both got a good night’s sleep after a full day sightseeing on Park Shuttle Buses. Dinner both nights at the Arizona Restaurant, being too spent to cook at the campsite. (Such Wimps!). Besides, Beefeater Martini’s don’t taste as good made with partially melted ice chest ice and camp cups.
Woke up to a beautiful 68 degree-sunny day this morning! Found out we were just 8 tent-sites away from the Furman’s, a former Ferrisburgh, VT, family that we met yesterday at one of the Canyon view sites, when we took turns taking each other’s pictures. They now live near Prescott, Arizona, and were touring the Park with their 20-yr-old son (sorry, forgot his first name). Jack had coffee with them early this morning while Ray was running an errand to the market. Jack had made a trip to the restrooms, got disoriented returning to our site (had forgotten our site number), when someone called out his name,…”Is that you, Jack?” He still couldn’t remember our site number, so settled in for a cup of coffee, while Tammy Furman jogged to the registration office to identify our site. But Ray returned with the car, and young master Furman jogged after the car as Ray drove by, and told him Jack was at their site. We thanked the Furman’s and exchanged business cards. (Bruce Furman is a custom cabinet maker).
We drive today to Phoenix and Tempe. Dinner with Sue Ault and Wes Pecsock, then dessert with Dick and Jean Berry in Tempe, where we’ll stay the night. Then on to Jack’s friend Buzz Ensign’s place in Palm Springs Friday, June 11th.
Ray will travel on to Laguna Niguel for 3 nights: Saturday the 12th through Tuesday evening, heading to LAX Tuesday the 15th around 8 p.m. for the red-eye flight to Rutland, via Boston, departing LAX around midnight. Jack will stay 2 nights in Palm Springs then join Ray in Laguna Niguel for the night of the 13th, Ray will take Jack to Ontario Airport on the evening of the 14th, as he is presently scheduled to fly out of Ontario Airport 8 a.m. on the 15th.
Ray plans on picking up Mary Lou in his rental car en route to Laguna Niguel Saturday, unless plans change.
Jack will be storing his car for the next 4 months or so either in Palm Springs or near Ontario Airport. Jack flies back home from that airport on Tuesday the 15th at 8 a.m.