Sun Up to Sun Down

Tuesday, 11 August 2009

Trek Day 14

Pre-Dawn

Well, I guess my day started at 4:15am really. That is when nature called and stirred me from my sleep. I padded over to the "drop toilet" (of which we will speak no further) and answered the call. On the way back, I stopped to look around me. It was a bright night, lit by a 3/4 moon. All around were the massive shapes of the Mesas and Buttes I had seen earlier in the day. Above me, crystal clear sky with familiar constellations of The Big Dipper (I'd call it The Plough, but when in Rome...) and Orion. Thee was nothing to hear save for my own breath.

I'll be saving that moment in my head forever.

I walked back to my sleeping bag and snuggled down for another hour's sleep before our pre-dawn wake-up call.

Sunrise

I'd gone to bed fully clothed in anticipation of the 5:00am rise. Elated from a night under the moon and stars, I bounced out of bag, grabbed my pillow and back-pack and climbed onto the jeep. At 5:15am we headed for a spot overlooking The Totem Pole mesa and waited.

Sunrise in Monument Valley is special and well worth some bathroom inconvenience and an early start. We sat around, pretty much in silence. A couple of crows flew past and broke the silence, but otherwise we gazed as one at the rising sun.

Pictures taken and video shot, we returned to the Hogan and prepared to leave Monument Valley. As we drove out, Tony sang a traditional farewell song... and I had a little cry.

Breakfast

No-one was in the mood for our camping breakfast supplies of Cheerios and the ever-present bagels, so Kate took us to an American Diner for breakfast. This was possibly one of the best decisions we've know on the trip and generous orders were placed. I had bacon, 1 egg over easy, hash-browns, white toast and a side of sausage with coffee and OJ. Bloody delicious.

Day

The day was pretty laid back with only 4 hours journey to the Grand Canyon, broken up with a stop at a gift shop en route.

Matinee

When we arrived at The Grand Canyon National Park, Kate mysteriously asked us to get out of the van with only our cameras and sun-block. We were then stood in single file beside the van. Then we were ordered to put our hands on the shoulders of the person in front of us and close our eyes.

Going entirely on trust, Kate then lead us along, snake style to the edge of the Grand Canyon. She didn't want us to get even a glimpse before we could see it all.

It was a wonderful wheeze and I am very grateful to Kate for doing this for us... even though she later admitted to leading us in a circle at first as she paraded us around the car park!

No Words

There is very little point in trying to describe the Grand Canyon to you. Words like huge, vast, breath-taking, awesome and majestic pale when you are confronted with a jagged scar through the Earth, a mile deep, up to 18 miles wide at points and getting on for 300 miles long. It's a mind-wrenching. You as far as you can see in both directions is Canyon and it goes on and on and on.

I strongly recommend visiting if you ever possibly can... and if you can find a mischievous Minnesotan girl to lead you there with your eyes closed, all the better.

Sunset

We spent an hour there taking snap shots and trying to get our heads around the scale of the thing before heading on for a 20 minute drive to our campsite.

Tents up. Bags checked, dinner cooked (but not eaten by me... pasta in Ragu with a few vegetables cut into it? I don't bloody think so!)

We went back to the Canyon for sunset; an entirely more crowded event, with a myriad languages politely jostling for the best view. For a gorge of this size, you'd think we'd all get a look in. I found a rock to stand myself and my video camera on and watched the sun set over one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.

Topped and Tailed

An American lady asked about my video camera and after explaining that I was filming the spectacle, I told her that the video prior to this was this morning's sunrise at Monument Valley. "How's that for a day?" I joked. "A fine one" she replied.

It's now gone 10pm, as we've gained another hour as Arizona believe in Daylight Savings Time, and I am freezing my bottom off on a picnic table before an early night.

Kate is getting us up at 5:00am for a Grand Canyon sunrise. Best scurry over to the reception centre where the Wi-Fi signal works and upload this entry.

Goodnight.

Stats - Day Eighteen

Distance travelled (as the crow flies) - 132 miles - Monument Valley, AZ to Grand Canyon Caravan Park, Tusayan, AZ.

State count - 14 + DC

Pizza count - 3... I stopped off for one at the entrance to the camp after sunset. A small "Bacon Cheese Burger" Pizza, to go.