Day 12 Canyon Views

Day 12 Grand Canyon, AZ

The next morning, we enjoyed an rv-made breakfast, but not without pondering the dilemma of how to make it all. Banana pancakes, turkey bacon and fried eggs would require three frying pans or making one item while the rest cooled?  When we’re at home, I never have this problem….hmmm

Paul, our brother-in-law suggested we microwave the bacon, which worked out great, who'd of thunk it?  The pancakes went in the frying pan. The first two eggs were fried, then we switched to boiled as the rented pans were not quite user friendly.  Breakfast solved!

Dad, who wakes up at the crack of dawn (everyday, for the record), was at the South Rim to greet the Grand Canyon when she awoke.  We had to call him back for breakfast.  Essentially, he had done the recon for us and shared tidbits on where to catch the closest shuttle and how long it takes to get to various points. 

Armed with this valuable info, we set off for the Visitors Center to start the day.  At the Rim, we rented bikes for the half-day under the false pretenses that we would encounter only one steep 6% incline (this was the advertised and repeated mantra of our bike rental folks!) during the route to Hermit’s Point.  All lies!!!

Reality was the trail was not well marked, so we were forced to travel off shoots.  Asking employees only gained us extra miles of biking in the wrong direction.  The map was near useless; it’s animation full of inaccurate, childlike squiggly lines. Two Army officers lost, could this really be?  Give us a real map and compass please!  I'm sure you're thinking, what about your Iphone?  Couldn't you just google it (as I so often do).  Here,  cell service is poor at best, so no google maps to the rescue:(  We eventually found riders returning on our projected route who FINALLY put us on the right route. 

None of this could take away from the beauty of the day.  It was gorgeous…you couldn’t ask for better weather to spend in the magnificence of Mother Nature.  All the fresh air was empowering, allowing us to travel the extra miles and conquer the multiple, more than 6% grade uphills. 

Throughout the Canyon, we stopped here and there to take in the amazing views and spend time with God.  Who else could create such majesty?  We were eventually rewarded for all our hard work, with a few miles of merciful downhill to Hermit’s Point.  At Hermit’s Point, the bike rental company picked us up…the driver cheerfully (I kid you not!) informing us that yes, the route is poorly marked, but upgrades were in progress.  Where was he before we started the trek?  Talk about poor timing!

Dad met us back at the Rim where we took lots of photos.   

Trying to determine if DDD existed up in the Canyon, we embarked on finding dinner.  As we traveled by shuttle to our eating point, we saw elk and dear peppering the park.  Literally, everywhere!  The shuttle was full of passengers gasping and crying, ‘look, look’, taking photo after photo as if they were paparazzi spying celebrities in LA.  Ummm, yes, we did the same!!!

Back at the RV Park, we encountered our very own herd of elk, the size of really large horses, grazing though the campgrounds.  How special!  After a few photo ops with them we headed over to our site.  We had placed our houseplants outside Betsy to get some sun (the trip for them has been a hard one, being relegated to the storage area underneath the rv for majority of the trip).  The elk looked at them as prime snacking, eating the leaves of the tastiest plant!  You could see they had nibbled on the other ones, but they must have tasted like peas to a four year old as the evidence (chewed up and spit out) was left nearby.  Thank you Mr Elk for not liking the taste of the other seven plants!!!

Bailey's Perspective

Woke up this morning feeling very refreshed.  I had dreams of our previous time in Arizona.  We used to go hiking for hours… I was off the leash and I ran free.  The smell of fresh air, wind blowing through my fur, chasing small animals, scaring the hell out of other hikers and mountain bike riders by jumping out in front of them out of nowhere when they did not expect it…. It was so much fun.  Unfortunately, I can’t run as fast or endure as much anymore but the memories will last forever, especially the faces of scared people who at initial glance thought I was a mountain lion or something when I jumped out of the woods in front of them……classic.  

Grandpa and I went out for a long walk.  We were both out of breathe when we returned, confirming that the air was definitely thinner up here in higher era-vation.  Daddy prepared breakfast and to my surprise, it was the same as last night’s dinner.  Is he serious? Can he not find something else in the refrigerator for me?  I know there are other items in there…like cold cuts and chicken patties.  But as soon as he put my bowl down, I ate it again without any hesitation. I don’t know what happened?  The animal instinct to satisfy my hunger superseded my food torture evasion plan.  Perhaps, I will skip dinner tonight….. I can’t promise anything as the food is still good.  No need to get all CRAZY and skip a meal for unjust reason. What am I trying to prove? The worst part of this trip is being stuck in the RV…not the food.  It looks like we are going to be stuck in the RV for a while so why add to the pain by skipping a good meal?  I have to reevaluate the current situation….should I hold out for something more tasty?  More to follow….. maybe I should simply wish for better food….. “Good Food, you will bring me.”

Mommy and daddy went out together, allowing some QT for grandpa and I to hang outside in the mid morning sun…..not too hot or not too cold.  The weather was perfect.  We sat out there, me enjoying the sun and grandpa watching Korean TV Drama on his computer.  How do I know it was Korean TV Drama?  Korean Dramas typically includes a young couple, who endure difficult times while falling in love…..there is always “drama.”  For example, parents do not support the relationship; there is a deep, dark family secret that the lovers do not know about; one person has a terminal illness……. There is ALWAYS drama.  And importantly, there is always a scene filled with tears and promise of loving each other forever (young Korean couples are so cute).  And finally, the couple always finds a way to stay together despite all  their trials and tribulations.  IF I had thumbs, I would write a Korean Dog Drama miniseries….. using the same formula.  I would be Rich “B”, aka a female dog.  Let me think about this over a nap……

Mommy, daddy and grandpa all came back after a long day out.  And this time, they brought back GREAT food…. Chopped up Prime Rib and New York Strip.  Now, this is what I am talking about….. so, my Jedi Mind trick worked better than the “hunger strike” idea.  Seriously, who came up with that crazy idea anyway…. The only one that suffers during a hunger strike is the one who is hungry. I simply don’t understand humans sometimes….dogs will NEVER go on hunger strike.  Anyways, dinner was fantastic.  I ate without chewing because it was so good.  When the Prime Rib “hits your lips….. its sooo good…. it sooo good.”  A good way to finish out our night…. nite nite…..