We had a breakfast guest roam across from our campsite this morning.  Cody has really been loving his wildlife guide from the Visitor’s Center backpack.  He woke us up all excited, “There’s another raven!  I just heard an owl!  See that little blue bird?”  Often times with excitement comes elevation in voice volume.  We thoroughly confused the kids this morning in the very open tent by saying, “Inside voices please.”

Brooke and I rode our bikes from our campsite in Mather Campground to the visitor’s center and then up to view the canyon.  The round trip was only thirty minutes.  It was mostly up hill the entire way there.  She wanted to give up a few times, but every time I reminded her she could turn around she sped up.

I had visions of getting a cute family photo up on this rock, but even just getting three of us was entertainment for all who were near.  If you can’t see it very well, click on the middle picture.  Brooke was trying to put her arm around Cody, but he wasn’t in the mood for it.  I know it isn’t a smiley moment, but oh how it made me laugh just now.

Goodbye South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  We are headed north. We had to take a detour as Route 89 was closed northbound due to a landslide.

California Condor at Navajo Bridge

We stopped at the Navajo Bridge to check out the bridge and use the restrooms.  We were super spoiled and saw not one but two condors.  The restrooms were closed though due to a fire on June 28th.  The toilets were composting using wood chips. Water sprayed it all down at regular intervals.  They aren’t sure what caused the fire.  Maybe a cigarette started the fire, but the fire department knows one thing for sure, the water was turned off and was not spraying things down.  It took the closest fire department an hour and a half to get to the fire since Route 89 was closed due to the landslide.  The visitor’s center is so well camouflaged with the environment that you wouldn’t even know it is there except for the road and the cars.

The kids swimming at Lee’s Ferry

At Lees Ferry we jumped in the river that helped create the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River. The air temperature down at the river was listed as 108 at the visitor’s center in the Grand Canyon this morning.  It also stated that temperatures can be up to twenty degrees higher than posted when you are in direct sunlight.  The breeze here was so hot it almost burned as it swept past.  It reminded me of opening the oven at home.  Jordan, a girl we met at our campground later in the day, referred to the breeze as a radiation wave.  No fear.  The river temperature? 42 degrees.  It was quite an odd sensation having numb toes from the cold river and a super hot head and shoulders from the sun.  Scott solved this problem by dunking himself up to his chin.  He inspired Brooke to sit in the water too.  Cody jumped in and giggled.  He was very focused on making a muck castle though.  To get back to the car we had to walk through the super hot sand.  Even with sandals on the sand burned Cody’s feet to the point of tears on the way down.  Everyone’s feet were covered in water on the way up, and then all our feet were encased in sand.  The kids wanted wipes to clean up.  I’m glad they are trained to clean up before entering the van, but we told the kids to just wait two minutes until they dry out.  We are currently at 3,000 feet.  Even back up at the Grand Canyon at 7,000 feet the air was so dry we hung up wet clothes at bedtime and woke up to dry clothes.  No need for an expensive dryer in Arizona.   Scott stopped and chatted for a while with a gentleman who was just about to get on a rafting trip.

  Cody’s race track for his car Lightning McQueen.  He wanted Lightning McQueen to sleep in the dirt.  He buried him.  I had to explain that we wouldn’t be able to find him in the morning.

We camped at Demotte campground literally a five minute drive from the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.  A fun couple traveling to Tucson stopped by to say hello and we chatted for close to an hour.  They told us about Valley of Fire in Nevada and another place on the beach along highway one.  Scott and I shared some of the crazy things we did to save money when we were traveling and in college.  The conversation started because they were sharing how they opted out of showers for a day to save money.  I am so glad they came by to chat.  Scott had asked if I wanted to stay in remote camping somewhere down a gravel forest road or try a campground.  I wanted to try a campground for access to water and meeting people.  Funny thing he didn’t really want to know my opinion as he wanted to camp down a gravel road for free.  I mentioned that he might not want to ask my opinion if he didn’t really want to take it into consideration. :-)  He said he would work on that.  That is not asking my opinion. :-)

Again I have to be thankful for the family we met next to us and the adorable and adventurous college couple because as I type this blog entry the next morning Scott just finished saying, “You would think for $18 they could have at least put pea gravel on the tent pad.”  Now while I agree with him about the pea gravel I am always thankful for friendly company and access to water especially with my dirt loving children.

The college couple yesterday asked, “What is your favorite experience traveling?”  Cody’s answer was, “Dirt!”  Scott responded about his best bike ride ever along the Grand Canyon.  I mentioned Denali in Alaska, but in thinking further, while the scenery is incredible it will always be there to visit again.  What I find fascinating are the friendly people with amazing stories to tell.  While there will hopefully always be more friendly people to meet I am thankful for those who have stopped by, said hello, and shared their own unique stories.