Grand Canyon

We arrived at the Grand Canyon, or what could be seen of it, around lunchtime and picked a campsite that looked like it shouldn't flood if the rain kept up! The camping ground at Desert View is quite small and works on a first come first served basis, it's usually full by early afternoon, so we were glad to get a spot. Weren't quite so glad to be pitching the tent (which we'd only helped Yong to pitch once before) in the drizzle, but we got there.

Of course the plan then was to go see some canyon. And see some we did. Some. The view from Desert View and the Watchtower there was impressive, despite all the fog. It almost made it seem grander as you could only guess at the true scale of it. Further round at the Grand View lookout all we could see was white; not so aptly named that day. Headed on into the village for a late lunch and everything cleared up suddenly and beautifully. Walked around the rim track heading west until the sun was going down (which meant we missed dinner back at the Desert View end). Spectacular. It's impossible really even to describe. I can say that the canyon is sooooo much bigger than I had ever imagined, as well as more colourful, intricate and precarious - there is nothing anywhere to stop you just wandering off the edge should you choose to do so. People have; there's even a book about it (slash deaths in the Grand Canyon in general) available for purchase from the souvenir shop. On our walk we encountered a chipmunk! And on the bus back to the village some elk were happily grazing right alongside the route.

The following morning we woke early to the makings of a gorgeous day, packed up camp and chowed down on a breakfast burrito before descending into the canyon a ways. Took the Kaibab trail as far as Cedar Ridge lookout (further than we intended actually; we were aiming for "Ooh Aah Point" but overshot). Then it was back on the road, this time destination: Las Vegas.