Oh, How Grand is the Grand Canyon

 Our arrival at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park was on Tuesday evening.  A group of mule deer greeted us on the road and we checked in at Mather Campground.  On Wednesday morning, we had a lot of laundry to do and spent several hours at the laundromat.  Then we rode the shuttle buses around and ended up at the Yavapai Geology Museum.  We learned about how the Grand Canyon was formed: Tectonic plates collided 280 million years ago, and later the Colorado River carved the canyon which is mostly sandstone and mudstone. 

On Thursday afternoon, we decided to hike Bright Angel Trail (behind Bright Angel Lodge).  However, we had to wait an hour and a half for lightning/wind to stop threatening overhead.  This is the same trail that the mules go down each day, so it is quite wide and well-maintained.  As soon as we started down, the skies turned sunny.  It seems at every elevation difference, there is different weather.  The trail was very steep, clung to the sides of the rock walls, then became a series of switchbacks.  Luke & I descended farther than the rest.  When we arrived back at the campsite, drops of rain were starting and then there was a severe thunderstorm.  It actually sounded like lightning struck a nearby campsite!  

Upon our departure from Grand Canyon on Friday morning, we located El Christo Rey Catholic chapel (which looked like a house).  There Fr. Rafael was about to celebrate mass, so it was just the 5 of us.  Rachel jumped right in and did the readings.  It was a very intimate experience.  Fr. said that most mornings he celebrates the mass alone (pretty unbelievable, considering how close it is to all the hotels/campgrounds.)  This was the first chance we had for mass during the trip.

Petrified Forest National Park

 While on the way from Palo Duro to the Grand Canyon, we stopped at Petrified Forest National Park. Unfortunately, Petrified Forest does not do overnight or camping. If it did, we probably would have stayed there. But instead, we drove along the scenic park road. 

We saw some beautiful views of the Painted Desert, mesas, Native American town remains, petroglyphs, lizards, and we even saw a coyote!! We saw lots of petrified wood. It was so cool because these were once real trees, thousands of years ago, that actually turned into stone, into quartz.

 When we went to Crystal Forest, (Of course, it isn't a real forest now, it was just where there was a forest thousand of years ago. Now Crystal Forest and all the other forests at the park are just desert with petrified wood everywhere.) there was a sign that explained what had happened to these trees.

When a dead tree fell down into a riverbed, it was soon covered with silt and sand. In the silt, there was a mineral called silica. Silica transformed the wood into quartz, over many, many decades. Iron and other minerals gave the logs their colors.

It was very interesting and so cool. Later that day, we arrived at Grand Canyon. 

-- Rachel

Cadillac Ranch and Route 66

 On Monday we left Palo Duro Canyon and made a quick stop at the old Route 66 oddity, the Cadillac Ranch. A strange art exhibit that wasn’t as interesting as we had hoped.   Sure the cars were neat, but the used spray cans and trash were a bit of a turn-off.  After our short visit, we headed west along I40.   I40 is a very long straight interstate highway that runs across the Texas panhandle into New Mexico. While still in Texas I noticed an odd sign.  “Hitchhikers may be escaped, inmates”.   Thanks, Texas!

Entering New Mexico, we passed towns big and small, and several Indian reservations.   Each mile away from Texas seemed to bring higher and higher gas prices.  The highway was fairly easy to drive and had some beautiful landscapes.   New Mexico was mostly a pass-through for us.  Which was too bad.  The landscapes we passed were amazing.  It looked as though we were driving through the backdrop of every Western you could think of.  We covered about 450 miles and stopped overnight at the Walmart in Gallop.  The next morning was a quick shopping trip to restock critical food items, and we hit the road again. 

"GO BIG OR GO HOME!"

 "GO BIG OR GO HOME!"  is a mantra here in Texas and they are not kidding.  We attended the popular "Texas Musical" on Saturday night right in Palo Duro State Park. 

This show has been put on at Palo Duro for 55 years.  The festivities began with the Texas Barbeque, complete with beef & pork brisket, sausages, and baked beans, which we feasted on.  Then we checked out the pre-show that got people up singing & dancing.  

Holding close to 1000 people, the amphitheater is open and set against the natural backdrop of the canyon, so the scenery is quite spectacular.  At the start of the show, the actor/actress are looking up to top of the ridge and lo and behold, there is a horseman riding & flying a Texas flag!  There are about 40+ actors & actresses that sing, dance, and act throughout the 2 1/2 hour performance.  One donkey and about 6 horses are also part of the musical. 

Special effects create thunder/lightning and a prairie fire.  At the finale, the fireworks and water/light effects are very impressive.

From the stage, they called "BSA Troops 709 and 1709" to stand up and be recognized.  That caught us a bit off guard!  All in all, it was a fantastic but hot night.  

Palo Doro Canyon

 Palo Doro Canyon Is the second largest canyon in the US.   We arrived on Friday afternoon.  It was steep slow decent into the campground.  Unfortunately our campsite was changed due to a water main break.  We should have been in Sagebrush Campground, which is walking distance to the “Texas Musical” show.  But instead we were moved to Wolfberry about 5 miles deeper into the canyon.   Temps here are easily 100 degrees during the mid day.    On Saturday morning we got on the bikes and hit the trails.  In the afternoon a short walk to the “river”.   For the evening, Texas the Musical!

On the way to Texas

 Second Stop: Pala Duro Canyon State Park in Texas

After leaving Mammoth Cave National Park, we set off for Texas. We spent one night in a Walmart parking lot, and left in the morning on our way. But while traveling to our next stop at a Walmart parking lot, one of the pullies in the engine broke, causing the belt to break as well. We pulled over to a Love's gas station rest stop and Mom and Dad called AAA. AAA contacted a local repair shop (We were in Vian, Oklahoma) and they were willing to come out and fix the camper on site. The camper was successfully fixed, and we are back on the road heading for Texas.

Rose and I got some string to make bracelets, and we have been doing that as we go along. Luke has been writing thank-you notes, Dad has been mostly driving or working, and Mom has been reading or talking to one of us. Rose has also been reading e-books, playing games, and watching shows on her phone.

Pala Duro, here we come!!

Rachel Brassard

 

First Stop: Mammoth Cave National Park

 First Stop: Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky

After 2 long days of driving, we arrived on Tuesday evening, July 19th.  We found our campsite and had a supper of ham, potatoes & steamed broccoli.  A lot of birds were singing at dusk and in the morning!  Rose set up the hammock and decided to sleep outside.  As added extras, Mammoth Cave National Park has hot showers, laundry facilities, and its own post office!  

We walked to the Visitor Center (which was packed by 9:30 am), and then on to the cave for the basic tour.  Yes, this cave is Huge, hence its name!  We learned that minerals were mined out of the cave to make gunpowder in the early 1800's, someone tried to set up a mushroom growing business (which failed) in the depths of the cave, and tuberculosis patients were brought here because of the belief the cave environment might cure them (also a failure).

The big one

On July 18th we set out on a long awaited RV/camping journey to see a bunch of our National Parks. Planned stops include Mammoth Cave, Grand Canyon, Zion Bryce Canyon, Canyon Lands and more.    The trip will take 4-5 weeks and cover thousands of miles.   We talked about this trip for years.   The Journey has begun .