Category: Travel

As many times as I have been to the South Rim, hiked down in to and  rafted through the Grand Canyon, I had never been to the North Rim.  I’m so glad we took the time. It is truly hard to explain the experience of such a wonder. We started by just relaxing and mapping out our hiking day at the Grand Canyon Lodge viewing patio. Plan on spending some down time here! 
Someone pointed out a peregrine falcon soaring over head. At one time there were only 70 in existence.  Now thanks to the efforts of the National Park Service conservation there are over 400.

 

 

A tourist bus exploding with nylon tracksuits &oversized  visors  poured out just as we started down the trail  This interesting lady had just the hat for the occasion!

I recommend taking a lunch and eat at one of the high tables on the  observation deck. We did and enjoyed the view and the fresh air.  The lines for the one restaurant can be very long and lots of people were eyeballing my hoagie and pasta salad. We decided to head out to  Cape Royal. On the way we witnessed the devastation of a forest fire from years ago. Young Aspen trees have taken over where Ponderosa Pine trees once stood.  Soon the burned areas of the North Rim will be covered with lush Aspen trees. I was so Excited to see Window Rock!  I have always wondered where it was.  Walking on top of it is interesting. There is a 3′ wide by 4′ long rock to walk over to the point.  Both sides are straight down for a very long way. We noticed many people waiting on more solid ground for their friends.  No matter how their friends coaxed they wouldn’t venture out. Having never heard of Cape Royal I thought it was probably rocks that looked like a castle. I was soooo wrong. Cape Royal made me cry.  We walked along the twisted juniper path bundled in jackets because we were near 9000 feet elevation and there is still snow on the ground.  The people coming toward us on the path were silent.  Most smiled and nodded.  Thinking perhaps it was trail etiquette we stayed quiet too.  About a half mile later we turned a corner to a 270-degree view like I cannot describe.I couldn’t move.  Just as I gasped a cold breeze pushed extra air into my lungs.  My eyes filled with tears while my mind tried to accept this view.  No picture can capture that moment.  I tried.

 

We stayed for quite a while.  I wish I could stay forever.

On our way down we wanted to shout to the people coming up the path -“just wait! It’s so beautiful! You’re gonna CRY!” Instead we were silent, smiled knowingly and nodded.

Often my favorite places are forks in the road.  Stopping at Cameron Trading Post Est. 1916 is one of those. We hook up at the RV sites and begin our adventure.

Exploring the area we are delighted to find such an interesting art gallery full of color.

We quickly unhook from the RV and head to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Even though we have visited these same sights often, we always come away with a different experience.

We met Louise Y. Nez, a weaver.  Her hands lifted the different colors of thread through her loom with ease. Mesmerizing.

Not surprisingly she has made hundreds of rugs as she began weaving at twelve. Three of her daughters & one son continue the tradition.

Her work is exhibited in museums all over the world.  Unfortunately, some of her work is labeled unknown.

On to climbing the tower for the view inside and out.

My husband, who as you know does not do well in crowds & whose “whisper” can be heard for miles, commented on the following wall art:

A visit to the Tusayan museum provides history of the inhabitants of the area and  a walk around some ruins and kivas.

Back to Cameron for an afternoon stroll through the gardens.

A lovely way to end a day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random find in the tiny  town of Clifton, AZ  in a small museum resides the high chair of Sandra Day O’Conner.  Arizonans are so proud of the first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court.  I asked permission from the stoic caretaker to take the picture.  Of all the mining subjects in the museum he wondered why I chose this object to photograph.

I wanted this picture to remind me that even one of the most influential women of my lifetime started the same way we all did.  Our choices, our decisions, make us who we are. She is such an inspiration and example of responsible citizenship.

“Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. No one learns more about a problem than the person at the bottom.” Sandra Day O’Conner.

Last  Saturday was all about hanging out in Clifton, AZ an old mining town.     The road climbs winding through the mountains and suddenly drops down between the rugged red canyon walls to this little town.

We saw a few signs and thought it might be interesting and it doesn’t disappoint.  

This is the outside of the jail that is actually a cave in the rock.  The holes you see with bars are the windows  about 10 feet above the floor of the jail. The sign says the first prisoner built it himself!   

The Rocks they used to build the wall are so beautiful.  It’s open on the other side (and you know how I feel about open doors).  Let’s go in!

Down a few steps and G says “I hope somebody doesn’t lock the outside door.” just as I am stepping into total darkness.  (THANKS G!)   The cave jail  it very spooky. It doesn’t smell like a cave, really has no smell at all for having been used as living quarters.   We don’t have a flashlight with us so I  have to use the camera  flash to see where we are. Below is an overexposed shot of one of the cells .

I saw a rusty dirty chain on the floor illuminated by a little bit of sunlight from the “window” above.    I picked it up and when I realized it was bolted to the floor it made me  sad and horrified at the same time.  I got out of there fast.

We go further back within the cave jail.  It’s not getting any better but at least there is electricity this far back. Feeling very medieval as it is still pretty dark  I took another flash shot to see what was in front of us. It came out looking like the  very end of The Blair Witch Project.

Unimaginable  spending any length of time down here.  I’m ready to leave now G.

 

Outside the jail is this kick ass stem engine, Copper Head Coronado Railroad.

Absolutely beautiful view from the bridge. Very quiet here, well until I stepped on a loose metal panel and the whole bridge sounded like it was falling down.  

 

Ramshackle buildings contribute to the charm of this old town. A look inside an abandoned building reveals an old couch, a TV with an old style bubble screen, and various trash.  It would be interesting to find out when it was abandoned, who lived here, and the stories associated with the once booming mining town.

There is an occupied apartment in this row of crumbling buildings below.  An American Flag waves in the breeze in the distance.   

Layers of time …..

 

Old church on Chase Creek Road is part of the Historic Restoration of Clifton.

Below is an example of the steel door to a cave.  They may have originally been used as cellars to preserve food.  During Prohibition caves like this were used for storing Whiskey (of course) and we are told that is when the steel doors were added.  Later they actually were rented out to miners as rooms.  Every house against the cliff seems to have one.

Oh and when you can’t find an awning just use a fender.  

The whole street is peppered with various renovations like this 3 story conglomeration.

So peaceful.

Clifton is the last remaining old mining town of this area. The  Morenci  old town has been buried with mine tailings as a large copper vein went right through it.   I can’t wait to return to this place to explore  someday soon.