MONDAY, 9/24

MONDAY, 9/24:

     Had to start off the day moving our RV spot.  Same RV park, just a different spot.  Long story – bottom line is that the full-time manager gave away our spot to someone else, disregarding the agreement we’d had with the assistant who booked us when we first arrived that we’d pay for a few days at a time, since we weren’t sure how long we’d be staying.  When Bill tried to explain our agreement, he was singularly unhelpful and unsympathetic.  In nearly 9 weeks and 9 RV parks, this is the only manager/employee we’ve run into who didn’t always try to be as helpful as possible.  He may feel that his park has a monopoly of sorts, since they’re the only RV park on the North Rim with hook-ups, and so feels he can treat customers carelessly (Bill witnessed him exhibiting the same attitude toward someone who was having vehicle problems and couldn’t get service on his cell – the mgr essentially said it wasn’t his problem) . . . but I can’t believe that his attitude is winning any loyal repeat customers. 

     Anyway, the only thing they could offer was Water & Electric only – no sewer, so we’ll have to be careful how much water & waste we let go down the drains.  It took Bill nearly 2 hours to move 100 yards – had to maneuver around trees, the guy next door was in crooked ( a rental RV), etc., etc.

     But as soon as we were in & set up, we headed out, as the skies were mostly blue now, but we’ve learned that if there are any clouds at all, they can turn grey by early afternoon.  Our first destination was a little side forest road before we even got to the entrance of GCNP.  A ranger had told Bill about this road, where she said it was just full of  golden aspens.  She said she’d taken 400 pictures there the other day!   We drove down the dirt road for maybe a couple of miles.  It certainly was lovely – but really, not any more spectacular than what we’d already seen.  We think we hit the timing of the aspens turning perfectly – think we’re about at the peak.  Even though some still haven’t turned and are still green, we saw a few patches today where it looked like they were starting to fade and drop their leaves.  So we’re very grateful that God gave us perfect timing on this!  Seeing this spectacle has been a thrill for us – we’re aware that it’s likely that we won’t see it again, so we’ve savored it that much more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Drove out on the Cape Royal Road again.  Stopped at Roosevelt Point, which we missed on Saturday.  Walked a lovely little .2 mile loop hugging the rim.  Even though the atmosphere still wasn’t crystal clear, we could still see pretty well into the distance.  The increasing clouds actually made some really nice contrasts of color, light, and shadow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Drove on out to Cape Royal, planning to have a little picnic at one of the picnic sites there.  But by that time, the wind had really picked up, it was threatening rain, and was cool, so we just ate our PB&J’s inside the truck and then headed back down. 

     Stopped by the GCNP campground to see if anything were available this week. It would be dry camping, but we thought we could tough it out for a couple of nights.  The advantages:  $9/ nite (it pays to be a Senior Citizen!); right here at the Canyon, eliminating the hour drive in and out; and the place we are now has just left a bad taste in our mouths.  But they’re entirely booked up.  Even though the summer crowds are gone, apparently a lot of retired people like us (and younger adults with no kids) take advantage of the cooler temperatures, the school kids gone, etc  to come visit at this time of year!

     Drove the couple of miles to the Lodge, and walked out to Bright Angel Trail, probably the most popular trail on the North Rim, because of its proximity to the lodge and cabins.  It’s a very short lovely trail, with some incline & decline from the Lodge steps, right next to the rim on both sides.  So it has spectacular views.  Bill went the entire length of the trail, up the last fairly steep incline to where there’s nearly a 360 degree view.  But I knew that wouldn’t be a good idea for me, so I just leaned on a big boulder at the foot of the rock incline, and waited for him to get his fill of picture-taking. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     We walked back to the Lodge,


 went inside for a few minutes to get warm, and then left.  It wasn’t going to be a picturesque sunset.  Most of the rain clouds had cleared, and had a lot of blue sky for our Bright Angel walk, but still enough low clouds in the wrong places.  Stopped at the Gift Shop to pick up a Christmas ornament for us, and a few little items for our Crimson Oaks guardians.

     Left in the dark again – about 7:00, and home at 8 to eat leftover tacos and give Pappy some lovin’.  First time on our drive home that we didn’t see a lot of deer grazing by the road and/or crossing it.  The night before last, Bill stopped counting at 40!  Because of the deer factor, Bill can become tense while driving that road at night.  Tonight, just as we got home, he was in obvious pain.  Said that his lower back was in spasms.  I gave him 3 Advil and massaged his back.  We’ll see how he is tomorrow morning.