The Grand Canyon!!

We made it! We left our hotel at 7:00 this morning and made the drive from Kanab to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The drive into the park was quite eventful with running buffalo and this cow that was right at the car window when Scott pulled over for the kids to see. When we first arrived at the visitor center, I was worried that we'd have to walk quite a distance to see it because when we got out of the car you couldn't see anything but the Grand Canyon Lodge and it's cabins. When we were in the visitor center the park ranger said that the architect of the lodge designed it so that you couldn't see the canyon until you were in the lodge. So, we headed off that way. The lodge was really cool. It was built in 1928 and is a main building surrounded by these adorable Lincoln log cabins!

We walked to the back of the lodge which is HUGE windows and an open back porch and... BAM there it was!! The Grand Canyon! Absolutely breathtaking. They had a walkway with steps and a rail that led out to this itsy bitsy point about what seemed like 50 or 60 miles above the canyon. Teeny bit nerve-wracking for me, but the kids loved it. As soon as we got out on the walkway and were all standing there taking in the view, Mandy says,"That's a big canyon." This was the view straight down....

We stayed at the Grand Canyon for about two hours and then headed towards Moab, Utah. It was about a 7 hour drive. Moab is the closest town to Arches National Park, which we are doing tomorrow. So, really the whole rest of the day was spent in the car. To me, it seemed like our longest, most boring drive yet. At the Grand Canyon gift shop Thomas bought an "authentic" Navajo Indian flute. Basically one of those recorders that they teach you in the 4th grade. Anyway, for most of the ride he listened to Elvis on his Ipod and blew that flute along with the music. That is until, I snapped and threated to throw the thing out the window and him with it if he didn't put in away! You try listening to Jailhouse Rock whistled at a pitch only dogs can hear for 300 miles!

Mandy screamed for the last 30 miles or so because it was Thomas's turn to pick a movie and she didn't want to watch his choice. She was crying and screaming,"It's not Thomas's pick. It's Mandy's pick."

Oddly enough Grace was the best one today. She rode in the very back and watched movies and listened to her Ipod most of the day. Her only breakdown was when she needed to go to the bathroom and we were on a desolate stretch of highway that had no sign of civilization, much less an indoor toilet.

Moab is another one of those towns that doesn't have chain hotels. I think I should write Marriott a letter and tell them they are missing the boat in these little towns near all these National Parks. Anyway, we are at another tiny, family owned place. It is really clean, but it is without a doubt the smallest room I've ever been in. We had to leave most of our bags in the car tonight because we wouldn't have been able to stand in the room. Tomorrow night we are at a Hampton Inn, I'm looking so forward to it you'd think it was the Ritz.

Thomas's Top Five for June 15, 2007

1. "The Grand Canyon"

2. "Taking a picture on a cliff"

3. "Seeing lizards on the hike"

4. "Getting my arrowhead necklace"

5. "All the views of the Grand Canyon."

Grace's Top Five for June 15, 2007

1. "The Grand Canyon"

2. "the cliff hike"

3. "Seeing the lizards"

4. "Climbing the big rocks." We stopped at a scenic turnout and let them climb on the rocks.

5. "Getting jewelry" The above scenic turnout was on Navajo land and they had handmade jewelry and pots and things for sale.

Blessings,

Leslie