When you first look over the rim, it takes your breath away. You simply stand there trying to take in all that lies before you. It is so big, it is difficult to comprehend the size of the place, as your eyes dart about trying to make sense of the cliffs, canyons and slopes.
We arrived late afternoon which was just about the perfect time as the canyon is much better seen either at sunrise or sunset, when the light is so much better than higher in the sky. These first few pictures were taken as the sun was setting....
We were lucky that we were staying right at the south rim, inside the park at one of the centrally located hotels in Grand Canyon Village. This meant we could walk back to the hotel in the dark and we were in for a wonderful surprise. Right next to the hotel were two bull Elk, eating the beautifully manicured grass! They were play rutting and it make for a spectacular sight. They soon lay down on the grass right next to some parked cars which I used as something to hide behind as I took a photo....
The next morning I was up very early in order to be ready to catch the sunrise in the canyon. There was quite a lot of wildlife about, especially deer. I managed to get a few photos of them in the dim light before too many people appeared and frightened them away. I followed them into the trees....
This squirrel wanted in on the act as well....
Getting up early paid dividends as the light was fantastic, with long shadows being cast....
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Turning around and looking into the sun was worthwhile as well....
That all sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Well, it was near to perfection despite, not because of, the people that run the park, the National Park Service. I have now visited quite a few National Parks all of which have been superbly well run. This one isn’t. The signage is terrible, meaning you get lost a lot, the bus service that they promote you to use doesn’t run often enough, certain areas you can only get to by bus and not in a private vehicle which would be okay but the bus service to some parts was suspended, major parts of the canyon rim were closed due to construction works and the recently resurfaced car parks are treacherous for anyone on a motorbike.
Any one of these points on their own are relatively minor, but added up, seeing the canyon properly is a real challenge. It was disappointing that we could see so much of the canyon we decided to splash out and see it from the air! We went on a helicopter tour and this was our transport.....
Jackie in the helicopter just before we took off....
Seeing the Canyon from the air is, well, FANTASTIC! You get to see so much more....
We thoroughly enjoyed the flight and would recommend this to anyone. It isn’t cheap, but well worth saving your pennies for.
The next day we left the park by riding east along the canyon all the way to Desert View which is the most easterly point that the road runs next to the canyon....
Going to see the Grand Canyon has to be one of the highlights of the tour so far, so I have added it to my favourites list!
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