Happy 4th of July everybody!!! Have a wonderful day!
And now on to Day #7.
We got up at 5:30 and had a fruit and muffin breakfast in our Best Western room.
We left Chinle to go to the Grand Canyon's south rim.
We first stopped at the Petrified Forest National Park's Painted Desert.
We loved looking at the wildflowers along the way.
I believe this is the Deadly Nightshade again.
I don't know what kind of lizard this is.
There was a sign posted by this flower so we know it's a Yellow Wild Buckwheat.
When we last came to the Painted Desert in 1993 with the kids, I remember seeing a lot of crows.
They seemed even more assertive now.
We loved seeing all the colors at the Painted Desert.
A short distance away was the Petrified Forest.
Mom was awed by the ancient forest that had turned to stone.
Newspaper Rock had many huge rocks with writing done by ancient people over 2,000 years ago. The petroglyphs were fun to see.
After leaving the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest we continued on our way to the Grand Canyon's south rim. A sign advertising a Meteor Crater on the roadside near Winslow caught my eye. The crater was formed 50,000 years ago when a large meteor fell.
It wasn't cheap to see it. It cost $16 for adults and $15 for Seniors.
However, it was worth it. Mom got to touch a real meteorite and even bought a small meteor piece for my brother at their gift shop. That's mom and me at the side of the crater.
After driving over 350 miles we reached the Grand Canyon's south rim.
We checked into our room at the Maswik Lodge which was unfortunately on the second floor with no air conditioning. It was unbearably HOT!
We ate dinner at Maswik's cafeteria and then caught the shuttle to Pima Point to catch the sunset.
We met a British couple on the shuttle and enjoyed talking to them.
This evening mom said, "Thank you, thank you for taking care of me and showing me such amazing sights. I can die now that I've seen so much. I mustn't wish for more because I'll be punished for being selfish."
We would ask mom at the end of each day what she enjoyed the most during the trip and each time she would say that what she saw on that day was the best.
Today was no exception.
And now on to Day #7.
We got up at 5:30 and had a fruit and muffin breakfast in our Best Western room.
We left Chinle to go to the Grand Canyon's south rim.
We first stopped at the Petrified Forest National Park's Painted Desert.
We loved looking at the wildflowers along the way.
I believe this is the Deadly Nightshade again.
I don't know what kind of lizard this is.
There was a sign posted by this flower so we know it's a Yellow Wild Buckwheat.
When we last came to the Painted Desert in 1993 with the kids, I remember seeing a lot of crows.
They seemed even more assertive now.
We loved seeing all the colors at the Painted Desert.
A short distance away was the Petrified Forest.
Newspaper Rock had many huge rocks with writing done by ancient people over 2,000 years ago. The petroglyphs were fun to see.
After leaving the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest we continued on our way to the Grand Canyon's south rim. A sign advertising a Meteor Crater on the roadside near Winslow caught my eye. The crater was formed 50,000 years ago when a large meteor fell.
It wasn't cheap to see it. It cost $16 for adults and $15 for Seniors.
However, it was worth it. Mom got to touch a real meteorite and even bought a small meteor piece for my brother at their gift shop. That's mom and me at the side of the crater.
After driving over 350 miles we reached the Grand Canyon's south rim.
We checked into our room at the Maswik Lodge which was unfortunately on the second floor with no air conditioning. It was unbearably HOT!
We ate dinner at Maswik's cafeteria and then caught the shuttle to Pima Point to catch the sunset.
We met a British couple on the shuttle and enjoyed talking to them.
We would ask mom at the end of each day what she enjoyed the most during the trip and each time she would say that what she saw on that day was the best.
Today was no exception.
Amazing sights! I'd love to see the petrified forest; (thought it was in California with the giant Sequoyah trees...)
ReplyDeleteGlad Mom is enjoying the sights and playing with meteors!
(OK, so you didn't need the extra clothes in the lost luggage since the room was so warm?)
DrumMajor
Pretty sure that lizard belongs to the genus of "fat" or maybe of the condition "pregnant". Chubby little creature.
ReplyDeleteLoved the panoramic view of the painted desert. Just beautiful. So glad your Mom is enjoying the trip so much.
wow, more places I haven't been...petrified forest, painted desert-no AC at your hotel-that's outrageous!
ReplyDeleteI never heard of a hotel that didn't have AC, even if it was old and rattled, it still was something. The sights were worth it, and the fact that Mom has seen such wonderful places... I'll bet anything you were sure glad to get home to Hawaii, though. :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great trip. I've been to some of the "Northern" parks in the West (Grand Tetons and Yellowstone) but none of the ones you visited this time.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure seeing your mom's joy in all she was seeing made the trip even more enjoyable for you and Art. I think this day would have been a favorite for me, except for the lodge with no AC.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is amazing. I'm glad to see it through your camera lens as I could never go there. I have such a fear of heights but your photos are awesome. It's so sweet to see that your mom is have such a great time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a grand trip. You mom's reaction is as great as the scenery. What a great lady.
ReplyDeleteI find that part of the world fascinating. So sorry you drove instead of taking the train from Flagstaff as an experience in itself....and it is air conditioned. Yes, this time of year, everything is hot. I so hope you were able to find an air conditioned place to sleep that night. Great photos, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI should be taking notes....what a great trip plan. Ditto Joanne's comment.
ReplyDeleteL...w
Thanks to John McCain's efforts the flights that proved so annoying for so long over the South Rim have been severely curtailed. An amazing sight. Glad Mom got to see it. Love your shots of plant life. Dianne
ReplyDeleteyour mom is a treasure, I love what she said!
ReplyDeleteYou mom is such a sweet lady. I am definitely taking notes of your trip. Amazing adventure!
ReplyDeleteWe drove through the Painted Desert area on our way from the south rim to the north rim. We were unaware of the crater.
ReplyDeleteYour Grand canyon Sunset photo is wonderful. We caught both sunset and sunrise there as well.
And I agree with your Mother - it's all amazing.
Your mom is so cute. Thank you for giving her this great vacation. You are fortunate that she is so appreciative.
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law said just about the same thing as your mom after visiting the Grand Canyon.
ReplyDelete