Aptly named... Big's not big enough...

Good morning...

* Made breakfast, and got ready.. I still can't sleep past 6:30 am here, but was able to snooze and had dreams featuring Mike Fotis and Lauren Anderson... Hullllooo!

* Drove north out of Flagstaff towards th canyon. 'Saw dear, elk (!), and watched as the landscape melted from tall coniferous trees and mountains to shrubs.

* Blue skies! Cool temps!

* First look at the canyon and 'were stunned. Pictures don't do it justice and words are just an attempt. It's big enough to hold all the love in the world, and coersely, you could stuff all the problems of the world in it, and there'd be room for more. Oh.

* To the visitor center for a talk by Ranger Mandy. Then to a lodge, for a pretty good lunch. Then, to Bright Angel Trail.

* My favorite places were the ones that we came to silent agreements to take it all in. And also, the sheer orange cliff where the condors perch.

* We saw condors!! ... And ravens (that make a funny noise) and were asked for change in the form of granola bars by squirrels.

* You'd have watch where you were walking (it's not the easiest trail), but would then look to your right and.... Bowoww! Beautiful stunning canyon.

* Going back up, just as EVERYONE said, was a goddamn (but fine!) challenge.

* The difference in temp change btw. the bottom of the canyon & the top is amazing.

* Bundled up and headed to Powell's Point for sunset. Froze, but watched the oranges fade to indigo and blue-greys.

* The drive home was populated by coyotes on the road, elk at the side of the road and so so dark -- things that destroy your rental car and stress out five exhausted people. However, we pulled over and looked at the stars, which stretch unbelievably from horizon to horizon. ('Saw a shooting one!)

* Made it home and ordered Dominoes.

So. Please go please go please go. I had no idea and no urge to see it before besides minor curiosity.. But please go to see it. We also met people from all over the world, seeing it too.

Side note: I'm going to write Merrel and the shoe dept. at the Roseville REI for saving my life. These are easily the best shoes I've ever owned. I've been climbing mountains of trail, and my feet are tuckered but great! And I didn't have to break them in! Seriously, Merrel, I'm your whore now and 'will be talking you up to anyone I can wrestle to the ground.

* Today, we toodle around Flaffstaff and head back towards Phoenix. Super lucky. Happy birthday, Partner in Crime!!!!! :) Thanks...

Onward.