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More encounters of a close kind today! It all started on a cold morning in Kaibab Park. We both slept very well at the campsite. It's REALLY basic but also very quiet and clean.
Wendy and I had made a bet the night before on the chance of it raining. Of course, being an ex-goth and having both read and heard about the summer thunderstorms in these parts, I bet on it raining today. Wendy, being a hopeless optimist reckoned that we would probably not have any rain. Well, neither of us would have anticipated what happened later...
So, from the tiny Antelope Canyon - barely wide enough, in parts, to fit a person - we have travelled to the Grand Canyon - over 25 miles wide in some sections and the largest canyon in the world! Everything seems to be bigger and better in the States. So big, in fact, that the nearest shower is 15 miles away!
The scenery leading up to the Grand Canyon is totally unexpected. We are, in fact, at the North Rim which is far greener than the South Rim. We were told by a couple of locals in Lake Powell that they preferred the North Rim because it didn't have as many large crowds as the south. Although, we were also warned that the views would not be as spectacular. Nevermind, we liked the idea of going a bit off the beaten track and fewer crowds.
The National Parks Pass we purchased for $80 has been really handy as it allows us to access the National Parks for free. Entrance to the Grand Canyon is $25, so I reckon by the end of our road trip, we'll have saved a few bucks! After our shower, we headed to the Lodge where we walked on an easy trail below to a lookout point of the Grand Canyon around us. Wow, it really is huge - as far as the eye could see - deep chasms crisscrossing the landscape and just a huge empty-looking expanse of flatness beyond the South Rim - a mere 25 miles away!
We were planning to go on a hike to the farthest point on the North Rim which was an hour's drive away from the Lodge area. When we arrived there, the sun was scorching hot and there was no shade at the picnic spots so we drove about 10minutes farther back to find a scenic spot to eat lunch. We got out of the car and started unpacking our food when, all of a sudden, the temperature dropped dramatically and huge black clouds swarmed above the trees. It started to hail so we ran back to the car.
I've seen hailstorms before but never anything like this - it was a flurry of wind, lightning and hailstones (the size of my fingernails!). It went on for about 15 minutes and left the carpark looking like an apocalyptic Christmas scene - white frost, torrents of stormwater and fallen branches and leaves everywhere. We just sat in the car and were overwhelmed at the sheer violence of the storm which had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. All I could think about was that it was a miracle that we were in the safety of the rental car and not exposed to the force of the storm on a hiking trail! That would not have been fun at all!
Surprised by the ferocity of the afternoon's weather, we decided to head back to the Lodge but as we drove back on the narrow, windy road we came across a large tree lying right across the road and blocking our path. It must have fallen only a few minutes before we arrived as I had seen another car driving before us. We had to turn back and go to the same parking lot as this was the only road into and out of this section of the park. We passed quite a few cars along the way and I flagged them down to let them know about the fallen tree ahead. Unfortunately, nobody had phone reception but we passed a guy with a large truck who was confident they could move the tree. So, we waited about an hour at the parking lot again and then headed back, by which time the tree had been cleared and we could return to the Lodge.
Spent the rest of the afternoon at the Lodge - which had escaped the storm and was sunny, hot and as dry as a bone! We had front row seats at the panoramic windows and could sip away at our drinks whilst enjoying the spectacular views. Later, we went to listen to Woodie and Clida-Jane played some cowboy music at the Grand Canyon Cookout Experience. Then, back to the Lodge for some warming glasses of wine.
When we arrived at our campsite in Kaibab late that night, everything around us was soaked but, thankfully, the tent stayed dry as a result of the tarp we'd spent ages putting up the day before. Thank goodness for small miracles!
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dora The adventure never stops!!!
Trisha in Hawaii had the same 'furrious" strom just after hiking out of antelope canyon. so powerful and brief. was awesome!!!! enjoy Vic's Trisha what do you think of all those rocks????