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"MUST...GET...TO...CANYON...FIRST...BEFORE...EVERYONE"
This appeared to be the attitude of drivers heading to the Grand Canyon.
On leaving Las Vegas we stopped at the very impressive Hoover Dam even if the security screening to drive over it was more tight than an airport check in. It was worth the rubber glove treatment though as the enginnering of the dam was stunning.
Leaving Hoover Dam we re-joined the Grand Prix and tried to stay out of the way of the lunatic hypo-tourists. The south rim of the grand canyon really does just appear out of nowhere and it would be quite easy to do a 'Thelma and Louise' and drive right over the edge had it not been for the 100's of RV's, cars and people near the edge... You walk up a small hill and the canyon greets you with a slap around the face! It just doesn't look real and seems to go on into infinity... our photos look like we are stood in front of a green screen and photoshopped ourselves into the picture...
We drove along the Desert Scenic Driveway to escape the crowds (this was a Thursday at 4pm and it was still packed... imagine a weekend... sheesh). Once we left the 'park here, take photo here, buy stuff here' area the crowds thinned signifcantly and we were able to see the canyon in a whole new light... sunset in fact... we were lucky enough to catch this near the Watchtower which is the highest point on the south rim, around 8500ft... The colours of the canyon walls changed with every minute the sun was setting... it was stunning and we were lucky we had timed our visit so well! Unfortunately we hadn't really remembered we then had to drive to our accomodation which was 70 miles away in the dark with canyons on either side and coyotes waiting in the wings for us to breakdown... We got there in the end and after a stiff drink and a meal in the cheesiest aussie themed outback steakhouse retired to bed ready to hit the north rim the next day!
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