Travel Day

I was on vacation. Finally. I was going to the Grand Canyon, someplace I had never been before, a new adventure with my hiking buddy who really was the instigator of this adventure vacation. I packed my bags, hoping I had everything I needed, and very early in the morning, off we went.

The flights to Phoenix were running a little late, which caused some anxiety about making the 3 o'clock shuttle van from Phoenix to Flagstaff. We made it only because they waited for us. I sat in the front seat and Nancy next to a lady with a terrible cough in the back. It was hot. Thermometers said 110. It didn't feel that hot, but it was hot. The drive up to Flagstaff showed off the variety of western desert terrain. From the aridity of the city of Phoenix through the mountains north of Phoenix where we hit an area where Saguaro cactus spread out across the hills with red flowers dotting their up thrust arms. These bad boys can weigh up to a thousand pounds - you wouldn't want to tangle with one. Lots and lots of empty land and no small towns dotting the landscape like they do in New England. Just an occasional house and lots of empty land.

We arrived at the Little America hotel and checked in, grateful to finally be able to rest. We both performed the stereotypical full body flop onto the bed, arms outstretched and reveling in the luxury of being prone for a few minutes. We then scoped out the gift shop and headed to the cafe for supper. Still trying to be "good", we ordered salads. Blah. By then our Eastern time said it was way past bedtime so we set our alarm and hit the sack.