September 9, 2012
Woke up with the roosters again. Must be heading out on Betsy . Got the bike all packed and read a little while waiting for Bob to wake up. I knew I wouldn't have long to wait because he gets up early and often.
Pulled out about 6:30am, the sun just beginning to peek out over the mountains.Beautiful morning for a ride, a little nip in the air. It doesn't get much better than this.
Hate to leave Bobby J and Zelda, but as Ben Franklin once said, "Two things stink after three days: fish and company." Been here four days...pushing the envelope yet again.
Bob helped me route myself last night, going down through the old Mormon settlements of Colorado City and Fredonia. Also puts one in route to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I visited the south rim in 2006 (See Day 4 - NA Motorcycle Ride), and always wanted to visit this less visited side of the marvel.
A beautiful Utah morning heading down US59 east of Hurricane.
One of my favorite things to do on my rides is what I call my breakfast ride. I get up, get packed, and head out. No coffee, no breakfast, just road. I then stop somewhere for breakfast after, usually, a minimum of 30 minutes, sometimes as much as an hour and a half. Knowing this Bobby J recommended I hold off on breakfast until I reached the Jacob Lake Inn at the turn-off to the north rim. I sort of missed the "at the turn-off" part of his statement, and never noticing the Inn (I saw it on the way out), I pulled onto AZ67 heading toward the north rim.
Miles and miles of beautiful forest as a buffer zone to the North Rim NP.
Through Betsy's viewpoint.
After yet another fifty minute ride to the NP, I stopped and replaced my lifetime NP park pass. My old one was lifted with my wallet in the Rome train station in 2010 (See Rome - Trois page). Entry price was $25 per vehicle. The pass ($10) covered that so I made $15 right away. Not my usual investment strategy (buy high, sell low and you never have a tax problem).
A few miles later and I was at the north rim of the canyon. More importantly, I was within 50 feet of breakfast which I finally got looking out over the rim of the Grand Canyon. Not a bad miss. Not bad at all.
After breakfast, loaded with two cameras, I take a little walk.
Just a glimmer of the canyon at first.
Widening out some.
I've mentioned my fascination with life's tenacity to survive. Not much water, little soil, but, like many of us, hanging in there, making it work.
Vista anyone?
Bright Angel Point.
It looked to be a short walk, but with the large ups and downs and my arthritic hips, it was a study in patience. But done.
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| Kilroy was here |
Pulled out and a short time later crossed the Colorado River near Marble Canyon just below Lee's Ferry.
The old "Navajo Bridge," completed in 1929.
Looking northward.
Bob and Zelda told me of taking a 10-day rafting trip down the Colorado. The water was about 48°-50° F and everyone was wet for 10 days. Meals were nice and wanted (anything hot was appreciated). Definitely not for the faint of heart or those without a sense of humor. Unfortunately, there are always some babies (not grown-ups) along making it trying at times.
As I'd pulled in to park I was preceded by a bunch of Harley riders, some with 'de bitches' on de back,' replete with myriad tatoos, and wearing the prescribed pirate costumes. Imagine my surprise when, making room for me in the parking space, one said a heavily accented "Good afternoon." I replied, "Guten Tag, wie geht es dir."
This is some of them after dis-robing to reflect the Arizona heat index.
Reached Page, AZ about 3:00pm with intentions of going on to Monument Valley. I pulled into the ubiquitous McDonald's and, checking for rooms at the Valley, discovered that there was the typical Indian monopoly up in that reservation land. Now, I don't blame the Indians for sucking all the money they can from us. But the only monopoly I will intentionally support is airport beer. Seeing the room rates at Monument Valley I opted to stay in Page and skip staying there. I can pass through paying only the high prices for gasoline. I could pay the rates, but I guess it's the economics major in me. I can't stand monopolistic practices...it's just not efficient distribution of scarce resources. It's why I hate the doctor/hospital/patient model in America. At the point of service it's a monopoly...and priced as one in many, many instances. I can find nothing ethically redeeming about a heathcare system that distributes services based upon ability to pay.
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