we bailed ...

June 22, 2007 9:20:11 PM EDT
Subject: we bailed ...

We left early. We just couldn't take it. The Grand Canyon is grand, to be sure - and I imagine that the other 5 million 3 hundred and 46 thousand other people who were there with us today thought the same thing.

We drove to the first viewing spot only to be faced with a full parking lot, and a street lined on both sides with cars. There were people everywhere, all the promontories were jammed with tourists, crowding the fences, taking pictures, bumping into us, stepping on our ankles, stopping dead in the middle of the walkways to stare, or to shout back to a companion to "hurry! bring the camera" ... and all of this in 105° heat. Why was it so crowded? Maybe because it's Friday. Maybe because it's the Grand Canyon and school is out for the summer. Regardless, it was more than either of us could handle. We walked silently back to the car, baking in the sun, our gazes downward, focused on the way the asphalt seeped sticky black tar. Our feet sank slightly into the surface of the street as we trudged along, frustrated by the crowds, already drained by the heat.

Back at the car we grabbed our water bottles and chugged down mouthfuls of warm water that only 20 minutes before had been cold, swallowing gratefully, we laughed at our incredible thirst - we hadn't been out there very long! We drove a little further hoping that most people would have chosen to visit the first viewing area then gone back to their camps, or their hotel swimming pools, or to eat ... anywhere but where we wanted to go to enjoy the beautiful views. And I think to a large extent that was the case - the further viewing points were not as crowded, but still, parking was almost impossible, and neither of us could muster the enthusiasm to hike along the tarmac for the privilege of jostling for a position along the viewing rails, sandwiched in between the hot, sweaty bodies of total strangers.

And so we bailed. One of us - I don't remember which now - said (out loud) "what if we just leave?" And the other was all over it, like the sticky tar that had coated the bottom of our shoes. We decided we'd seen plenty of beauty this week, and Zion had been our favorite anyway. We hit the potties at the visitor center, wandered around looking at all the same books, postcards and chotchkies we'd seen at the other 3 canyon visitor centers, and then left. Somewhat giddily we made our way out of the park, leaving behind whatever bit of guilt we may have felt at abandoning our exploration of one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.

We cruised down to Flagstaff, and have chosen to stay the night here. It's early still, but the next big city is Phoenix, and we would have been arriving during rush hour - not an attractive option given the fact that we'd just bolted from overwhelming crowds. We checked into a Holiday Inn and then went in search of food - we hit a health food grocery here - New Frontiers - thanks for the tip, Bryan! - and bought lettuce, tomatoes, a rotisserie chicken and some dark chocolate. Shortly we're going to get into our bathing suits and hit the hot tub ... ahhh ...

Tomorrow we start the hard driving. We have two days to get to Miramar Beach, FL - about 1,800 miles by our calculations - including getting through Texas - we've discussed taking turns and driving through the night. We'll work it out - so there may or may not be a journal entry for the next few days. For certain I'll send one out once we get to FL - have to report on Nia's new home!

Mileage: 83 Time: 2 hours
Destination: Miramar Beach, FL with whatever stops attract our attention and won't take too much time!