ROUTE 66 (DAY 9)

Before I get into this post I just want to let my followers know that there will be lapses in my posts at times because, believe it or not internet service is still not available everywhere in this vast land.
When I passed into Arizona yesterday I also gained another hour as AZ is on Pacific time during this time of the year. They are a state that doesn't recognize Daylight Saving Time so their clocks don't move forward or back.
I had been studying the map the night before and decided that I would deviate from Interstate 40 and run up to see the Grand Canyon. After all it's one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Even though I'd been there a few times before it never fails to awe me.

When you first see the canyon it almost takes your breath away. It's so beautiful and so vast. I  reached Flagstaff, AZ and decided to do some grocery shopping and pick up more ice for my cooler before I headed north to the canyon. The weather had rapidly deteriorated and a huge storm front was approaching from the south. I donned my rain gear and decided to go anyway. It was only 100  miles out of my way up and back but well worth it. When I pulled into the town of Grand Canyon they were in the midst of their 4th of July parade so I pulled over and found a good vantage point. It was typical small town stuff with the Shriners, local fire dept. truck, police, veterans, etc. By now the rain had stopped but it was very overcast. I entered the park and rode to the rim at the visitor center. A short walk and I was there looking out into the vast beyond.

It was packed with tourists from every country based on all the various languages being spoken. I took a few shots and even had someone take one of me.

Because of the weather I didn't really like how they turned out so I decided to camp at their Desert View campground and come back in the morning hoping for a sunny day. Coincidentally my camera battery died that evening so I needed to find a power source to recharge it before leaving in the morning. Unfortunately none of the camp sites in the park had electrical outlets. The camp ground had 50 sites and as my luck would have it I was camped beside "party central". It was a group of three 20 something couples and without saying much more they were loud and obnoxious so it was another tough night for sleeping.