South Rim Grand Canyon

[Sparkle]

Lordy, I could live without seeing the Grand Canyon again, from either side! This is The Watch Tower. It was built in 1932. We have been to original towers like this, as in Pale Hand Monument. But this one has been decorated inside.


Inside there are four stories.



The ceiling


There was a tremendous drop off where Peaches is standing. We weren't going any closer.



I probably should have cropped this


Lastly, Beth. We would have liked to take a hike from here down to Horseshoe Mesa. It was only 6 miles round trip, but a Boston Marathon Runner died on this trail recently, and it can take up to 11 hours! So we passed on it.

[sharon]

Looks like you're gonna make sure you get your fill of the big hole in the ground before you leave the area. Missed you guys by a few days. Where are you headed now? Drive safe and have fun!

[Cedar518]

Great pics, thanks Sparkle.

[WickedLady]

Awesome place and when you think of the millions of years it took for the river to carve it out....mind boggling.

[Bethers]

There's really lots of speculation about how it came to be - but most no longer believe it was carved by the river. Some kind of major splitting happened - and I'm sure the river had a hand - but we'll probably never really know.

I still way prefer the south rim to the north rim - and while Jean still calls the whole thing a "damn hole in the ground" even she can see more value for the buck on the south rim. Of course, we weren't here during high tourist season, but I try not to hit most of the NP's during high tourist season.

Sharon, we're not far from Phoenix tonight. I have one bar letting me connect. Jean has 3 bars and can't get online at all - so we will find somewhere else to stay tomorrow and for however long we stay in the area.

[avalen]

cool pictures, I never knew that watchtower was there, and the art inside is awesome!

[snowball]

enjoyed your photo's of that hole in the ground
sheila

[JanetA]

Photos MOST enjoyable!

THANKS Loads! ! ! !

[Liz]

I've only visited the north rim, so can't compare. South rim is still on my list, as is that mule ride to the bottom!

[AlmostThere]

Thanks for sharing the pictures. Love the artwork in the tower.

[Pooker]

Son of a gun! I've seen that tower each time I've visited the "hole in the ground" and never knew you could go inside! Jeesh! We just looked at it from a little distance.

Have you decided how long you are staying in Arizona? And what's the route afterwards? Will you two be stayng together or splitting off in different directions? Did you already answer these questions and I missed them? Sorry, if I did.

Evie

[Sparkle]

Evie, Beth and I will be traveling together, (unless we kill each other) for a year. Wandering South through Arizona, then into Baja for a couple of months. Then along to the Gulf coast of Texas for a month, then up to Alaska for our jobs until the end of September. Luckily we are of the same mind the majority of the time. Except when it came to visiting Smoky the Bears gravesite, a big yawn for me. Then I dragged her to Arcosanti. A big yawn for her, but she was more gracious about it than I was.

[oregontocal]

Smoky the Bear's gravesite? You mean he was an actual bear? Always thought he was a made-up character.

[Sparkle]

Chris, real bear. I stood with my hand on my heart for a silent moment. (actually I was wondering when we would ever get out of there)

[oregontocal]

I hope you didn't sing . . . .If I did, whatever it was would probably leap out and eat me.