Keith and I are in no
hurry to get away this morning, but we finally leave before 8:00. The
rim looks so close, but always takes a lot longer than you think it will.
I find a nice
variety of blooming flowers today.
We move over to the side of the trail as the morning pack team heads our way. This is the same pack team wrangler I saw yesterday and he's wearing the same shirt.
The Park Service has added a bathroom at the 3-Mile Rest House since I was here last. Keith decides to head on for the rim unhindered by my slow uphill speed, so we agree to meet at the top.
I never tire of the views looking back toward Indian Garden.
Pretty soon I pull into the 1.5-Mile Rest House. After a bathroom break, I continue the slog to the rim.
Somehow the phrase, "Giddy-up Daddy," comes to mind when I see this father and daughter hiking down. I always think I'm nearly there when I reach the first tunnel, but there's still some work left. However, reaching the second tunnel really means you're there. The Kolb Studio is such an impressive feature on the rim. I first visited the Grand Canyon in 1974 when Emery Kolb was still alive. At that time, I didn't know anything about the history of the Canyon and missed a great opportunity to meet him in person. The studio usually has some kind of art display downstairs.
I meet Keith near the Bright Angel Fountain and we jump in his car. He drops me off by my car at the Visitor Center and we say goodbye. He's headed for Phoenix and a flight back to Houston while I'm driving to Oklahoma. MAIN INDEX | HIKING INDEX | BACK TO DAY 3 | FORWARD TO POSTSCRIPT
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