Canyon Rim Trail

The alarm was ringing at 5:15. In a stupor, I fumbled around and got dressed and ready and was pedaling the .75 miles in the dark up to Yuvapai Point to catch the sunrise over the canyon.

I soon discovered that it was not a unique idea as a number of cars went streaming by me in predawn twilight. Quite a few people were lining the observation deck below. I found a nice spot up above to wait and sip my tea as the orange glow began to light up the horizon welcoming a new day filled with untold possibilities.

I wandered around the rim for a while afterwards seeing how the lights and shadows stretched and changed with the ascension of the sun. The moon stayed out well into the morning hesistant to call it a night and miss out on some unknown adventure.

Dodged some deer on the ride home before joining a morning meeting in Rhode Island followed a bit of a nap and some quiet time resting around camp.

Different body parts were letting me know that they’d appreciate a break from cycling today, so around midday I walked down to the campground entrance and caught the blue shuttle over to the Visitors Center. Had a Quick Look around then started hiking the rim trail westward towards the Village.

I’d get a little rhythm going in my cadence then it would all come to a halt around the next bend illuminating a new perspective on the canyon below.

Lots of stopping to soak in the ambiance and listen to the wind that roars up out of the depths of the valley below. Areas where shuttles stop would have knots of people then as the distance between grew, there was more space and solitude. I relished both. The mix of nationalities and personal styles made for great people watching.

After three or four miles I reached Canyon Village. It was packed with people. The tourist train from Williams and Flagstaff disgorges its passengers here. Groups with name tags plastered to their shirts ambled about gawking over the railings. I joined them for a bit then continued hiking for home.

When I reached the Market Plaza, I visited the little deli in the grocery store and ordered up a fry bread with chili and toppings, a native taco. I sat near a window rehydrating and savoring the early dinner.

From there it was only a short ways further to reach the campground where a herd of six or seven elk were waiting to greet me. Two moms and several babies. Just relaxing and a bit of preparing for departure tomorrow after that.