Check in time at Mather wasn’t until noon, so I took my time getting organized and did a big house cleaning for the first time on the trip. Took the AC filter off and cleaned it, the stove, mopping, the whole deal. Kind of nice having a clean living space.

Headed out a little before 11:00 and stopped at some of the scenic overlooks and took in the amazing views.

Arrived at Canyon Village a bit early but the cheerful ranger at the kiosk confirmed me on her computer and sent me to site #44. A decent spot among the ponderosa pines. The campground is a little tight for space but everyone’s been respectful and friendly.

Since I was now in an area with access to dining options other than my usual sandwiches and salads, I decided to treat myself and have lunch at the Yavapai Lodge. Rode the bike over and ate a so so overpriced burger at the tavern. Right outside the window was the greenway that leads to the road out to Hermit’s Rest.

I hadn’t intended the bike ride out there, it just kind of happened. Especially being bloated from a heavy lunch. But I started following the path until it reached the rim then began climbing up the road towards the Rest.

The road is closed to cars. The only vehicles allowed are the shuttle buses that let tourists off and on at the numerous viewpoints along the road. It’s every 15 minutes that a bus goes by. Otherwise I had the road to myself.

There is a walking trail along the rim that is closed to bikes that people hike from point to point. Some go the whole 7 miles, others jump on and off the bus to walk only certain areas of interest.

I tried not to let the repetition of otherworldly vistas make me immune to the beauty I was witnessing. Every lookout had a different angle and fresh views. I took many pictures but none of them really translate the vastness of the canyon.

I hadn’t brought any hydration and about an hour or so into the adventure I began to question whether I’d really thought this through. But at Hermit’s Rest they had a little store where I was able to get something to drink.

I did a lot of stopping and gawking on the way up but as the sun was getting low in the sky, I set a consistent pace for the ride back. Uphill the first three miles then a nice stretch of downhill grades where I was able to get up to 30 mph.

Put the brakes on for the grocery store at Market Plaza and got some mini tamales for dinner and some salad fixin’s.

Seventeen miles total, as always here, lots of up and down on the elevation. Fun day but ready for some rest.