Van Cronicles #4: Fin, the Grand Canyon and that which abides.

As our van travels came to pass, I had the opportunity to hike down into a marvelous hole: the Grand Canyon.            
Photos do little to capture the majesty of this place on the planet.

Halfway down the S. Kaibab trail I met three older gents from Iowa.  They were very impressed with my solo hiking and became ecstatic when they discovered I went to Grinnell.  They took my photo and when I reached the bottom offered me a cigar and a scotch.   Drinking scotch from a red plastic cup is divine at the bottom of an ancient canyon.

I took two days.  One to hike down. One then out.  On my way up, it was astonishing to see the bottom of the canyon from this perspective and realize I'd earlier in the day I'd started down there.

Squirrels are a real menace in the canyon.  There are signs that warn you to not feed them, and to keep your food / backpacks up high.  Apparently they are aggressive and will bite you.  The helpful signage has images of hands that have been attacked by rodent teeth. This squirrel I believe was tailing me for a long while.  I also saw an abundance of lizards, deer, a red fox and a California condor on my hike.  The canyon is a lush ecosystem.

The sun rising in the canyon. 

Nearing the last stretch of my hike.  I was beyond elated at the end of this trek, so were my feet and calfs.

I've since hopped out of the van and into a VW, traveling east to spend time with family and friends in Kansas City on the way.   Here is eastern Colorado.

The remains of fall foliage at Lake Tapawingo, my beloved childhood stomping grounds.

A bird villa near the Landes' house. I've always wanted to have a tea party here, or at least read some Lewis Carroll nearby.

My Pop's house, where creative chaos abides in lures, rocks, honey comb and dehydrated turtles.