Go West Old Men: A Travel Memoir. Part 13

This is Part 11 of the story, follow these links to see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12

The Majesty and Glory of Your Name

The rain had gone and it was, once again, a beautiful, but chilly morning. This was the day we would pack and head to the Northern Rim.

But first a sunrise, and what a spectacular morning it was. We gathered with a few dozen, maybe hundred others at Mather Point to watch the sun come over the canyon rim.

We didn’t rush it. I mean, there’s no rushing the sun, but we didn’t hurry through our time there, and it was spectacular.

It’s difficult to describe, and I don’t have adequate pictures. But as the sky began to get lighter and the sun was peeking over the horizon, the shadows, the colors on the canyon walls…it was breathtaking.

I sat for a long while and watched and the phrase that I kept coming to me was from a worship song.

The Majesty and Glory of Your Name

There, as I often do when I witness the splendor of creation (last week’s sunrises for example), I chuckle to myself that anyone could believe that all of this poofed into existence.

The hand of the Creator is so evident. This was (and is) no accident.

We didn’t hurry back to camp, but when we got there we devised a plan. We’d head off to the showers with our handy quarters (yeah, but hot water was worth it), Scott would return back to the campsite to take down the tent and pack up for the next leg of the journey. I would stay behind and get our laundry done.

That taken care of, we left the South Rim and headed north. On the way, we stopped at Desert View

Watchtower.

Desert View is in the eastern section of the South Rim of the park. Built in 1932 it’s recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It was patterned after the drweeings found at Hovenweep and the Round Tower of Mesa Verde. From the tower you can see a unique perspective of the Grand Canyon.

After Scott climbed the Tower, we had lunch and did a little shopping. I didn’t find my “Go Hike the Canyon” t-shirt, but I found it on a mug.

We left Desert View and headed to the North Rim.

The North Rim of the Canyon has a different feel. The road less traveled if you will. Less commercial, maybe even less touristy, only because not as any people go there I suppose.

We set up camp and drove over to the Lodge for a view of the sunset…with the people who could pay to stay at the lodge and see the sunset.

The days were nice, but the nights were not any warmer.

I was sure I would never be warm again.

 

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