Day 3 of Ride West

  Awakening to a splitting headache, probably caused by the two glasses of wine at dinner, I enjoyed an early morning time in the garden at the Hotel nursing my coffee, and finishing up the blog from Day 2.  

After an OK breakfast at the Falcon, a 50's throwback breakfast on Route 66, I hit the short stretch of I-40 that took me to Flagstaff.  Rain clouds were already forming, and I knew today would be the day for rain.  I was not proved wrong.

Once again, the constant elevation changes have me donning and shedding clothes all day.  Winslow, AZ is about 3000 ft, Flagstaff, 5000 ft, and on the ride toward my destination for the day, The Grand Canyon, I reach about 7000 ft just outside Flagstaff, before I drop back down, and warm up at the South entrance to the Canyon.  

I was warned, but the South Rim is like Disney, except this is real, not  fake scenery.  Like Disney, there are lines, many languages heard, tour buses, shuttle buses, massive parking lots, souvenirs, etc. Unlike Disney, once I walked away from the visitor center, the views of the Canyon were breathtaking.  And, I didn't even go to the Village; I can only imagine the crowds, lines, and chaos there.

After a time of catching my breath, oohing and awing like everyone else I got back on the bike and headed east toward the Desert View lookout, about 25 miles away.  Along the way, there were numerous places to pull over and see the Canyon.  These were much more enjoyable without the crowds.

Yes,  everyone I talked to before this trip that had visited the Canyon had told me that it is like nothing you have ever experienced.  I must say, now I understand.  It's like that saying a lot of Harley riders live by: "If you have to ask, you won't understand."  Standing at the edge of a chasm over one mile deep, ten miles wide, and two hundred miles long, words can't describe.  It is so large, I feel small, similar to looking at the stars at night.  I have been thanking my Creator all day for the amazing creation I have seen, and somehow just saying thank you seems really small and insignificant.  I've already decided to come back and do some of the other things, like hiking to the bottom, rafting the river, and more.

Arriving at the Desert View lookout, I get another view from a different angle, and I can see the desert off to the east, with all the rain clouds and rain falling.  Now I finally get to use the rain suit and I am glad I packed it.  Riding from south to north on the east side of the canyon, there are several more drastic elevation changes, and some of the strongest winds I have ever experienced on a bike.  As strong as that time in Big Bend a few years ago, when the wind literally blew my glasses off as I was riding.  Today I have on a full face helmet and it is really needed, especially with a dust storm and rain at the same time.  That's a first for me.

After only about 300 miles (seems like more), I arrive at my destination for the evening, Jacob Lake Inn.  It's near the North Rim, which will start Day 4.