Seeing both sides of the Issue

I REALLY need a wide angle lens.  -Me

Today I viewed the Grand Canyon from both the North and South Rims.  All I can say is WOW!  I didn't take many pictures because unlike Zion and Bryce, the Grand Canyon isn't so much about a single peak or interesting formation.  It is MILES of stunning canyons that stretch forever. Without a wide angle lens for my camera, I couldn't capture the true beauty of it.  Not that I didn't try but they don't really do it justice.  It is a 200 mile drive from the North Rim to the South Rim and I had the pleasure of getting to see about 160 miles of absolutely stunning red canyon walls all the way there.  About 40 miles from Jacob Lake where I spent the night is Vermillion Cliffs and Cliff Dwellers.  These brillient red cliffs were just as incredible as the ones I saw in the Grand Canyon.  I crossed the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry and got a glimpse of what the river has done there.  Even the smallest creek here leaves a gorgeous, deep canyon of beautiful layers.  To give you an idea of the size, that plexiglass viewing platform is 230 miles WEST of the South Rim Visitor Center.  230 MILES of one canyon!  Needless to say, I didn't drive there.  I'll catch that when I go to Vegas.

Again, I will shut up now and hope that the pictures here can even begin to convey how incredible the Canyon is.

North Rim:
These pictures were taken off of Bright Angel Point.  The bluish haze is not the result of me being a lousy photographer (I'm at least marginal) but is really there.  I don't know what it is caused by but it was rather disappointing to not be able to see the canyon as crisp and clear as I could Bryce and Zion. I noticed this same thing as I drove around to the South Rim. 

Now for the South Rim:
All pictures were taken from Mather Point.  I didn't spend as much time here as I had planned to.  Between the construction going on and the HUGE number of tourists milling about in their rheir incredibly inappropriate footware, it was tough to get around.  I think I liked the North Rim better and would like to return there another time and do the trail ride to the bottom.  South Rim has just too many peeps for me.

Today's additions to the wildlife collection are:

Bit hard to see but this is a calf nursing

I'm in Williams, AZ now staying in the Grand Canyon Hotel on historic Route 66.  Tomorrow I head East driving on as much of the Mother road as I can find.  Based on what I saw today walking around Williams, it's going to be as wonderfully tacky as I hoped it would be.  See you tomorrow night in Santa Fe!