Road to the Grand Canyon

This adventure is not just about getting to the big tourist destinations and buying souvenir T-shirts. It's also about appreciating the journey and the people who travel with you. This aim was easy to adhere to on the road from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, a drive that would be an attraction in its own right if the two places it connects were not quite so spectacular.



This was the first evidence I saw of actual forest in an Arizona 'National Forest'.

This photo is proof that the path you travel can be as beautiful as wherever it is that you're going. We passed over this bridge and stopped to take its photograph for Patricia, who is a serious bridge afficionado. Then we found a little trail that ran under the bridge and revealed vistas we could easily have driven straight past.

If you have very good eyesight you may be able to see that there are people swimming in this river. I really wanted to join them.

The road up through the mountains climbed hard and involved some serious twists and turns. The red line on the GPS monitor gives some indication. We actually have two GPS systems in the family, known affectionately as Thelma and Louise. This one is Thelma. Louise stayed behind in Fresno to make sure I could find the grocery store for the week I was there alone.

This particular journey also gave us an opportunity to meet some friendly new people. For example, we met one very nice Arizona State Trooper who came right up to the car window to say hello and chat about our vacation. While he was at it he also let Dad off with a warning for speeding. Two thumbs up for Arizona as a vacation destination. Lots of places have great scenery, but pleasant policemen are very rare indeed.