Grand Canyon North rim

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Trip Start Mar 01, 2007 Previous
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  Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States
Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Headed south from Denver, everything to the west is mountains, didn't realise that there were so many peaks over 14,000 feet in Colorado !! what a place....stayed at Manitou Springs, a popular holiday destination....so throbbing with tourists....where we went to the Garden of the Gods, everything here is named after God or the Devil!!!! Basically a huge park full of red rocks and buttes and went up Pikes Peak.....a narrow 25 mile road switch backing up the mountain with sheer drops, passing three lakes, we arrived at the top to fantastic views.

Taking more scenic byways we moved on, stopping at the Petrified forest NP...NO THE TREES WERE NOT FRIGHTENED.....they were covered in lava from a volcano and turned to stone millions of years ago, amazing. We were told that we had to be careful of the wildlife...bears we thought....but no it was squirrels which carry Bubonic plague...KILLER SQUIRRELS!

01 Goddess or what ?

!
 As we drove on to Sand Dunes NP we saw a rattlesnake weaving in and out of the grass, bright green and about 3ft we decided not to leave the car....later a ranger told us he was glad we did not mess with it as the green western rattlesnake is very poisionous!! Do you have them in England he inquired!!

We planned our next route through the mountains but on arriving in Lake City we discovered it was for 4 wheel drives only and had to do a 60 mile detour round, then back on to a dirt track taking us through Owl Pass, got very hairy when it poured of rain and the car started sliding all over the road....but we arrived safely in Ouray KOA (campsites of America) to enjoy a BBQ and live blue grass music.

Durango we went white water rafting, started early, then a scenic historic tour to Silverton, an old mining town....they took out silver by the ton....had lunch in an old brothel, closest Colin has got to one (look for the ladies of the night upstairs in the photo)...and took the steam train back to Durango...amazing scenery and rode over deep gorges.....but after 4 hrs we ended with sore butts, seats need updating.

Decided to pop down into New Mexico...just because we can...and ended up visiting Chaco NP and Aztec NP both world heritage sites...these and Mesa Verde were awesome, 3 storey houses built by Pueblo Indians, some in cliffs....where they climbed up every day to the top to farm using tiny hand holds (still visable)....from 800AD

02 Pikes Peak at 14100 ft

. We did a great hike along a small ledge, high above the canyon floor, climbing over boulders and through small alley ways of rock, to see a wall of petroglyphs left by the Indians.

Nearly forgot to say that we went to Monument Valley, a red dusty land part of the Navajo indian reserve, no alcolhol !! where most of the famous westerns have been made.

At Lake Powell we spent an easy day relaxing with a fantastic view of the lake and its houseboats ($3,000 per week), speed boats and jet skis surrounded by huge cliffs of red/pink/white rock that change colours as the sun moves. Followed by the Grand Canyon North Rim which is so much quieter than the South Rim but just as spectacular.....we were desperate for accomomadation close by and found an old shed for $90 a night....they called it a rustic cabin but we beg to differ...rip off.

Our time in America is coming to a close...3 days of partying in Vegas blowing our underspend......only Colin could keep such tight control!!! Watch out Canada here we come.....

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03 25 miles of switchbacks	04 Petrified forest NM	05 Western rattler	06 Huge sand pit
07 Owl pass mean & moody	08 Living in the middle of mining country	09 The Shady lady saloon	10 Great train rubbish seats
11 Wow can you believe this place	12 Kivas new & old	13 Tough to get through doorways	14 Mesa Verde
15 Mesa Verde tour	16 You must be joking !	17 It can be done	18 Colin on the rocks
19 1000 year old graffitti	20 Tou into the dwellings	21 John Ford point Monument Valley	22 Timer works on camera
23 Chilling at Lake Powell	24 North rim Grand Canyon	25 Sitting on the edge

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