Last Day at GCNP

Sunrise over the Canyon

Our last day at the GCNP began at 5:15 am so that we could see the sunrise over the canyon.  The first day we saw the sunset and this is something that we wanted to do.  One picture is posted above but it does not do justice to the event that we watched for over an hour.  The colors and the shadows in the canyon changed every few seconds as the day became brighter with the rising of the sun.  It was as if God was painting a portrait of colors and changing the portrait every few seconds as only He can do in his infinite wisdom.  With temperatures in the low 40s we went back to the RV to get a cup of coffee and make plans for our last day.   We spent the morning visiting some of the buildings that were built at the turn of the 20th century.  Verkamp's trading post has now been converted to a visitors center and gift shop.  The oldest guest lodging was built by Harvey in 1905.  The Hobi House was built in the 1900s for the Hobi Indians to sell and display their art and crafts to the early tourists that visited the park

Sunrise on the south rim

Verkamp's Trading Post (1890)

Hobi House (1900)

El Tovar Hotel (1905)

After lunch, we mounted our bicycles and made a 10 mile bike ride along the south rim from our RV east alongside Desert View Drive.  Riding our bicycles along the rim was breathtaking and fantastic.  We saw views that the shuttle stops did not make.  After going to Yaki Point (the furthest point) we rode our bikes along the same route on our return.  We met some hikers at the South Kaibab Trailhead that was going to the bottom of the canyon and hike to the North Rim and return.  They planned on this being a 5 day trip.  Our expectations of the Canyon was met.  Today is the day where a government shutdown is expected, which means the parks will be closed tomorrow.  If we had stayed on our normal schedule, today would be the day that we would have arrived and the park could be closed tomorrow.  God blessed us by allowing us to travel where we got here two days early.

10 mile bike ride to Yaki Point and return to campground