After Grand Canyon: Meteor Crater and the Petrified Forest

So after I left the South Side of the Grand Canyon I got to the Highway 40 via Flagstaff.  I headed for the Petrified Forest but first I came, I noticed that Meteor Crater was along the way.  Seeing as how never been there, I decided to take a quick trip to Meteor Crater.

It was barren, nary a tree to be seen.  It was a bright and clear day and none too hot being late March.  As I approached the Crater it appeared to be a newly constructed building atop a large hill.  The hill itself was the rim of the crater.  Inside, there was the Apollo test capsule, a large gift shop and a museum that was quite informative.  They did guided tours out along the rim and they had quite a few observation points along the rim of the crater.

Now I wasnt sure of exactly what I was expecting.  In all the pictures I have seen in the past, it seemed to be much more larger than I was expecting it was to be.  Shibuya Crossing in Japan was the same way.  Here I was expecting it to be much larger that it actually was.  In fact the only that kinda blew me away in terms of size was the Grand Canyon.  That was big.

So after Meteor Crater I went to the Petrified Forest.  I was kinda rushed and I did miss some of the finer points of the Painted Desert.  But seeing as how I have been here before, I did not feel that bad.  I wanted to rush by and collect the stamps for my National Parks passport; and get my pin and iron on patch (as of today, I have gotten seventeen patches.  Not bad considering I have only started of March this year!)  I will have to get a picture of my coat.

After this, Carlsbed Caverns and the Howard Museum.

Grand Canyon Adventure Part 2

This is the second part of my Grand Canyon Adventure.  Sorry it is so late in coming.  Just mainly pictures this time around.

Yavapai Point

The Grand Canyon stamps one can get for their Pass Ports

Kolb Station

The next stop, Meteor Crater and the Petrified Forest.  Then I went to Carlsbad Cavern.  Will be later!

Grand Canyon Adventure

So, I am in Mather Campground inside the Grand Canyon National Park.  It is Thursday when I am writing this, so forgive me but I am not sure when this will go up.  Wow, I have done a lot in the two days since I started this trip.  Went to Vegas and went to Bachi Burger.  It was an interesting place.  It was a little heavy on the asian flavors, but all in all the place will get my thumbs up.  Stayed at the Hilton on the Strip and boy was it nice.  I would have liked to stay much longer for they gave me a suite.  Good gods, it was wonderful.

On the 18th I went to the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon West.  I was expecting to pay something, but it was $75!  I paid for it anyway and got my first good look at the Canyon.  Breathtaking.  The Skywalk is owned and run by Hualapai natives.  Now I didn’t take pictures on the Skywalk.  You werent allowed to take any cameras due to some problems.  That kinda sucked.  But I walked the inside of the ring (gripping the handrail), walked the outside ring (again gripping the rail) and tried to walk down the middle of the glass.  Got a third of the way before I went to the inside.  I could feel it sway.  It was worse than the Skytree or Tokyo Tower, because it was open to the outside.

Skywalk is in the upper left corner.

I got to Grand Canyon East later that evening.  Tusayan is a nice little town, except for the internet is totally unreliable.  It says I have four bars and full connection but I didn’t.  I stayed the night in the hotel (too expensive) because it was too late.  I asked the front desk person where to get something to eat and she suggested a steakhouse or mexican.  I chose the steakhouse.  I have been seriously steak deprived for seven months.  I hope she gets a kickback or something because I wont be eating there again.  I had the combo steak and ribs.  I don’t think they put salt on the steak, the ribs were too dry and the baked beans were watery tasting from a can.  Sad, sad steak experience.

The next day was today, Thursday.  I got into the campground and got it for two days.  Today I went to east exit of the park and I stopped at nearly all the overlooks.  Today was better for the sun was out and shining.  Yesterday as I left the Skywalk it rained… hard.  Today it was nice and bright and you can see all of the pictures I have taken on the east side of the camp to the Desert View about 25 miles away.

Today, the 20th of March, I am going to go to the west side of the camp.  I would like to come back here and hike the over 200 miles of trails.  So I am going to put this up right now, and to the rest of today, tomorrow.