After a good night’s sleep at the Grand Lodge we were up and out early to take in the Grand Canyon in daylight. And what a sight it was.  We took the “Red Bus Line” to see the western part of the South Rim. John happily marched with his camera equipment right to the edge.  I was a bit more…hesitant.  Looking at the Colorado River a mile straight down would give a sane person second thoughts. At one stop, The Abys, it was a 3,000 foot sheer drop to the bottom of the cliff.  And I am not particularly good with heights.  Imagine me crab walking one foot at a time, nearer and nearer to the edge.  Just close enough to snap a couple quick pictures before beating a hasty retreat to terra firma.  Not good with heights?  That’s a lie.  I am scared to death.  At one stop there was a good stiff cross wind coming up from the canyon but a young kid went over the protective fence and walked out on an overhang of sandstone for the sole purpose of impressing his girlfriend.  I was almost sick watching. I know his falling would have made quite the impression on me.

The Hopi Point stop was really memorable.  We could see the rapids on the Colorado River. And we saw a condor!  Condors are so rare that they are actually numbered and named.  I think there are only about 50 of them left.  They are all banded and tracked.  As we were standing at the lookout, Number 22 came wheeling overhead.  It was impressive.

On a side note, the entire time we were at the Grand Canyon I was besieged by an allergy attack.  I sneezed.  I blew my nose.  My eyes watered.  I apparently have an allergy to a species of pine trees in the park.  Fortunately, I travel with my own personal physician.

We rolled out of the Grand Canyon at about 1 pm and headed West to Las Vegas.