The Canyon! It IS GRAND!

Our trip continued from the Bay City area heading back East again via the Grand Canyon.  Grand Canyon South Rim is a long way from anywhere, but the drive is well worth the trek. Upon arrival at the park, we were ready to purchase our admission (posted as $30. per person per day) and mentioned that we thought there was a special deal for seniors!  Jackpot! I paid a $10. fee one time and received a pass valid for the remainder of my life for all occupants of my car.  My driver's license must be shown along with the pass and voila, my whole carload of people will be admitted to any national park.  Now that's a deal! (ok, we later discovered it does have some limitations.).

Mather Point near the Visitor's center

Once we had visited our hotel and asked when we might be able to check in, we had some lunch and took off to find the main attraction.  Through the gate, after attaining my lifetime pass and on to the visitor's center, we watched an informative movie and set off on the concrete path for the Mather Point Observation Point!

A long shot from the Desert View Watchtower

 A text from son that we must see the Desert View Watchtower and we set off to find it.  We returned to the town to check in to our room and asked about it.  The desk clerk gave us some less than clear directions, so we asked again as we went through the gate using our trusty pass. The  park ranger gave us a map and advised that it would show how to get there.

A view along the Desert View Drive

 We drove the distance to the Watchtower and it was time well spend.  As we drove along, glances to the left revealed seconds of glorious views as we followed the road along the south rim in search of the unknown attraction.

From the parking lot of the Watchtower

We were enthralled by the views from the Desert View Watchtower.  Thinking it might be a tower built by natives to protect themselves. It was surprising to find that it had been built using native stones and methods by a group of artists to better take advantage of the can views.  I  purchased a book detailing its vision, planning and construction (circa 1933) and am anxious to spend an afternoon reading it.

My last photo from the Canyon

Watching our time, we left the Watchtower and pulled over at several stops we had noticed on the way to the end of the drive.  Holding tickets to see the IMAX theater tour of the canyon, we wanted to be back in time to see the last showing by 8:30, but hoping to make it for the 6:30 event.  The views on every stop were breathtaking.  We agreed that the pullover with close by views would be our last stop.  It was hard to leave and we each took a dozen or so photos.  There were no railings for fences to keep us from going close to the edge for those spectacular views.  Ol' Abner ventured closer to the edge than I would, but I snapped the photo above just before I turned around and started back up the hill toward the car. 

That was the moment that I stepped on a gravel covered rock and the gravel made it's exit, taking my ripping, tearing tissue in my foot with it!  I knew the feeling of velcro being ripped apart was not a good omen.  I quickly advised everyone to NOT touch me as I glanced behind at the view you can see.  I was able to pull myself up and Ol' Abner supported me as I hobbled back to the car.  We went on to the IMAX theater in time to see the 7:30 showing of a fantastic film (from center theater with my bum foot propped up over the seat in from of me).  All absolute "must do" plans for the canyon had been completed.  

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill with a flag on the left and TransAmerica Tower to the Right

You  haven't truly sampled San Francisco without a taste of Sourdough Bread and Seafood.

Sea Lions cuddling and snoozing in the evening sun at Pier 39.

Standing on Twin Peaks with the city behind us. 

After a yummy lunch at the Fog Harbor fish House, the carousel was calling the little ones, and
some not so little ones!

Little daredevils wanted to ride on the top tier...can you see them waving?
I couldn't but I know they are there!

Atop Telegraph Hill is Pioneer Park where a statue of Christopher Columbus resides
beneath Coit Tower.  From the parking lot, beautiful views all around!

And of course we had to pose with Christopher Columbus!

We stayed at Pioneer Park until the sun  was almost down.

As the sun was setting on the Golden Gate side, it created a back light on the other
side showing the Bay bridge!

I kept seeing and hearing this huge mountain as "Mt Tam".  Locals are very familiar with
it's awesome beauty, but few tourists get to make their way to the summit!

Need I explain!  This was from the SF side of the bridge!

Of course I needed to pose with the Grand Lady of the Golden Gate!

In all my visits to the area, I had only viewed this icon from a distance.  This day I
visited and had a chance to know this beautiful space.

Seal Island...sans seals...but beautiful still!  This is the view from the
CliffHouse Restaurant window.  

After a delightful lunch the cousins soaked up the ocean views and breezes.

Mountain Views

Our decision to drive to San Francisco and return by way of Grand Canyon allowed for gorgeous mountain landscapes as we traveled from the Texas Hill Country, through the Texas Plains and into the the New Mexico Desert. Throughout most of our journey the highway was framed by mountain ranges.

I snapped most of these photos from the front seat of the car.  I was so grateful that Ol' Abner was taking advantage of his new improved vision and wanted to drive.  As the terrain changed, the colors and style of the hills followed. It made me wish I had majored in geology...that knowledge could have been handy here.

As we passed from New Mexico into Arizona, not so subtle changes occurred.  Grays and browns turned to Red.  Ol' Abner mused that the Indians inhabiting these mountains must have been some pretty tough cookies. (well not exactly his words, but trust me, my version is a little gentler)

It took us three days of steady driving to reach our destination in Concord, California.  Very few moments of "Are we there yet?" occurred.  Oh wait, getting out of Tuscon created a bit of trauma.  The train blocking the road under the freeway was at least ten miles long and traveling at five mph...and so we waited, and waited.

 I couldn't resist making Ol' Abner pose in front of one of those beautiful mountains as we stopped at a road side park in Arizona.  He was for once agreeable and stuck nothing in his ears and almost smiled for the camera!  Wow...success, wouldn't you say?

 

 Several sunsets delighted us as we traveled west.  I didn't get the full joy of photographing through the windshield, but take my word for it...they were awesome to see.

Crossing the border into California more hills graced the roadsides.  As we left the Los Angeles area the next morning we drove up Highway 5 (a road that didn't even exist when Ol' Abner was cruising CA as a young Marine)  The farmers signs decrying the government's taking of their water were sad.   We saw a few orchards that were completely dead and reservoirs that appeared to contain copious amounts of liquid.  Hmmm, I may need to read a little more about this.  The good news, we arrived safely in Concord in time for a lovely dinner with family and get a good night of rest before a day in the City by the Bay!

Fine Eating

We continued eating well throughout our trip to San Francisco and back by way of Grand Canyon.  It was a wonderful trip...until it wasn't, but more about that later.  Upon our arrival in Concord, auntie and cousin came to collect us for dinner.  We were tired of driving and cousin volunteered. He chauffeured us throughout our time in the Bay City!  What a treat!  They took us to the Elephant Bar for dinner on our first evening.  We have heard and read about this restaurant often, and without one nearby, never had an opportunity to try it.  All I can say is YUM! Later that night we stopped back at the Crowne Plaza (our hotel) for dessert and warm beverages. 

The following day we met other family members for some wonderful seafood at Pier 39's Fog Harbor Fish House.  Oh my the food was delish!  Since Ol' Abner's aunt had just celebrated her 87th birthday, we added the wonderful desserts worthy of such an accomplishment.  A well appointed seafood menu made me want to return daily until I could try several more entrees, but time would not allow and of course more yummy eateries were on the agenda. We ventured out to Saucelito the next day for another great meal at Spinnaker while enjoying the waterfront view.

Another day we traveled to Land's End Point to see the gorgeous beaches there and again enjoy a meal overlooking the rocks called Seal Rocks just outside our window. We enjoyed a casual lunch.  My mahi-mahi sandwich on ciabatta bread was scrumptious...Ol' Abner enjoyed a cheeseburger!  He gave it a thumbs up.  For some reason, he was tired of seafood!!!    We indulged in local mexican food that night.  Ol' Abner searched the menu looking for carne guisada, and finally settled on a dish called "carne su jugo".  The sauce was made with hatch green chiles, and he was not disapointed.  Now if we could just find that dish in Texas.                   

We sadly left the Bay area the following morning on our way to the Grand Canyon. 
We stopped in Needles that night at Juicy's River Cafe.  I had a scrumptious tri-tip sandwich with au-jus for dipping.  Ol' Abner claimed the spaghetti and meat-balls to be the best he had ever eaten...maybe he was just very hungry, but it did smell wonderful. We slept in Kingman that night and drove into Grand Canyon Village the next morning. Our hotel check in clerk gave a list of restaurants nearby.  Hungry, we headed for a place called "We Cook Pizza and Pasta".  I tried a chicken and green chile pizza...oh my!  It was most tasty.  Ol' Abner sampled their version of spaghetti and meatballs declaring it as good the previous night.  Little did we know it would be our last festive meal on this trip, but I'll fill you in on that another day.

And off we Go!

Early in this year Ol' Abner and I decided it was time to follow some of our dreams.  He bought the lift for his shop and agreed that we should make that long discussed trip to the San Francisco Area.  A favorite aunt is not getting any younger and he adores his cousins who are her sons.  That was February.  

I began researching affordable plane tickets and checked the calendar for his upcoming medical appointments. It appeared we had a window in May of about eleven days.  Plenty of time for a lovely visit. I found a package with only one plane change during the roundtrip travel.  The package included a full size rental car and nine nights in Auntie's hometown. When I proudly showed him my plan, he sighed and said he'd been thinking.  He wanted to drive...yes DRIVE! I immediately felt extremely tired. I did not book the flights, reverted to my maps and travel guides checking realistic daily progress.  As the date approached I was going into preparation mode.  Last minute bookings depended on weather and factors unknown.  

The night before we left, he brought in the disk from Lucy's GPS. We began the update process of the maps and it appeared it would take about five hours.  That was mid afternoon.  Fine, I would do other things and finish the processes and bookings on my laptop when it was finished. I finally went to bed a little  after midnight with it still running...not the first time a computer download has made a promise it couldn't keep.  Oh well, we left the next morning with the feeling that much was left undone, but it couldn't be helped.  We had a reservation in Deming NM that night.  It was time to hit the road!

Our first stop- The Blue Bonnet Cafe

  
We left home with empty stomachs knowing that one of our favorite eateries awaited just a few miles up the road.   A hearty breakfast had us well on the way determined to enjoy every minute of this trip.  A pleasant drive through hill country and onto the Interstate Highway system. We discussed plans to make short trips to some of these towns later this year as we passed through.  Next stop was at Dairy Queen for a nice rest break and a blizzard.
By the time we reached El Paso with rougly a little over an hour of driving, we were ready for dinner.  Our ice cream lunch was long gone.

He remembered eating here many years ago

Traffic was heavy and we had lots of advice from multiple devices. Lucy's GPS advised of a 45 min delay and Lilly Tom on the portable TOMTOM agreed. Waze and Google Maps showed alternative routes.  All four recommended we take a loop (that neither of us remembered being there), but two suggested we go on the NB side and the other two recommended we go on the SB side. 
Ok, we agreed it wasn't a perfect system.  A bit of common logic and we took the side  leading away from the Mexico border.  He was anxious to see if a steakhouse from his days of working in El Paso was still as great as he remembered.

As we completed the loop he was sure we were further out from the steakhouse location, so we traveled back into the city via freeway with multiple construction delays and rerouting.  After about five miles, he concluded it must be gone.  We sadly made a turn around, not an easy process in rush hour traffic.  Once back on the freeway, we decided Las Cruces might be a good dinner stop.  He glanced to the left of the freeway just in time spot the steakhouse right where he had left it 27 years before!  We turned around and enjoyed a most delicious steak with cole slaw, spicy pinto beans, hot bread and a Hatch green chile baked potato au-gratin. An hour and a half later we checked in for a good night's sleep feeling quite pleased with our culinary traveling skills!