July 29th. Grand Canyon.

Some sore bodies in Flagstaff this morning but everyone has their own particular cure. My one involves various liquids and some solid food – it’ll kill or cure. Willy has raided the medicine chest. We set off for the Grand Canyon, the route is a circular one and we chose to go up the western approach (180) through some beautiful forests which skirted the San Fransisco mountains. There’s a $25 entrance fee and then you drive along the southern rim for about 20 miles and return to Flagstaff by 89. It’s very hard to describe something so immense and beautiful. Everyone has seen pictures and film of it, but to stand on the edge of the Canyon and try to take it all in just takes all your perceptive skills. I took loads of photos but there is no way they can do justice – you’ll all just have to go there. It was very busy and there were people from all over the world there. As we left, there were a lot of stalls along the side of the road selling Indian jewellery but I desisted, having already got my patches, pencils and fridge magnets in one of the shops. Willy got more flattened coins for his collection but he’s suffering today, plus the fact he has vertigo ‘Que cojones!!!’, hungover and with vertigo, standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon. The drive back was through some spectacular western locations, desert plains with bluffs and canyons. This is Navajo territory so I believe and there are lots of settlements scattered around but the preferred architecture is pre-fab or trailer. I can only hazard a guess as to why, any theories out there? Back home and an early night in, draining the cooler, for Vegas beckons tomorrow and we’ll need our wits about us.