Grand Canyon

After moving out of the Sunset Blvd. apartment (the night of June 19), we immediately went on a road trip to the Grand Canyon. Gina had never been. We spent the first night in Flagstaff and the second at the Desert View campsite within the Grand Canyon National Park. This campsite is apparently rarely full, perhaps because it lacks showers and other facilities. This particular weekend was extremely hot (reaching over 90 degrees on the rim of the Grand Canyon, which is no small feat for an elevation of nearly 7500 feet), so we didn't do much hiking. Here is Gina's very first view of the Grand Canyon (at Grandview Point):



And here are a couple of photos along the Grandview Trail:





Later in the day, as sunset was approaching, we returned to Desert View, where we had a fine view of, well, the desert (along with a lovely little mesa):



Here's another sunset photo. (This photo happens to be Gina's favorite.)



The following morning, we of course returned to the very same spot to see the sunrise:



We then headed out the east (the same way we had come in) and then northward towards Utah. We crossed the Colorado River at Marble Canyon, and then drove on to Zion, where we had lunch outdoors in the 100+ degree heat. After a mini hike, Gina jumped into the river clothes and all, and was subsequently in a much better mood:



Late in the afternoon, we went on to Las Vegas, where we spent a night before returning to Irvine. Las Vegas was uneventful, if not downright boring (and we pretty much both decided we never needed to go back).