Hangin' at the El Tovar

Suzanne invited me to join her family at their get together at the El Tovar hotel on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. This was a no-brainer on my part...a chance to mingle with a bunch of really nice folks, in one of the most beautiful spots in the world, at a historical landmark hotel that's in such demand you have to make reservations a year in advance. So I went! Fine company, fine accomodations, fine food, and...the canyon, superlative as always. Thanks to all!

The interior of the El Tovar is crafted in fine old wood...much of it Oregon pine that was left in a semi-natural state when incorporated into the hotel, which opened in 1905. There are critters inside and out. This moose is obviously gracing the interior, while at dawn and dusk his relatives, the deer and elk, grazed placidly on the lawns just outside the hotel. Teddy Roosevelt used to hang out here. In fact, we ate in the same private dining room that he frequented. And of course, for a while he represented the Bull Moose party!

Lizard does the Canyon-again!

Once again the Lizard enjoyed his visit to the Grand Canyon...twice in two months, and he's seen both rims! In the first pic he's enjoying a hike on the rim; in the second, he joined us for happy hour on the verandah of the Fred Harvey Suite at the El Tovar, overlooking the canyon.

Return to the Hermit

Long ago, about 1984, The Old Sloat and a couple of his friends backpacked the Hermit Trail. We hiked all the way down to the Colorado River, camped for two nights, then hiked back up. It was a wonderful trip; I immersed myself in the canyon in a way you cannot do from the rim. Even then, 23 years and 60 pounds ago, it was a very challenging excursion. Now, no way! However, the Venerable Pinniped has been exercising more since he retired, so last Sunday Steve Anderson (pictured here) and I hiked the first 1 1/2 miles and 1250 feet elevation loss/gain into Hermit canyon. (the full hike is about 8 miles one way and 4500 feet!) It was very peaceful...only a few people about, and both of us enjoyed escaping the throngs around Grand Canyon Village. We made it OK, but I sure couldn't repeat the '84 trip! Maybe if I lost about half of those 60 pounds....

Nature's Artistry

The Grand Canyon scene changes constantly. As the day passes, the fluctuating light causes changes in the colors, both in hues and intensity. And of course, the shadows roam across the gorge. It's always fascinating. At this time of year, late October, with the sun fairly low on the horizon, the light washes out only from about 10 AM to 2 PM. The rest of the time, the low sun angle creates vivid colors and entrancing shadows.

Another cool element of the canyon is that the pinyon and juniper forests on both rims provide excellent framing for photos. You can always find a picturesque tree...usually a gnarly one...to add depth to your pic.

Staying at the El Tovar, right on the rim, you can pop out to the edge of the abyss first thing in the morning and catch the fine early light, which is always enchanting. But, this time of year, it's cold! Usually below freezing, at least with the wind chill factored in.

Ol' Cotton Fields

Cruisin' thru the cotton fields near Bakersfield today, I stopped and took this pic. It's country and western territory, and it jest seems natural to listen to country music. Lotsa songs tell funny stories. Just before I took this pic, Jimmy Buffet was singing about how "it's always five o'clock somewhere". Come to think of it, I've used that line on numerous occasions to start happy hour on central or eastern time while I'm on the west coast!

Lone Island

This pic was taken at China Camp State Park, on the shore of San Pablo Bay near San Rafael. It was a rainy day, quiet and brooding; much like you'd more typically find in October at Puget Sound.

Sutro Ruins

The other day, I was passing thru San Francisco and stopped at the ruins of the Sutro Baths. The baths were built in the 1890s, and were an engineering marvel. Water was supplied by the surf. There were seven pools; six were heated; in the other, you could do polar bear swimming. (the ocean temp is usually in the 50s year round). It was a huge complex: thousands of people enjoyed the baths on a busy day. See the photo I took of the descriptive sign in the parking lot above the baths; notice that in both pix, past and present, you can see the same offshore rocks). The baths were all the rage early in the 20th century, but diminished in popularity after WWII. In 1966 a fire burned the exterior structures as they were being demolished. The baths are right next to the Cliff House, which, though it has been destroyed a number of times, has, unlike the baths, always been rebuilt.