Cross Country Road Trip, 2019 - Day 7

The Grand Canyon

I thought my life couldn’t get any better after I was bit by an ostrich a few months ago. But today it did, in a way I never imagined, because I got to kiss a camel! Twice, actually. But I’ll get to that later. I just wanted you to know right off the bat because maybe your life just got a little better, too.

Chad and I left Gallup at 8:30 this morning. We crossed the border into Arizona and drove until we  reached Petrified Forest National Park. When we reached the park entrance to buy our pass, the ranger booth window had a sign posted that said, “This window is closed, please enjoy the park and pay on your way out.” We took our time driving the 28-mile road through the park. First, we stopped at several lookouts that provided staggering views of the Painted Desert. The dark red, lavender, and ash grey horizontal streaks that run through the gigantic rock formations provide an interesting geological timeline, but all we were thinking was, “Wow, this looksexactly like Radiator Springs Racers in Disneyland,” and then we talked about how awesome God’s creation is and how awesome Disneyland’s creations are.

We continued along, stopping to read signs and learn about these magnificent rocks and taking pictures in hopes of capturing just a smidgen of the beauty in front of us. We saw ancient petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock, a petrified log at Agate Bridge, and the remnants of old Route 66 that ran right through what is now the park. We stopped in every gift shop we saw and laughed about how people can spend their hard-earned money on things like rocks, dreamcatchers, and shot glasses, as we handed over our credit card to pay for our new magnets, playing cards, and mood rings.

When we reached the exit to the park, we pulled up to the ranger booth to pay the park fee. The park ranger in the booth simply smiled, gave us a thumbs up, and waved us through without taking a dime. We continued on to Holbrook to see the Wigwam Village Motel. Built in 1937 and clearly the inspiration for the Cozy Cone Motel in Cars, the Wigwam Village is a must-see for anyone traveling Route 66. We considered staying in one for the night, but we wanted to go to the Grand Canyon instead and we were only a couple hours away. We left Holbrook, but not before stopping to see the street with the coolest name in all the land: Bucket of Blood St. It earned its gory name because of a saloon gunfight in 1886 that’s said to have been so violent that the floors were slick with blood. We got back on I-40 (what a boring name) and kept driving west.

Wigwam Village Motel

Such a fine sight to see

If you know the Eagles’ song “Take it Easy,” then you’ll appreciate where we stopped for lunch. We drove to Winslow, Arizona and ate sandwiches at Sipp Shoppe before walking across the street to take pictures in front of a sign that says, “Standing on the corner.” The sign sits in front of a brick building that has “Winslow, Arizona” painted across it. Also, in front of the building is a flat-bed Ford, and none of that will matter at all if you don’t know the song. But you do know it. Everyone knows it the same way everyone knows the words to Bohemian Rhapsody even if you have never heard of Queen.

There's a Chad, my Lord, near a flat-bed Ford
Slowin' down to take a look at me

Leaving Winslow, I did some research on the drive to the Grand Canyon and learned that a dream I never even knew I had was only 90 miles away. You know that thing where you’ve never heard of something before and then when you finally hear about it, it’s suddenly the only thing you want in the world? Well, that’s what happened to me, and thank God that Chad is rad and says yes to my requests. We went straight to the Grand Canyon Deer Farm, a 10-acre park, where we fed and walked with deer, pet a reindeer, and I kissed a camel. You guys, I don’t know how to put this experience into words. We pulled up to the farm and entered through the gift shop. We paid the $28 admission fee, and I bought 2 cups of food for $4 each. Chad didn’t want to buy any, and I told him that when he came to his senses and changed his mind, it was too bad so sad because I wasn’t sharing.

My new children

We walked outside and through a gate that opened up to an enormous petting zoo-like farm and a dozen deer ran to me. Chad has the video of my first reaction, but I will never show a soul because all you hear is my shrill voice ascending 37 octaves as I say, “Hi! Hi my best friends!” and all you see is me stroking their faces and petting them while they just try to get at my cups of pellets. The sweetest thing about these deer is that dozens of them will surround you and want you to feed them and they suck on your clothing if it’s loose. So, Chad and I had several deer sucking our shirts, soaking them with alfalfa-scented drool. “They’re nursing!” I said because I’m their new mother. Chad looked at the bottom of his shirt, which was so soaked with deer spit and pellet crumbs the white was almost transparent, and said, “This is so disgusting.”

We took our time following the path partly because I was enjoying the deer, but also partly because I was enjoying the anticipation of my camel encounter. When I approached Gracie the camel’s enclosure, she stood up and lumbered over to me. Gracie is 13 and has been at the deer farm her whole life. She’s about 8-feet high at the hump and a little intimidating, I’ll admit. A farm employee handed me a tiny piece of carrot, told me to put it in my mouth and walk up to Gracie. Gracie took it right out of my mouth, and I kissed her. It was over in 3 seconds and I said, “I need to do that again” The farm employee gave me a look that told me I couldn’t, so I just stared at her until she whispered, “don’t tell anyone I let you,” and handed me another carrot. I whispered back, “Thank you for making my dreams come true,” and then I kissed Gracie again.

It was as amazing as it looks

Chad and I spent more time in the park visiting so many animals including reindeer, porcupines, and a zebra. But they all paled in comparison to Gracie. And my flock of baby deer. After we got cleaned up, we headed to our final destination for the day: The Grand Canyon. Everything I know about the Grand Canyon, I learned from the Brady Bunch, the Griswolds, and the Disneyland Railroad. And some Discovery channel documentaries, but those tend to bore me unless the narrator has a British accent. Everyone we know that’s been to the Grand Canyon has told us how breathtaking it is and what a powerful experience it is to see it in person. We’ve seen a million pictures and videos of it, but both of us were unprepared for how stupefying it is to actually stand at the rim and see it.

As we drove towards the Grand Canyon, we noticed a few trees here and there and then suddenly, trees were everywhere, but no sign of the canyon. We followed the signs through the trees to our hotel, El Tovar, which sits on the south rim of the canyon. We checked into our hotel, and Chad said neither of us should look at the canyon until we get right up to it and can experience it at the exact same time. So, we held hands and, staring at our feet, walked up to the rock wall that runs along the rim. When our toes touched the rim, Chad said, “On the count of three, ready? 1… 2… 3…” and we both looked up.

Neither of us spoke for about a minute. Our breath caught in our throats and we just stared and squeezed each other’s hand. Finally, Chad said, “I don’t even know what to say.”

I sighed and said, “It looks just like Disneyland,” and we laughed as we both wiped away tears from our cheeks.

Seconds after our first look at the Grand Canyon

It really does seem unreal

Then we stood there for I don’t know how long, gazing out at the impossibly massive canyon. Grand, if you will. It was like our brains didn’t know how to comprehend what our eyes were seeing. We had dinner at our hotel lounge and sat on the porch looking out at the canyon. After dinner, we walked along the rim until the sun set, and we stayed out there until it was dark and the Grand Canyon disappeared in the blackness of night. We agreed to get up early and watch the sun rise, too.

And for the record, tonight, as I sat down to write and Chad snuggled down in bed, the last thing he said (before ‘I love you’) was “I want a deer to nurse on my shirt again.” So do I, Chad.

“To those joining us, welcome aboard! The next leg of our journey will take us along the rim of the Grand Canyon. It’s a mighty long drop to the canyon floor, so for your safety, stay seated with your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the train.” – Announcer on the Disneyland Railroad

-Rachel