TRAVELING TO THE SOUTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON

We backtracked North from the Park and headed East and down off the plateau. Next planned stop HAD BEEN a Forest Road near the entrance to the South Rim. It was pretty obvious to me that Carol was ready for a real campground with hookups and people. So we headed to Cameron, AZ to rethink our options.

After descending about two thousand feet we drove along the base of Vermilion Cliffs.

We stopped in Cliff Dwellers, AZ for fuel and noticed a group of people walking around what looked like a dirt parking lot with really big rocks on it. There was a couple under a tarp selling souvenirs and "authentic Native American jewelry". We were on reservation land and had seen dozens of these people so that didn't attract us. But the rocks did.  We were at House Rock Valley, AZ.

The main attraction is a house built on, around and under a huge boulder.

There were other interesting boulders. No explanation of how they got there. That's the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in the background.

This is a second "House Rock"

Inside - - sleeping platforms.

We crossed the Colorado at Lee's Ferry and stopped at Cameron Trading Post to spend the night. It's an interesting place. A small version of Wall Drug.

Here's a picture from 100 years ago.

Over the years it's grown to a huge store, restaurant, hotel, gas station and RV Park. Sort of an RV Park. It's across the street from the complex. Check in is at the hotel front desk. Show them a driver's license, give them $25.00 and they say, "Great. Put this receipt in your front window. Go across the street and find a spot you like." I asked if I should come back and tell them which number spot we were in. They said that it really didn't matter. Because of flash flooding issues, the sewer connections were in concrete raised about 12" above the ground. Unfortunately, my Airstream's sewer outlet is 8" above the ground. I went back across the street and asked what I should do because I had spent my entire business career trying to get it to flow uphill and had never succeeded. They said to find another spot. Back across the highway. There were no spots that would work. If I went the wrong direction into a spot I could hook up to the downhill one but it was for the next spot over. It was empty at 3 in the afternoon but if someone pulled in there I'd be using their sewer connection. BACK across the highway to explain my solution. "No problem. Do whatever you need to. If someone pulls in there they'll see that and just go somewhere else." I've found a new definition of "laid back."

 With boondocking crossed off the list, I had hoped to get space in the Grand Canyon Park campground. Nope. All spots reserved (like a year in advance) and they had not had any cancellations. When I googled for commercial campgrounds I learned that the nearest with space available was 30 miles south of the south gate. We were 30 miles east of the east gate at Cameron. The drive to the south gate is through desert and sagebrush. The drive from Cameron is along the Marble Canyon, which is what the Colorado River canyon is called before it enters the park. Quick decision. BACK across the highway AGAIN.  "Can we stay another night or two?"  "Sure. No problem." Without consulting the computer or even a calendar to see if they had spaces.

Early bedtime. Well, not so early after all the time spent trying to solve sewer challenges.

Tomorrow morning we'll be up and out early to catch those early morning rays.