Bumpy Road to the Grand Canyon

Our 'mobile mansion' is sitting beside the cabin as we 'rough it' this time out West.  Little did we know that we would both get awful colds on the way, I'd have multiple agonizing bites from a New Mexico creepy crawler, and the refrigerator would fail.  Sooo we were very thankful for some recovery time in a Rt. 66 Motel-The Sunset Inn- in Moriarity, NM. and finally a lovely campsite at the Grand Canyon.  The site was huge, peaceful, quiet and right next to a clean restroom.  Our campground was only a few miles from Uncle Rex's exceptionally nice Best Western and we actually arrived within minutes of each other!  We made an easy connect for a wonderful adventure together.

The next day we got an early morning start to travel 22 miles east to the Desert View Watchtower.  A structure designed and built about 1930 by Mary Coulter an architect for the Fred Harvey Company of the Santa Fe Railroad.  She was hired to further the connection with the Native Americans who had lived and worshipped in the Grand Canyon for centuries.  She traveled all over the Southwest to study Native architecture and the Watchtower is a structure similar to a square one we saw at Hovenweap NM in Colorado.  It is very famous for the detail in the stone structure.

The interior walls and ceiling are richly painted with Hopi symbols in brilliant colors.  Narrow stairs circle up to the top view deck.

Terry and Rex studied the light sconces made from pottery bowls.  There is almost too much to see!

After admiring the view from the top we had coffee and a snack at the shop.  It was beginning to get crowded so we drove back toward the Visitor Center and stopped to see a view of the river rapids.

There is an actual Native American village ruin and museum on this Drive.  Archeologists found very unusual split twig figures made from one twig. They can be viewed at the museum.

After a very full exciting first day on the South Rim, it was nice to return to our little Teardrop and the comfort of our own bed.  Doesn't it look great with the colorful quilt Jane made for Terry on it??!!

Our sweet and simple 'bed on wheels' gets much attention and we have lots of  'tours' to give each day.