We drove through the darkness in Arizona last evening, marveling at the sunset we witnessed along the way.  It was about 7:00 PM local time when we arrived at Grand Canyon National Park.  Our “sign selfie” would have to wait.  Arizona does not recognize daylight savings time, so the hour changeover took us a bit by surprise. 

The night seemed short as we awoke well before dawn.  We actually used an alarm this morning to assure we were up at 5:00 AM.  Katie Q (not a morning person) was a trooper and did well despite being deprived a longer morning and a large cup of strong coffee. 

Me? I am a morning person.  I did my best NOT to annoy Katie Q with my energy and excitement about the morning.

We drove a few miles into Grand Canyon Village where we would catch a shuttle to our viewing area for sunrise.  It was very dark at the shuttle station, yet the horizon was changing color to a deep midnight blue.  We only waited with two other people brave enough to venture out along the rim of the canyon at 34 degrees Fahrenheit.  

While we waited, we looked up.  I like that Katie Q is also a person who appreciates nature and the world around her.

Oh the stars.  

The sky was absolutely huge with nothing to obstruct the view.  We saw constellations like the Big Dipper, Ursa Major, and Orion, just like we would at home.  It made us feel not so far away.

The shuttle came and we boarded.  Our driver was also a professional photographer and assured us the light this morning would be amazing.  It was only about ten minutes and we were at Yaki Point.

Yaki Point was one of two viewing places on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon that were recommended for sunrise viewing.  Our shuttle driver said he preferred Yaki Point as it provided better panoramic views.  Once at our destination, we split up and headed to where we would greet the morning.

Fortunately, we were prepared for the weather.  The temperature was cold, but the howling winds coming up out of the canyon made it feel frigid.  I was comfy in my wind-block fleece, hat, and gloves.  

There was just enough light to see the light colored stone of the trails that wandered to the canyon’s edge and back.  I wandered in and out of the trails looking for a point to take in the show that was about to begin.  I found a rock that jutted out into the canyon and allowed me a view of the rock walls to the west and the sun that would be rising over another point to my east.  Katie Q was beyond the point I could see to the east.

The sky started to change.

The deep midnight blue was broken along the horizon by a thin strip of sunlight.  There were a few very thin clouds that looked suspended right about the horizon.  After a bit of time the bottoms of the clouds were edged with a bright red glow.  

As the sun rose, the horizon changed again to deep orange with glimpses of yellow.  Still, the top of the sun was not visible.  The clouds brightened as the top of the sun peeked up to show itself.  When it did, it started to cast light to the rock walls of the western part of the canyon below.  It was a magnificent sight.  

I had my camera and snapped pictures to my left and right, afraid to miss even one change of the light. At one point, I just stopped.

I took time to just be in that place, in that moment.

I watched the sun.  I watched the clouds.  I watched the rocky cliffs all around me.  I breathed.  I thought about Katie Q and smiled knowing it  was likely she was doing the same thing.

I took a moment to give thanks for that moment in that place.

What a gift.

When the sun was up, others started to trickle in.  I left my viewing point and took a walk along the trail that led off to the west.  I stopped along the way to see what I could see.  I could only smile at the glorious site of that grand canyon warming up to greet the day.

There were some signs I noticed along the trail that pointed to a Migratory Hawk Watch site.  I walked to the viewing area.  I did not see any raptors in the air, but the ravens were taking advantage of the thermals.

I could hear more and more voices along the trail and decided it was time to work my way back to the shuttle area in hopes that Katie Q was there.  She was.  She had her viewing point almost to herself with an unobstructed view of the sun and the dramatic changing of the sky.  We agreed photo sharing will be a post-trip project.

We boarded the shuttle and the same driver greeted us.  He told us we could get a good cup of coffee at the bike shop in the village area at 8:00 AM.  Katie Q honed in on that information.  It was 7:50 AM when we arrived.  We took our time getting to the door of the shop.  The coffee was not as good as Wicked Brew in Moab, but better than any hotel coffee.

Coffee in hand, we went back to the hotel to pack up.  Katie Q stared to become her usual self as she sipped through her large cup of coffee.  She told me her vantage point was spectacular and secluded.  She met only one other person, a young man traveling from Dublin, Ireland.  

Once checked out of the hotel, we went back to Grand Canyon Village for a walk around Mather’s Point.  This path is mostly sidewalk and extremely accessible.  Mather Point was the other recommended observation spot for sunrise.  

Given the number of people at Mather Point, we were happy to have chosen Yaki Point.

The sun was shining brightly yet it was still under 50 degrees Fahrenheit.  We wandered along the Rim Trail west of Mather Point and took some photos.   We took photos for others and they took photos for us, as all good tourists will do.  

We ended our walk early as today it is also a driving day.  We have a five and a half  hour drive to our next destination.  Who knows what we might see along the way?

I am typing as Katie Q drives and will be posting the blog early today than usual.  Our next destination is remote and without cellular service or wifi.  We will take in the solitude of that place.

We did a self-check once on the road to be sure we are not yet driving each other crazy.

After over a week on the road we are still friends.

I am happy to call this woman beside me my friend.  She has been another daily reminder that life is good.