Arizona and Others

July 8, 2008
wake up around 7 am in the La Quinta parking lot. We missed the free breakfast.
drive into arizona. temperatures are now around 104. it is a dry heat. deserts.
Stop off at an information center, where the park ranger tells us there is camping right on our way.
There is a stuffed bob cat sitting on their filing cabinet.
The farther we get into the desert, the more bizarre people begin to appear.
the Gas station: At one, where there was a "deli", this tall gaunt man came out into the eating area, where i was trying to get a receipt for gas, with a meat cleaver and dirt all over him.
He kind of looked lost.

KAIBOB LAKE
Another strange, fake town.
There is a big metal train with slab serif type on it saying, "GRAND CANYON"
We find our camp site, which has a lake... that we "aren't allowed" to swim in, set up camp, and then scavenger for food.
Go into town for a bit, and make the biggest single purchase i have made on the whole trip- $12.95 for Rum.
Return to the campsite, to drop off our food and alcohol, but I decide to bike around for a bit to see what is in the area, while Craig went to check out the local pool. I found this huge section of the site that was closed off. This huge part of the lake, that was completely devoid of people. So, I dragged my bike over by the lake, and enjoyed sun and silence. Until this two little boys biked over and waved every 10 feet. I thinnkk they thought I was someone else.
So I decided to see what luck Craig had found with the pool. As it turns out the lake was in pretty bad shape with pesticide run offs or something.
So I biked into town on the little bit of route 66, where craig drove up next to me and explained that the pool was in doors and not quite what we were expecting, but assured me that this other pool would be a perfect substitute... So we snuck into the El Rancho Motel and just swam in their pool. We hadn't showered for quite some time, so the water felt soooo good.
Biked back to the camp site, then drove into town to watch this gun show shoot out thing, and listen to some folk music at this coffee shop.
This sunset, this sunset. is it.
head back to the site again, make a fire and cook some food, count stars, or try to. work a bit on a new song. give up. or give in. sleep.
but not before screaming obscenities at the the bikers. kind of.

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July 9, 2008
wake up freezing, kind of clutching my guitar and blanket like a teddy bear.
lay awake for a while, seriously contemplating leaving for the lake. the same spot I was at yesterday.
the sun finally comes up, our biker neighbors wake, and the temperature increases about 20 degrees in 10 minutes.
Pack up the tent, head for the Grand Canyon.

GRAND CANYON
paid 12.50 to get in. well, 25 between the two of us.
kind of like Disney Land, a bit unexpected.
saw it. took some pictures. hiked down into it a bit.
hiked out.
left.
that was the grand canyon. why am i not moved by this place?