Roswell to Grand Canyon

June 16, 2022 - Reading time: 8 minutes

After checking out of the hotel, we spent about an hour in the International UFO Museum.  A very affordable $5 gets you an in-depth explanation of what the locals call “The Incident.” This is actually a much nicer exhibit than one might expect,  going beyond the 1947 event to discuss recent UFO anomalies and current space endeavors by NASA.  We picked up a few gift shop treasures on the way out and then it was off to Grand Canyon! 

This was another 9 hour driving day for my handsome.  He handled it like a champ. New Mexico has roadside signage denoting its “districts.”  This had James and me thinking of The Hunger Games. District 5 has the nicest roads and the most tumbleweeds.  We’re talking legit, as large as an exercise ball, tumbleweeds bouncing across the highway.  We actually had to brake for one!  It was extremely windy outside so catching one on camera proved futile. 

The majority of our travel today was on Interstate 40 which runs parallel to Historic Rte. 66.  We had to hop off at least once for gas and got a closer look at some of the mostly run-down (or abandoned) tourist traps of by-gone days.  There were some sections near larger towns where business along the Route was still thriving, so that was nice to see. 

As we approached Arizona, Google Maps warned us that our trip may be impacted by the Coconino National Forest wildfire.  We cringed.  I did a bit of quick Internet research for a live update.  The fire was north of our route and the wind (as we were experiencing first hand) was blowing to the north. Sure enough, a few hours later we spotted the enormous swath of smoke and haze hanging over the hill ridges in the distance.  Thankfully, it did not affect our drive time, but it was heartbreaking to witness.  And it will forever put news of such fires in perspective for us.  I understand now how they spread so quickly out here. 

Arriving at our hotel in Williams, Arizona, with an hour left until sunset, the day was holding the best for last.  We hightailed up Hwy. 64 to the Grand Canyon South Rim entrance.  It was the luckiest of timing. Truly.  Our first glimpse of this magnificent natural wonder found us with the sun setting over the cliffs to the west and a full moon rising in the eastern opposite end over a dusky blue sky.  It was stunning.  There was a hushed reverence among our little crowd of fellow onlookers at Mather’s Point.  I was moved to a few silent tears and I’m not one bit ashamed to admit it.  It seems unreal that such a place could exist.  James was speechless, too, for the first few minutes and later summed up our first look as “jaw-dropping.”  I completely concur.  We stayed for over an hour, sitting atop the flat rocky outcrop, gazing at sky, horizon, and layers upon layers of depth as the moon rose higher eastward while darkness fell westward.  The full moonlight was so clear and bright at that elevation (6000+ feet), the canyon looked like a giant spotlight was beaming down upon it, like a beacon from above.  The shadows at play were resplendent.  

It was nearly 11:00 pm before we made it to bed, exhausted, but too excited to sleep.  My head and heart were amped with anticipation for the full day of canyon hiking that the morning would bring.  

Such wonders.  Such wonders, indeed.