After 30 Years We Can Read.

So we got our permit for camping in the canyon way back early in October. We were so excited, glanced at the permit and apparently only focused on the campsites we got, not the dates. We went along happily assuming that our reservations were for Nov. 2 and 3, hiking out on the 4th.

On Nov. 1st we drove over to Flagstaff, visited my grandparents, and then headed to Tusayan, the little town 1 mile from the GC park. We settled in for the night and I pulled out our paperwork. Oh shit. It says 2 night stay at Indian Gardens campground, Nov. 3 and 4, hiking out the 5th.

We high-tailed it to the backcountry office the next morning to see if we could change it, but they were full. Well crap. So what were we going to do?

Neither Joe or I had ever been to Meteor Crater. Well, what the hell, might as well go now.

It was moderately interesting. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a 4. The museum is OK. The very first sign (sorry didn't get a photo) that talks about the geology had a typo, so that was funny, but only a little.

We went outside to hike around, but found out that you can only walk around the rim on a couple of paved trails. Here are the views.

Joe looks thrilled to be here, or maybe to have his photo taken.

A nice older couple offered to take our photo. We got a couple different angles so you can see the vastness of the crater behind us.

They have a nice viewing station where you can look through fixed telescopes at some key features. Joe took on his museum orator role and gestured and explained away.

We had looked into the hole as much as we could, so we sat in the stripey shade.

That pretty much concluded our Meteor Crater ogling. We went back to Flag and enjoyed one of my favorite restaurants called Oreganos for a lot of carbs. Then it was back to Tusayan for one last night of rest and relaxation before hitting the trail.