AUGUST 10: The Grand Canyon

[Todd writing] There was a reason to drive those 756 miles in one grueling day. We didn't want to have to do any distance driving on the day we visited the Grand Canyon. We started our day in Hog's Family Restaurant. On a street of national chain restaurants, our Travel Lodge was serendipitously attached to an authentic, American, local joint, with a pig-themed decor (the pig in the Harley-Davidson jacket tipped us off that owners are as interested in riding a Harley down Route 66 as as they are in cooking pork products) and photos of local servicemen and women who are serving in Iraq. One table is perpetually reserved for return veterans. Our table was right over a half-wall from the kitchen, so close that the dishwasher splashed water on our table over the wall. That's the kind of authentic American experience you don't get at Appleby's.
After a filling breakfast we drove scenic Hwy 180 up to Grand Canyon National Park. We walked the length of the Southern Rim from Mather Point to Grand Canyon Village, an awesome 2 1/2 mile stretch. A hiker from Canada had fallen to his death the previous day, but we made the
walk without incident.

The rim echoed with foreign voices, with French at times more common than English. It did us proud to know that people come from all over the world to admire our Canyon. Part way along the Rim Trail, we joined a Ranger-guided tour, which was the last of Christopher's requirements for the Junior Ranger Program-Coyote Level. He was sworn in by a Ranger with the unlikely name of Jennifer Onufer. (I assume it rhymes, though I didn't ask.)
The plan for the day was to see both the Grand Canyon and Walnut Canyon National Monument, which Julia had "discovered" during her first cross-country drive in the White Cheetah in 1996. But Walnut Canyon closes early, so we headed back to the Travel Lodge for another fortifying Hog's meal. Julia and Christopher then swam in the "Pool & Jacuzzi surrounded by lush, tropical grounds", while I got caught up on e-mail, and we all cheered as Jason Lezek took the 4 x 100m relay away from the Frenchman Bernard by 7/100ths of a second. We wish the French no ill will, and are very happy to share our Canyon with them at any time, but it's hard not to be jingoistic during the Olympics.