She is definitely GRAND!!

Today was Day 13 of our cross country trip, and all three of us have been dealing with our own physical ailments.  It started for me in Dana Point, CA when I was getting ready that morning, and my back locked up.  It does this periodically and is debilitatingly painful.  I managed to walk it off a little, and take some pills, which took the edge off, and made me forget about it until after the cruise, when it came back with a vengeance.  It gets worse after I lie down, but thankfully does not bother me in the car.  I have Doans Back Pain pills, Naproxen, Bio Freeze, some all natural gel, and hot showers to help.  So far, I am making it okay, except for the sudden gasps I emit when it locks up unexpectedly from time to time.  Kira went swimming several days ago, and has been dealing with water in one of her ears.  She believes it may be getting better, or she may just be getting used to it.  No infection, so that is good.  Anthony woke up with a bad headache this morning, but after eating and taking some Aleve, he began to feel better.  Cross Country Road Tripping is not for the faint of heart, but it is still so much fun.  We find a way to laugh a lot, and have shared so many great times these two weeks that will forever be etched in our memories.  Of course, we have already lost track of where we have been and what we have eaten along the way, but.......memories.

Today, we went to the Grand Canyon.  We left beautiful Flagstaff around 8:30 this morning and headed that way.  After finally finding a parking space, we headed to the South Rim, and beheld the beauty that is hard to describe unless you see it in person.  We did pass a guy with an Auburn shirt on, and he and Kira shared "War Eagles" to one another.  That made us feel good, until we saw two people decked out in Crimson Tide attire.  Why?!?!?!?!  I took a lot of photos and they probably look the same, but it was just too beautiful not to photograph.  We also visited the East Rim on our way to Durango, and it was a different view of beautiful.  We probably spent less time than anyone there, because I think we were there for about an hour.  Once you have seen it, you have seen it, and it is time to move on, especially for a family that hates the heat and does not hike.  It is very beautiful, but it was also time to move on.  We stopped at one more gorge before leaving the area completely and I spent some time talking to one of the Navajo men, and complaining of the heat.  He said "wait until it gets hot."  I thought today was pretty hot, but he told me that at the end of August, the actual heat there is 118.  I tried to explain the Southern heat versus the dry heat, but he wasn't buying it, and I can see why.  The thought of an actual temperature of 118 makes me want to weep.  I told him I was from Alabama at least three times, but he kept calling it Georgia, and finally said "they are all the same."  Yeah.....okay.

               I took a photo of this guy in case I read about him plummeting to his death tomorrow.

After we left the Grand Canyon, we started our journey towards Durango, CO, which has the nickname of Four Corners, because the Four Corners Monument is close by.  It is the place where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah all meet.  It was designed by Navajo Nation, and is the coolest place.  Before we got there, however, we ate lunch at a McAllisters in a Navajo Nation welcome center of sorts.  The music they were playing over the speakers was that of a wood flute, and it was so calming that I am now looking for playlists on my phone.

We checked into our hotel in Durango around 7:15 tonight, and I immediately fell in love.  This is the coolest hotel we have stayed in because we have a fourth floor view of the Animas River from our balcony, and it is beautiful.  I will share photos of tomorrow.

Good night.