Great. Greater. Great

9th June 2017

The campground in Flagstaff is the largest on the tour and the most expensive after Washington. Of course, the Grand Canyon is nearby. Nearby is relative, it's 79 miles to drive. We and the circumstances make it 150 miles.

The shortest and most beautiful route was closed just before the destination due to a forest fire. This was indicated at kilometer 40 with an electronic signboard. By the time we realized it, it was kilometer 70, namely when we saw the barrier. We had to drive the road back completely and pass the campground again. If we had driven two hours to the left instead of to the right, we could already be there.

So we drive on Highway 89 and no longer wonder why so few people go to the canyon and no one comes towards us. We arrive at the Navajo Outpost Cameron at lunchtime and eat first. Then off to the park. Just slowly with the young horses: that's another 50 km. Then we reach the responsible ranger, who sells us the annual pass for all national parks for $80 and says goodbye to us in nice German.

What can be said about the canyon? It's big. Huge. Well, that's about it, it's just hard to express what's going through your mind when you see it. If you want to visit the "Horseshoe", a horseshoe-shaped formation and former copper mine about halfway up, it takes eight hours of descent and ascent.

Of course, there is a hustle and bustle, but somehow you like to share it with people from all corners of the world who will never forget this day like us.

For the night we booked a campground in Tuba City. Yes, the place is called Tuba City and is not a German foundation. The small town is in the middle of the Navajo area. They even have their own local time. Another hour is added to Arizona time on the way there. On the way there, we drive through a wonderful landscape of semi-circular red mounds. This is how I imagine a lunar landscape, beautiful in the evening light. The campground belongs to the Quallity Inn Hotel. We check in at the hotel reception. We hadn't done that before either.

We hesitate too long to go out for dinner. The restaurant closes at 9 p.m. Navajo time. Actually not a big deal. There's no beer or wine anyway, just like in the supermarket. The Navajo Nation is dry. And so we have Taco Bell for the main meal and McDonald's, where life is buzzing, for dessert. We are the only ones who are not Navajos or Hopis.