Camp...

This is our new tent. It's an easy-up version. From folded up in its container to up in less than a minute!
Holds a queen size air mattress with stand. Pretty posh.





The Start...





Mules or horses, they all want to go in the same spot. Sometimes it's a treacherous traverse.
I love the smell of mule piss in the morning. It smells like... victory.

This is the Ken Patrick trail. Nice trail but we needed to be on the North Kaibab trail about a mile ago...

Should've asked these guys.
I heard them say "You know, you just can't BUY this kind of entertainment...



Down...

This little stand is right before the switch-backs start. It's also a welcomed site when you're coming back out!
The bird is 'Tuki', Toucan Sam I got by saving some box tops. Anyway, I took him with me on my fateful rim-to-rim attempt back in 1999 (or was it 2000). A friend of mine took him with her on a couple of other rim-to-rims.

The Thomases enter the canyon...
Notice: We're still smiling...







There's a nice look out area. We stopped there had a rest and some food.
Cindy's looking at the trail far below













This is me at the bathrooms at the 2-Mile Tunnel, which was our destination,
two thousand feet down (and 2 miles)
It's also the place where the bird & I spent the night on that fateful rim-to-rim.
I got sick and spent the night there. It was much cleaner that time. If it was as gross as it was this day, hypothermia would've been the preferred choice...





This is the view on the lower side of the tunnel. The next picture is a zoom from here



OUT!...



These faucets provide the best water! Very cold spring water from Roaring Springs far below (the bridge above crosses it). I'm wearing a good bit of it

The first order of business now is a shower and a beer! It should be mentionned that the camp ground there has flush toilets and hot showers. 6 quarters for 6 minutes, though Cindy's and mine never timed out. We left when we were pruny.

The Lodge...

Ah! Beer! This patio is the place to be at the end of the day. Great view and good draft. We highly recommend the Grand Canyon Pilsner.
Note: I didn't realize how huge that guy to my right was. I look like a Hobbit.