The Grand Canyon is indeed very grand and it is quite challenging to capture its scale in a photo. Nonetheless, here is a quick pic:

We walked about 10KM of the Canyon Rim Trail and we were surprised by how few people we met on the trail. It seems that the vast majority of people take shuttle buses from viewpoint to viewpoint and avoid actually having to walk! Taking the train to the Canyon from Williams also helped create a more bygone era ambiance as we did not have to sit in a traffic jam or circle endlessly looking for a parking spot at the visitor centre. At the latter, the serious throngs of people make it clear the location is a significant geological feature for the planet. Large numbers of very diverse people are everywhere in and about the various new and historic buildings. The train back was in a Pullman car that was complete with Arizona air-conditioning – this means that the windows could be opened.

Williams, the last location on the real Route 66 to be bypassed, was buzzing during the two days of our visit. There was a rodeo, a “train” day, when historic locomotives and cars were on display and a lot of “western” entertainment on the streets. As an important jumping off point for the Grand Canyon it has declined as a population and commerce center less than some of the other previously well visited cities and towns on Route 66. However, empty shops were evident and the enthusiasm of local merchants of all kinds to build a Route 66 and Western vibe is likely driven by fear of extinction.

The photo below of a rarely used stretch of Route 66 accurately captures the plight of other previously well traveled and visited stretches of the road.

Yesterday, we traveled from Williams to La Mesa, stopping in Kingman, Arizona for some new tires and oil for the Green Hornet, our 2002 Subaru Impreza 2.5TS. It was 100F (38C) with a warm wind blowing, when we walked the main drag while waiting for the tires and oil. Kingman was however cool and breezy compared to the 112F (45C) temperatures that we encountered in Barstow, California, while crossing the Mojave Desert from Arizona. Too hot to take pictures!