Ann and I had talked for a couple of years about making a trip to the Grand Canyon. We finally got serious about it in January, 2016. We wanted to go after spring break, but before the summer weather and crowds set in. Our target was early April. We were able to get two rooms at Maswik Lodge for 16-17 April, so we planned the trip around that.

Ann and Rich flew to Phoenix from Milwaukee on 12 April, arriving late in the morning. Meanwhile, I flew in from Monterey a few hours later. Once we were all assembled, we picked up a rental car and started driving north.

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Cactus at I-17 Rest Area, near Rock Springs, AZ

The Phoenix area was full of cactus, including many large Saguro. Unfortunately, we never had an opportunity to examine them closely. This barrel cactus was at a rest stop.

Cactus at I-17 Rest Area, near Rock Springs, AZCastle, Montezuma Castle Natl Mon, AZBeaver Creek, Montezuma Castle Natl Mon, AZVerde River, Dead Horse St Park, Cottonwood, AZGlassblowing Demonstration, Jerome, AZPueblo Area from the Tower Room, Tuzigoot Natl Mon, AZSeveral Excavated Rooms, Tuzigoot Natl Mon, AZTower Room, Tuzigoot Natl Mon, AZSplit Rock, Coconino Natl For, near Sedona, AZRed Rocks, Coconino Natl For, near Sedona, AZAnn on the Llama Trail, Coconino Natl For, near Sedona, AZBell Rock, Coconino Natl For, near Sedona, AZIsland Trail, Walnut Canyon Natl Mon, near Flagstaff, AZCliff Dwelling, Walnut Canyon Natl Mon, near Flagstaff, AZDwelling along Island Trail, Walnut Canyon Natl Mon, near Flagstaff, AZLava Loop Trail, Sunset Crater Volcano Natl Mon, near Flagstaff, AZSan Francisco Peaks from Sunset Crater Volcano Natl Mon, near Flagstaff, AZWupatki Pueblo, Wupatki Natl Mon, near Flagstaff, AZDetail of Wupatki Pueblo, Wupatki Natl Mon, near Flagstaff, AZBox Canyon, Wupatki Natl Mon, near Flagstaff, AZAnn at Lomaki Pueblo, Wupatki Natl Mon, near Flagstaff, AZLittle Colorado River near Cameron, AZDesert View Entrance to Grand Canyon Natl Park, AZDesert View Watch Tower, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon Natl ParkInside the Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from Navajo Point, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from Moran Point, Grand Canyon Natl ParkTusayan Ruins, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from Grandview Point, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Rim Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Rim Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Rim Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkSunrise from the Rim Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkMA on the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkFirst Tunnel, Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkSouth Kaibab Trailhead, Grand Canyon Natl ParkAnn on the South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from Yaki Point near Sunset, Grand Canyon Natl Park, AZView from Yaki Point near Sunset, Grand Canyon Natl Park, AZView from the Rim Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkView from the Rim Trail, Grand Canyon Natl ParkMA, Ann, and Rich on the Rim Trail, Grand Canyon Natl Park, AZ