May 3rd - Grand Canyon to Petrified Forest

We decided, after a sunset and a sunrise, that we had seen enough of the Grand Canyon. We hiked about three miles along the Rim Trail after sunrise. That's the only trail that dogs are allowed on.

Besides the giant, multi-colored and sculpted canyon, the remarkable thing about this park to me is that there are more elk than birds or squirrels. They were everywhere!

This morning we also saw a half dozen horses roaming free on the perimeter of the campground. There were two foals who were obviously born a few weeks ago, at most. Angie got a great video.

The primitive campsites were large, level and mostly shaded. There was a well equipped general store and a lame deli with poor food and slow service. 

Someday, I would like to visit Havasu Falls. Also, there are quite a few hiking and backpacking trails that would be good to explore. We saw one hike-in cabin situated on top of narrow, almost razor-sharp edged finger about a 1,000 feet below the rim.

During the drive, we again stopped frequently for Charlie. We had only a three-hour drive to a dry camping site just outside the gates of the Petrified Forest National Park. A really barren spot, but it was free.

I learned that the dogs really don't like the desert. Streak keeps getting burrs in his paw. And they both seem confused about the vegetation and they seem skittish about the wind, smells and sounds.