TUESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2025

(Moab, UT – Grand Canyon Village, AZ)

I woke up to my alarm clock, for the first time this trip. Andrew was still asleep, so I let him lie in. At around 8am I was thinking I would have to wake him soon, but he stirred so I made coffee and we planned the morning. We decided to pack and check out, and have breakfast at Gloria’s, before setting off. Rather remarkably, we still have everything packed up just as neatly as when we left Zion. Usually we have ‘sprawled’ by now.

Having been a bit late getting up it was nearing 10.30am when we checked out, and after a very leisurely time over breakfast, out on the patio again, it was an hour later before we set off to get fuel, and then depart Moab. We noticed that Main Street had American flags up for Veteran’s Day (as did other towns we later passed through). 

Andrew did the first stint of driving, with a brief stop at Blanding museum, then passing the familiar landmarks of Mexican Hat, the San Juan river, Monument Valley and various volcanic plugs including Agathla Peak, before pulling in to the car park outside Subway in Kayenta, where we got lunch.

After stopping at the petrol station for machine made French vanilla coffees,  to keep us going for the second half, I took and we continued south and west. The scenery becomes very open dessert after here, with not a lot to see after you’ve crossed over the San Rafael Swell. I kept driving, into the lowering sun. 

Eventually we made our way into Grand Canyon National Park. Usually we stop at the tower, but I decided for a change to stop at Lipan Point, as we’ve not been there for a while. Given it was already after sunset we were shocked to see that the car park was full, but then we spotted bride, so we assume that the crowds were with her (and presumably a spouse). We drove on. It was quite a few miles to the next spot, Moran Point, and it was fairly dark to the eye when we got there. The phone worked wonders with limited light though, and at least I got to see the Canyon.

Another half hour of driving and we reached the village. One good thing about having been here before (once or twice…) is that we know the road layout. We ignored Google’s directions and went our own way to the lodge building. I checked in and they gave me the room keys. Our time was in the same building that we were in last year. A little background here: a few week’s ago I sent a lovely email to the hotel, saying how we’d been many times, always enjoying it, and last year we stayed in probably the best room we’d ever had , and I gave them the room number. I said that I realised they couldn’t guarantee any particular room, but that an upstairs room with a balcony would be great. I asked the check in person if the room was upstairs and he confirmed it was. So off we went, to drive to our room and unload the car. And…it turns out they’ve given us exactly the same room as last year! I’m very happy. It’s not that different to all the others, except that it’s square, which allows for a much better, more spacious configuration. I’m looking forward to coffee on the balcony in the morning. 

The room has had a bit of a refurb in the meantime though (new decor in the bottom photo). It even has a flatscreen TV, which gets reception on some channels…

All that was left was to go to dinner in Maswik lodge, and then relax, ready for hiking tomorrow. Get ready for big views