Our journey continued south to the Grand Canyon. Being the third visit for me, it's lost a bit of its magic. It's beautiful and all, but besides walking the rim and gazing down, there's not a whole lot more to do. I'm always amused when people ask me if we went down into the canyon on a mule, as if my life is a Brady Bunch sitcom. No, I've never gone down the Bright Angel Trail by mule. That's a two day journey down and back on a trail about two feet wide. No thanks!
Back on the road to Nevada, we made our way over the Hoover Dam. Again, not that exciting once you've seen it. What was interesting, is
the bridge that is taking forever to be built. After 9/11, it was decided that it really wasn't such a great idea that ALL traffic in the region had to go directly over the Hoover Dam. Thus, a new byway (bridge) went under construction. Um.....this same bridge was being built the last time we were here, in 2004. Granted, the Hoover Dam is big, but how long does it take to build a bridge?? What is wrong with this picture?
Ho, hum. . . it's just the Grand Canyon again. . . (*yawn*)
ReplyDeleteI've only ever seen it from the air, and that's plenty spectacular. . .
And yeah. . . just build the dam bridge, already! . . .
Craig - My lack of interest was probably from it being 6th national park in two weeks and the first 5 being fresh and new to me.
ReplyDeleteDang, union labor!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever done the tour inside the dam? I image that is pretty cool, but it was amazing to look at from the outside.
well that is a good bit of perspective on the relative times to build things now isn't it?
ReplyDeleteWe were at Hoover a while back. I love damn vacations.
ReplyDeleteCool - A friend's husband has bored me with descriptions of the tour. The 'loud machinery' aspect of it turns me off. He loved it though!
ReplyDeleteLime - It's amazing to me that the more we get technologically advanced, the longer it takes to do anything (banking transactions is a prime example!)
Nick - Me too! I live for vacations!
I've watched five city crew members stand around watching one coworker on a skid spin circles while attempting to cut up a curb, so I definitely think you've got this one pegged!
ReplyDeleteOh, construction times... gaaahhh...
ReplyDeleteIt's all in the way contracts are awarded; lowest bid, but x time- pay more, go faster, but public works are lowest bid, by law.
But, there is hope. Near our new house (we've lived there for 11 years now), there was a bridge under construction *when we moved in*. Guess when it was done?
Yeah. 2010. And this was a major, huge, massive highway bridge! Yes, it was all of 50 ft long, and rose to the towering height above water (of a 2' deep creek), of at LEAST eight feet!
Yup. ELEVEN YEARS. Go figure.
Took them months and months to clear up a rockslide on the freaking interstate last year. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteHaven't been tot he Grand Canyon since I was a kid.
FADKOG - Sounds like the same 5 city workers that collect leaves here. One works, the other 4 watch!
ReplyDeleteSailor - That is comical. Has the local newspaper commented on it?
Agent - I suppose rock removal is labor intensive, but I'd also think it would be considered 'top priority.'
Makes me wonder what I could accomplish in the next four years!
ReplyDeleteTiara - I'll bet it would be more than a county worker!
ReplyDeleteLOL at Craig -- the Grand Canyon is so lame. HA
ReplyDeleteGuess they had a better work ethic back in the 30s?