Postscript

Not much to report today, but I will throw in some bits and pieces that you may find interesting.

But first, on our final push home we decided to enjoy one more lunch at our new favourite fast food restaurant - Culver's - home of the Butterbest Burger.  Never heard of them before, but they have outlets across a good portion of the States and we will be looking for them in the future.

Our odyssey ended at 5:15 p.m., in Grimsby, where it began 23 days ago.

We covered 10,917 kilometres on our trip.  One stone chip in the wind-shield, one wheel that needs to be rebalanced, otherwise the van looked after us well.

Our mileage readings were typically in the 8.1 to 8.5 litre range per 100 kilometres, despite sustained high speeds, in high temperatures, with strong headwinds, mountain driving at altitude, etc. The western states have a 75 mph (120 km) limit on their interstates (Utah allows 80 mph but I was content to set the cruise at 75).  Secondary highways are usually 65 mph.

Now for the tidbits.  Did I tell you about the trail rules of the Grand Canyon?

• Uphill climbers have the right-of-way, because it's harder to restart heading uphill.
• Mules have the right-of-way in either direction.  Move to the inside of the trail and let them pass. Mules will not fall off the trail, but would have no compunction about pushing you over the edge if you were in the way.
• There were toilets of some kind in each of our campsites.  But if you were caught short away from the facilities you must go at least 200 feet away from any water source or creek.
• In these cases, if your "business'" requires toilet paper, you must dig a hole, bury it, save the toilet paper in a sealable plastic bag, and pack it out of the canyon.
• All food waste must be brought out of the canyon, including crumbs.  The Grand Canyon has biting ants and they don't want them, or the animals, to be encouraged.
• Do not keep food in your backpack at night, or in your tent.  Food, including leftovers, must be placed in the ammo cans to prevent animals from raiding it.
• Soap or shampoo are not allowed to be used anywhere except in the Colorado River itself (good luck with that - remember the 47F temp?).  I would just soak my shirt in a creek or under a tap and rinse off, then wring out the shirt and put it back on - it would be dry in minutes.  No shaving either - the result being that you end up looking (and smelling) like a grizzled prospector before the trip is over.

• There are mountain lions, bobcats, rattlesnakes, scorpions and tarantulas in the canyon, but we didn't see any of these.
• Surprisingly, the most dangerous animal in the canyon is this guy:

More people are treated for squirrel bites than for anything else.  Don't feed the animals stupid!

• If you want a great travel companion, I can recommend Ewen.  He was a real delight, not just for me but for all of our group.  Polite, intelligent conversation and questions (and answers).  Willing to do whatever was asked of him.
• As for me, I'm retired from this level of adventure.  It's now time to plan Sarah-Jean's western trip next summer with Reggie to Las Vegas, Sedona, Palm Springs, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.  No hiking, just sightseeing and shopping!

But first, I have a cycling and canoeing weekend with the Trompers starting on Friday.  Don't hang up the spurs yet, Bud!

Thanks for taking the time to read the blog.  Hope you all enjoyed it. 

Dorsal.

Gateway Arch, St. Louis.

Just one destination on the agenda today, but it was on Ewen's bucket list so we made sure we got there.

Following the Louisiana Purchase, St. Louis became the gateway to the new lands west of the Mississippi. The Arch, seen here as we came from the west (much more impressive coming from the east as you can see it across the Mississippi) is intended to portray that gateway image.

It's hard to believe, looking up from the park level, that you can actually go up inside the structure!

But, you can!

Four minutes after we enter our pod we're at the top.  The pod re-levels itself as it progresses up inside the arch.  And 630 feet below us is the city (actually, nothing below us but air!).

And, on the other side, the Mississippi.

If you are lucky, as Ewen was, you get to watch a St. Louis Cardinal's game being played!

The picture below shows just a small portion of Gateway Park, a beautiful inner city parkland.

We reached Plainfield, Indiana tonight.  Tomorrow, The Homecoming!