Saturday 14th April

Driving is an inevitable part of life in America because of the country’s size and scale, but that fact did not make the six hour journey any easier to someone used to England, where a six hour road trip would allow you to cross into Scotland not just pass into a neighbouring county! However, while the drive may have been tiring it provided me with new insight as to just how empty and large the American West is, because at times we were the only car to be seen for miles around. In addition to this, the weather changed dramatically within a couple of hours as a result of the sheer distance we were travelling and the changes in height from sea level. We witnessed the weather shift from the rain in Las Vegas, to hail on the open road, from snow which at times made it difficult to see a few feet in front of us in Jacobs Lake, to the sun (albeit cold) in Marble Canyon. A short stop at Jacobs Lake not only offered a break, but a first glimpse at life for those Americans who choose to live and work in such isolated areas. So isolated in fact that the broken ATM had a sign stating it would not be fixed until the following month and outside the lodge was a parked snow plough showing to what extent the snow could fall in the area, making it even more remote than before.  The location and weather did make me question how the lodge is economically viable, the most likely answer being that it relies heavily on tourists heading towards the Grand Canyon, but only in the summer months when the road is open, as well as a few regulars in the area like the highway patrolman who entered at the same time.