We have been to the Grand Canyon five times now, the very first time was when we started our Adventures in 2005. We have camped here, RV’d here, brought The “it’s just a hole in the ground” Folks here and stayed in the Canyon lodges twice.

Each time has held fantastic experiences. We have hiked down into the canyon twice, experienced good ( and terrible) restaurant food, seen wild Elk, deer, moose, chipmunks, squirrels and looked at the incredible views.

Looking at it all again from the perspective of a wheelchair is very different. Firstly you would think no one has seen a foot before, secondly, people see it as a cue to launch into detailed conversations about what I’ve done, and then go on to tell me thirty seconds later all about the time when they broke, bent, squished, lost, damaged something. It invites everyone to comment.

I’m that well known that we have just wandered, well wheeled, into the market plaza shop area 1.5 miles from where we are staying and some woman has just introduced me to her friend and about three other shoppers as the “honey who crushed her foot in a motorbike accident”. I’ve never even met or spoken to her.

So, celebrity status now eh? Mr Fogg is shattered, he’s having to push me up hill and down dale in my oversized wheelchair ( well this is the US so they don’t do small).

More interestingly, being disabled must seriously suck. Pavements are not designed with a chair in mind, toilets are an immense challenge, people do not move out if your way, hold doors or generally notice that you might have some limitations. And I still have use of one leg. It’s really making me think differently. And sometimes they seem to assume that since you are in the chair, your partner needs to answer questions for you. Grr

On the flip side, we have met some great people on our travels.

I love the Grand Canyon. Wish I could have gone with Mr Fogg this morning on the hike, but it’s just taken us 1hr 15 to wheel up to do laundry. It’s ok for me, a wheeled tour, but Mr Foggs getting new muscles as a result!

Can you imagine Mr Fogg rolling his eyes at the friendly Americans and their OMG you POOR thing!

With Mrs Chorlton from the Wheelies tucked up in bed and resting her balloon of an ankle, I set off to hike the Bright Angel Trail at 8am.

The path is much more eroded than it was the last time we did it back in 2009. You cannot buy bottles of water anymore due to the number that have been dumped by idiots, so you have to bring in your own water and refill from the chlorine taps enroute (yuck).

The hike to the 1.5 mile marker took 45 minutes, so on I went to mile marker 3. More “oh my gosh”, “oh look at the striations”, “how far do you think it is to the 3 mile marker”, from our cousins. And the number of numpties that set off with no water at all, flip flops and no hat. Temperatures hit 110 degrees F, which is a tad warm.

I eventually made the 3 mile mark at 9.30am and then had the joy of the 3 mile hike back up which took 2 hours and boy was I knackered. When I got back at 11.30am, Mrs Fogg was still asleep

After Rachel Nevada, Winslow is my all time favourite location (with Hong Kong a close 3rd). There is nothing here save the “Standing on a Corner” statue and a gift shop, but there is something about it that I love. I would have loved to have seen this place in its prime.

Just seen the news of more tornadoes in Oklahoma. My heart goes out to those affected. We travelled on the I-40 during a storm and there is no shelter. We journeyed past Oklahoma City and through El Reno.

To be caught in a car when such a thing hits would be deadly.

This is an Elk

And this is Elk medallions served in a rich jus sauce. Very rich. I preferred it walking around on four legs thanks.