Howdy, cutting buddies!
I've been getting very excited about this unofficial opening for a while now - two years in fact. That's right! I was excited about it a good twelve months before I even thought of Unofficial Openings but it took me a while to pluck up the courage (And save the money) to journey to the greatest wonder in the world and lucky old me because fortunately I wasn't the only one there. But where was I? Well here's a lovely couple called Dean and Trula and I think the backdrop gives it away a little...
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The lovely Dean and Trula |
Of course it does! I was only readying myself to unofficially open THE GRAND CANYON! But hang on, scissor-lovers, how was I going to get
enough ribbon to get across there! Obviously I had to improvise a little for the greatest wonder in the world and so I cued up unofficial photographer (And travelling mate for this trip) Steve, positioned the lovely (and willing) ribbon holders and snips away! It was open!
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Hold that camera steady, Steve - this is the big one! |
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Good lad! |
Now that was of course a classic opening at a classic venue - but it was
a bit touristy, since it was taken at Mather Point, the official viewing gallery for The Grand Canyon at GC Village itself. I wanted something a little different and Steve's chance meeting with a Hopi Indian called Bernie in a bar called "Porky's" in Flagstaff, Arizona had led to him telling us about THE best place to see The Grand Canyon on the South Rim, namely, Shoshone point. Flagstaff is on Route 66 and I have to admit I was rather hoping I would bump into Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode, The Cramps or any of the other great bands who have crooned so lovingly about America's favourite highway but I was out of luck. Fortunately Bernie was staying focused. When he told us about it we said "ShoshoME where it is then!". He showed us. It's a couple of miles East of the "accepted" viewing point and involves a mile long hike uphill through woods! Well at 7000 feet above sea level I was a little bit concerned about my ability to make the journey, scissor fans, and certainly the gateway to the woods was a bit more than my trusty snippers could handle
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I think I would have needed bolt cutters to unofficially open THIS bad boy... |
But undeterred, we trekked on and I have to say, it was worth the hike. Here is me at Shoshone Point, absolutely in awe of the natural splendour and beautiful surroundings that I found myself in...
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What a great spot! All it needs is a couple of ribbon holders... |
...The problem with remote, secret and amazing viewing points is that they tend not to have anyone else there and we had to wait quite a while before fellow
canyon gawpers Lindsey and Chantel turned up. When they did we quickly persuaded them to hold onto the ribbon for the
ultimate unofficial opening but DISASTER! I'd run out of the bloody stuff, opening chums! Quel Dommage!
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Oh woe! I'm devastated! But look at Lindsey and Chantel smiling away - I don't think they realise the gravity of the situation... |
Still, you can't have everything in this life and I just had to promise myself that next time I would be better prepared. I know I'm my own worst taskmaster, but it wouldn't be
Unofficial Openings if I wasn't. Check back soon, you scissory cavaliers... And tell your friends about Unofficial Openings!
Click the link above to see a load of other blogs, mostly about poor parenting and lipstick.