Because of the planned detour to the Grand Canyon, we got an early start yesterday. We were making excellent time, but our vehicles seemed to have other plans for the journey. First, the little steel cable that engages the brakes if the trailer disconnects got snagged, forcing an emergency pullover amid smoking trailer tires.
After addressing that issue and heading back on the road, the Suburban blew a tire. Not a mere flat tire, but an actual blowout, complete with shredded rubber. Back to the side of the road we went to replace it with the spare. Because of the earlier locked brakes, the trailer tires had bald patches, which is probably why one of them blew out a little while later. This time, we didn’t have the right tools to get the spare off, and it was dry-rotting anyway. We ended up putting the two best tires on the back axle and completely removing the other two. It’s pretty incredible that with three separate incidents we were all fine and accident-free.
Once in Flagstaff, Greg and Chris dropped the trailer off at a local shop to get replacement tires installed, and the group drove up to the Grand Canyon. It was just as dizzyingly impressive as it was the first time I saw it last summer, with even better weather. The canyon was so inviting, in fact, that a bunch of our people were eager to try and hike partway into it despite being shod only in flipflops.
The nonhikers said our goodbyes and took the Suburban and newly-outfitted trailer back. We arrived in Loma Linda a little before 12 last night, after which Rachel and I went home, took a shower, and collapsed into bed. When Greg first asked for people to go on this trip I was worried about whether or not I should take the time off of lab work, but now I’m more than convinced it was worth it.
