I forgot to mention that, during our Grand Canyon backpacking, Carrie would stop and look around and proclaim (loudly) "it's the Graaaaaaaaand Canyon."  On our way back up the Bright Angel trail we met a family while waiting on some mules to pass; they had two girls maybe eight and ten.  The eight year old exclaimed, twice, "it's the Graaaaaaaaand Canyon" in almost the exact same voice.  Don't ever say we've lost our childlike sense of wonder.

Carrie also got up early on the day following to take some sunrise shots before we left.

The Rugged Prius™ also had its first spot of trouble and wouldn't start just as we were trying to get back on the road.  Carrie left to see about getting a jump -- the car was starting but the engine wasn't -- when I finally thought to try holding the remote key fob thing right up to the ignition button.  Turns out that the car was fine, but the battery in our key was dying.  With that we were on our way (to a battery store in Flagstaff) and then on our way (to Albuquerque).

It seems that lots of Albuquerque-ians prefer the ABQ abbreviation and I think it's because the city's name is a nightmare to spell.  Anyway, in ABQ we had the pleasure of staying in another cute Airstream -- this one called Ernest -- at a place called Sticky Fingers.  Alex (chef and art gallery curator) and Michael run the bed and breakfast, as well as a one-table private restaurant -- which is actually a members-only club with members-only restaurant for zoning purposes.  Membership is one dollar per day.

This was the single best meal (dinner) followed by the second best meal (breakfast the next day) that we had on the entire trip.  Alex and Michael went out of their way to make the occasion special and prepared a beautiful broth fondue dinner for us.  They also sell a variety of their food products, which Carrie and I bought to take with us on our trip.  I cannot praise this place enough and we'll definitely be staying there the next day.

This was a wonderful day capped by great hosts and a truly wonderful meal.