IMAGES FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT

I always have my camera with me, and during the last couple of days, I've been taking some pictures from various bus stops, mostly on the scenic Hermits Road. Except for the last two pictures which were taken yesterday evening from outside the bus, the others are from my position behind the wheel of a 40' transit bus.

Even though the routes, and the routine is pretty much the same, every day presents itself with something new. The ever changing dynamic of the public is what keeps every day different, and often, quite challenging. Even though most of the questions can be answered with a prerecorded sound bite, trying to communicate with some of our foreign visitors often resorts to primitive sign language. It still blows me away how many people who come to the Grand Canyon are from different parts of the world. Fortunately, most everybody speaks at least a little bit of English.

The first two pictures were taken from the Bright Angel Lodge bus stop, shortly after the arrival of the daily train from Williams.

The west end of the Hermits Road, at the Hermits Rest bus stop.

Windshield view from the Hopi Point bus stop, with two bicycles on the front of the bus.

This fellow was catching a few winks, as viewed through the windshield at the Mojave Point bus stop.

The westbound Powell Point bus stop affords the drivers with one of the best views of the Grand Canyon, without leaving the drivers seat.

This view is looking back at the Grand Canyon Village from the Trail Head Overlook bus stop.

With a few minutes to kill while waiting for the sunset viewers yesterday evening at Hopi Point, I got out of the bus and took these pictures. On a typical summer evening, anywhere from a few hundred, to perhaps over a thousand folks make the journey to Hopi Point for a view of the sun setting over the rim of the canyon. Driving a free shuttle bus here at the Grand Canyon National Park has been a two year cumulative experience, that has broadened my perspective of not only the discipline necessary to do the job, but the wide range of personalities inherent to the people who come here from all over the world.