Slide Show - Las Vegas

Las Vegas

This was my first trip to Las Vegas and, of course, it was Richard's first also. We mostly walked around, taking in the sights, drinking water, and listening to the quickly familiar sounds of slot machines, bells and whistles. There were street musicians (I guess you could call them that), pan handlers, characters and side shows. The night lights were great to see and thankfully, it was also a bit cooler then. We didn't really plan to do anything special here although we did get a chance to ride the roller coaster in New York New York, went to the M&M store and had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. Our stay at the Excalibur was interesting; it is a cool hotel but in need of a facelift (and a bit of maintenance). We learned our way around on the last day...it is a very large hotel. The pool was okay but 1/2 was roped off, the part with the water slide; bummer! We actually drove most of Las Vegas Blvd, from the new to the old and back again. Crazy busy place, lots of people and very loud, quite different from the peaceful, serene national parks we just spent 5 days in. But I'm glad our flights put us into Las Vegas, it is an interesting city. If I go again, I would like to see a show or two and visit some of the bigger hotels...but, that's for another day. For now, Richard and I had a new experience and a lot of fun.

Well, this is my last post for this blog, promise. I think I covered what we did and where we went pretty well. I enjoy spending time with both of my grandsons so taking this week and having some one on one time with Richard was very special. I don't know what we'll do on our next adventure, I'll have to put some thought into that. For now I'll relive a great vacation through warm memories...and when memory starts to deceive me, I'll have this blog to reference. 

Thank you for following along and commenting on our journey. It made it all the more special because it could be shared with our friends and family. Until next time...

Susan and Richard

Slide Show - Seligman and The Pawn Shop

Seligman and The Pawn Shop

Richard and I flew into Vegas and then we had to drive back there to fly home. It's not such a bad drive, especially if you make a cool stop along the way...like to Seligman, AZ, birthplace of Rt 66! Actually, this was a kind of accidental stop, Richard needed to use the facilities. He had good timing as we were very near the exit to Segliman at the time. You can tell by the pictures that the area depends on us tourists who are interested in seeing what "America's Main Street" looks like. Elvis is around every corner, Marilyn Monroe (or look-alikes) are eerily present and the familiar Rt 66 road sign adorns every building. Souvenir shops abound full of this 'n that; photo albums made from license plates, t-shirts with the Rt 66 logo, motorcycle vests, mugs, etc. I made a purchase I don't usually make in souvenir shops, I bought a carry-on for the airplane! Actually my carry on was a blue bag that was a. too big to lug around, b. had no wheels and c. broke 2 zippers on the flight to Vegas. I intended to toss it when I turned the rental car in so would need another. Well, didn't I find the coolest little carry-on in one of these stores; it is covered in Rt 66 logos!! It's a subdued color so not too obvious but it was a good deal and I thought it was something that would always remind me of our great escape. So I rolled my new carry-on down America's Main Street to the car...much to Richard's amusement. He just shook his head and smiled!

Richard's one request in Vegas was to see the Pawn Shop of television fame. We didn't make it here the first couple of days but on our last day, before buying a few more souvenirs and getting to the airport, we found our way here. It is located in the old part of Las Vegas. Thankfully it wasn't that busy at all, we were able to walk right in and look around. I bought Richard a t-shirt to mark the occasion and took a few photos of him to prove he was there. The real owners (from the show) weren't on the premises but Richard had his picture taken with the cutout in the back room. I guess that will have to do for now. There is a huge difference between the old and the new Las Vegas, markedly different. The buildings are old, the signs are faded and the buildings are in disrepair. I'm kind of glad Richard wanted to come here else I would not have seen this side of the city. When going to areas you've never been to before, it is important to see as much of it as you can, not just the touristy areas.

Anyway, I hope you like the photos. These are much different than the mountains and canyons of rock we photographed previously.

Slide Show - Mather's Point, South Rim Paved Trail Walk

Mather's Point, South Rim Paved Trail Walk

Since we got up so early on Monday, I told Richard we could sleep in late on Tuesday and get a later start to the Canyon. Since we would be there all day so as to watch the sunset, I thought it worked out well. We began at Mather's Point, the first place everyone goes to see the Grand Canyon on the South Side. We took the shuttle to the paved trail to walk the rim.The South Rim trail can be fairly busy but it wasn't too busy this day. The sunset looked like a lot of people walked the trail but most came in on the shuttle bus about a half-hour prior. The photos of the bikes at the beginning were our attempt to ride along one of the trails near the rim...but the directions weren't so great about where you could and couldn't ride...so ended up taking them back after one hour...but not before my chain slipped. Richard fixed it for me...I was ready to walk it back. The colors prior to the sunset were gorgeous...you can kind of tell by the photos. I'm not much of a sunset/sunrise photographer...but you get the idea with the one I put in. I hope you like these as much as we enjoyed being there.

Hummer Adventure, Page, AZ

These photos are from part 2 of our trip with the Colorado River Discovery tour group. Richard and I and a couple visiting from Israel boarded a white hummer in Page which took us out to the Reservation and land owned by a Navajo family, the Mansons. We had a calm ride initially then did some hummer climbing, pipeline, kind of stuff before we came to a stop at the Secret Canyon. The secret canyon is actually a slot canyon discovered on the land kind of by accident. It is smaller and less crowded than the more well-known Antelope Slot Canyons...but it gave us a good idea of how they are formed and the dangers they can pose during a flash flood. No danger of that on this 110 degree day! The canyon photos aren't so great but they are okay. Lighting was difficult and hand-holding the camera in that setting was not easy...but still they give an idea of what the canyon looked like. The area surrounding the canyon is so beautiful, so open and untamed, I loved it. On the way out, the cattle gave us a lot of hearty laughter. It was great fun.

Slide Show - Glen Canyon River Raft Trip

Glen Canyon River Raft Trip

We had a great time on Monday when we spent the morning on a leisurely ride down the Colorado River through Glen Canyon. The day was absolutely beautiful, the scenery was, as expected, incredible. Our trip began with a 4 mile bus ride to the bottom of the canyon via a 2-mile dark tunnel which let us out at the base of the dam. Hard hats were required for the short walk from the bus to the raft because we were in a work zone. We learned much of the history of the Glen Canyon Dam. One interesting fact; the bridge was built elsewhere, disassembled and re-assembled here. They began on opposite sides and met in the middle...only off by 1/4"! (I'm guessing they filled the gap somehow.) We meandered 15 miles from the Dam to Lee's Ferry passing the famous Horseshoe Bend in the process. We saw some wild horses (well, actually they use to belong to someone but now roam free), blue herons and fishermen. We did not see bobcats, cougars or mountain goats. (Heavy sigh.) The ride back to the Colorado River Discovery store took over an hour...but the scenery we viewed outside the bus window was so beautiful it didn't seem that long. We needed to get up 3:30am (me) and 4:00am (Richard) to make the 2.5 hour trek to Page, AZ...but I'm glad we did. It was a morning to remember for sure. (Yes, more rocks but the element of water and some archeological history (petroglyphs) has been added to 'spice it up'!!) Hope you like the show.

After the bus ride back we had a 'Bistro' lunch (Turkey sandwich, chips and water with a few snacks) and then embarked on our Hummer Adventure. Those photos will be in the next slideshow.

Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona

Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona

 

Richard and I drove south to Sedona on Sunday. We had planned the trip there so that we could go horseback riding...but that didn't pan out; bad timing. Instead we walked around the main street 'to get a feel for the area', took some photos and then traveled north again. The rest of our day would be spent in the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. It was incredibly hot this day, you can tell by looking at the photo of Richard outside the ice cream shop. Some of the stores had mist sprayers which cooled you a bit as you walked by, you may get a little wet, but it evaporated quickly! We had to drive through Oak Creek Canyon to get to Sedona. When I first rounded the bend entering the Canyon, my breath was taken away. This gothic cathedral of rock soared overhead and all around you! This was a very impressive ride. Some of the shots were taken by Richard through the car window as we drove through, there were few places to actually pull over..and when you did you were taking your life in your hands; the locals drove the winding roads a bit speedily. Photographs cannot do this place justice, you have to see it to appreciate it, and to appreciate what a beautiful country we are privileged to live in. I lost count of how many hairpin turns we maneuvered to get down into Sedona. This made it a very fun, kind of exciting ride. Sedona's surrounding landscape and the imposing walls of the Oak Creek Canyon made for a breathtaking little side trip.

Slide Show - Grand Canyon Caverns

Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona

Richard and I decided to make a slight detour on our way to Flagstaff and traveled up Route 66 to visit the Grand Canyon Caverns. They boast the largest dry caverns in the country, located about 250 feet below the surface. The only way to get there is by elevator escorted by one of the guides. I was a bit skeptical when I pulled into the parking lot. The place was nearly deserted, it is situated about a 1/2 mile off the main road and, like almost all the establishments on Rt 66, is a few steps back in time. But the folks running it were very friendly and there were a couple of other families just finishing up the tour. It was actually a pretty neat place, the guide was knowledgeable and there was this somewhat hokey laser show at the end of the tour. What I found most interesting was the number of folks the guide said had signed up to spend a night in the cavern for the economically reasonable cost of $700. (Well, you can have up to 6 people so I guess that's kind of reasonable. Where else can you sleep 250 feet below the earth's surface in a huge hole surrounded by paranormal activity?) Anyway, Richard really enjoyed it (as did I) and I'm glad we made the detour. If you're in the area, it's worth the stop. My photos aren't so great; hand held in a dark cave doesn't work well, especially with all the odd lighting...but you'll get the general idea.

Slide Show - Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon

Bright Angel Trail

Our first view of The Grand Canyon was fairly quick as we planned to do our hike to the 3-mile rest hut on the Bright Angel Trail. If we had gotten to the park sooner, we could have planned on the 4.5 mile hike...but we had a long ride the day before and got to bed fairly late. Another day, another time. These photos were taken at Mather Point initially and then during our hike down and back up the Canyon. I have many photos of Richard on the trail...and it is kind of interesting to look at his 'gait' on the way down...and then on the way up...and then after the rain. There was a sign at the rest hut which read, "Coming down is voluntary, Going up is mandatory!" I liked that...and completely forgot to take a picture of it!!

The photos before the rain were taken with my 18-135 lens, on the way up, prior to the rain, I had on the wide angle. After the rain, I put the SLR away and used my point & shoot...not bad actually. I hope you like rocks because if you do, you will love this slideshow!

Slide Show - Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam,Arizona-Nevada

These photos were taken during our visit to the Hoover Dam. It was about 110 degrees this day, very hot, so being inside for the tour was a welcome diversion. If you ever have the opportunity to tour the Hoover Dam, by all means, you should. What a remarkable undertaking and a marvel of creative engineering. We enjoyed the view from 530 feet underground, from street level and from 840 feet above the Colorado River. The tour is very affordable and extremely informative. There are strict security measures in place...Richard kept setting off the metal detector but neither he nor the guard could figure out why. They finally let him in. Before the tour, there is a 10 minute movie which kind of sets the stage for the tour. But, be advised; if it is busy, sit all the way over to the right so you can be the first out of the door...and in line for the tour. Else you'll be standing in line for at least 20 more minutes!! Don't say I didn't warn you!

Slide Show - Zion National Park

Zion National Park, Utah

This slideshow has images from the first national park Richard and I visited, Zion National Park in Utah. What a beautiful park! The day was sunny and the park was not that busy; it made for a very nice visit. The long ride from Las Vegas (and back to Las Vegas) was worth it. I'm not sure what the sculpture is at the entrance to Zion, it looks Indian but I couldn't find anything on the internet. The sneaker tree is another mystery, we saw this on the way in and stopped to take a picture on the way out. Looks like one person may have hung a pair of sneakers on the bare limbs and others followed suit. I hope you like the photos as much as we enjoyed the park.

Slide Show: Painted Desert & Petrified Forest

Painted Desert and Petrified Forest

This is the first of a few slide shows I will be adding to the blog. As it will take a while to go through the photos, I am hoping to post one per night until they are complete. The slideshows won't be in the order of how we visited but that should be okay, I think each can stand on its own. I hope you like these which were taken on the one bad weather day we experienced while on the trip.

Grand Canyon Vacation Wrap-Up

So, yesterday Richard and I arrived at Logan Airport right on time. Both flights were a bit turbulent but I've learned to ignore this. There isn't much you can do about it when you're up there so no sense getting nervous. Richard said he didn't like the taking off part all that much as the plane gets really noisy and seems to take too long to lift off; he was afraid of it hitting something on the ground. But even with this slight fear, he liked to look out the window throughout the trip.

Yesterday was kind of a lost day. I was still tired and worn out from being up all night on the plane. I did nap but we all know that is no replacement for a good night's sleep. Richard slept most of both flights, and he is much younger, so I don't think he had any lasting ill-effects.

I have to say that this vacation is on par with my Greek vacation taken last October. I had such an awesome time with Richard exploring the Southwest. (BTW, I need to start calling him Richie as he prefers this over Richard which I was not aware of before vacation.) If I had to do it over, I might only change a couple of things. I might have tried to stay closer to the Grand Canyon. Although Flagstaff is only about 75 miles from the Southern Rim, it seemed awfully long after a day of hiking or walking the paved rim trail. It was also extremely far from Page, AZ where we took the mild water raft trip and the Hummer adventure. I opted for 2 nights in Las Vegas at the beginning of the trip. I think 1 night on either side would have been an acceptable compromise. I, personally, need the lights, sounds and chaos of Las Vegas in small doses.  I also wanted to go kayaking (as did Richard) but we just ran out of time. The areas we went to visit were so far apart, we spent a lot of time in the car. I might be more careful next time on putting too much into one week.

I was so happy that we got to the Pawn Stars shop in old Las Vegas. I could tell Richard was so-o-o-o excited about seeing this. It was one of the few places he requested I take his picture and where he asked to take my camera and take a few of his own.

When I go back, I may plan on the majority of time at the Grand Canyon itself. We did a six mile hike, 3 down and 3 up, but I would love to do the 18 mile hike, 9 down and 9 up. I would also like to start hiking at sunrise. The rim trail is fabulous but we only saw a tiny portion of this. Next time, a lot more of both the paved and unpaved rim trail will be in my wake. On our way to Page, I saw some of the North Rim. This is an area most tourists don't make time for, and neither had I, it was basically on the way so I was able to stop.I probably wouldn't do the mild water trip again unless I am with Kameron when he is older. Everyone should do this at least once, it is so beautiful, peaceful and educational.

I was very disappointed that the day we made it to the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest that the weather was cold, windy and rainy. We were okay at the beginning, althought the cloud cover did little to hightlight the colors, but the park has a 24 mile roadway. Ten miles is in the Painted Desert portion and the remainder in the Petrified Forest. We drove a long way and were not able to truly enjoy the color and archeaological history we could have in nicer weather. Not only that, it was an extremely long ride and we needed to get up the next day at 4am for Page. This being said, we can't complain about the weather as it is their 'monsoon season' and this was the only lousy day we encountered.

I highly recommend visiting Zion National Park. Donna C wrote that you can't take a bad picture there...and it is so true. Stunning landscape surrounds you. Also, the park's shuttle system is top-notch. Buses (free) ran every 5 or 6 minutes taking you to 10 scenic spots along the canyon. I can't praise the system enough. It was a wonderful experience. I'm also told I should have make time for Bryce...but time was a precious commodity so I'll try to do this next time.

I liked Sedona but I'm not sure it is an interesting place for kids or teens. I called it the North Conway of the desert; new age shops, restaurants, brilliant landscape surrounding the center. A wonderful place for relaxation, a glass of wine, nice dinner and enjoying what must be unforgettable sunsets and sun rises. Getting there, driving south of 89 through Oak Creek Canyon, was also a feast for the eyes.

What can I say about our hike down the Bright Angel trail? I was in my element. I could have kept going but time was of the essence. I have never been on such a beautiful, gratifying hike in all the times I've hiked. Richard was a trooper, putting up with my photo stops along the way, finding shelter for us in the midst of a hailstorm and making friends with the squirrels of the canyon. One guy said they are considered Canyon Rats...but much cuter! Definitely a do-over for the next time.

We managed to stay for one sunset. Where you could see it, the colors in the canyon were brilliant, but we were maybe at the wrong angle to see it really well. I got some evidence of  how the setting sun dances off the walls in all its splendor, but it was only an appetizer. Next time, I will get the full course! Everyone should see a sunrise and/or sunset at the Grand Canyon, there is nothing like it.

The Hummer adventure was cool, Richard really liked this and I have never seen or heard him talk so much to another adult! He was very animated, asked many questions and seemed to get right into the experience. We learned much from the guide about the land we were on, the government deal that gave it to the Manson family, a Navajo family that owned the land Page AZ is now situated on, and the Secret Slot Canyon we visited. Nobody knew it was there until the early 1900s. Our guide was good enough to get a photo of the nesting Black Widow Spider in the canyon, something I may never see again.

On both our trips across Route 40, we spent some time on Route 66. This was a fun side trip. I had never been on this road of Americana before. We stopped at Seligman on the way back and I got some fun photos and a few souveneirs. On the way to Flagstaff we were on the Rt 66 so that we could visit the Grand Canyon Caverns, one of only 4 dry caverns in the country. The establishment looks a bit tacky, touristy and made me a bit wary...but there was no need to have any hesitation. It was affordable, very interesting and a good stop. Richard really liked this also. It was scientifically educational also, though not sure how much will be retained.

All in all, it was an exceptional vacation with one of my favorite grandsons. We talked, joked around, laughed, bonded and had some new experiences which I know I will cherish for many, many years...and I hope Richard will also.

Now, to go through all those photos!

The End :(

Laundromat, Route 66 and Pawn Stars

After checking out of the Fairfield Inn in Flagstaff, Richard and I went to the laundromat and are coming home with clean clothes. then we got lunch before heading out for our ride to Las Vegas. It was quite uneventful but we did make a stop at the town of Seglia? on Route 66 and bought a few souveniers and took some photos of a few things...depending on your viewpoint they were either tacky or Americana. but it was kind of cool to see. We traveled uneventfully from that point to Las Vegas where we rode down Las Vegas Blvd to the old Las Vegas in search of the business establishment from the show Pawn Stars. We finally found it and Richard was able to walk around inside...we took some photos and then headed out. We stopped in a couple of places on the strip before going back to the car. We then found our way to the Hertz rental return, which was quick and painless. This blog is from the airport where they just a called our flight. We are on our way back home. Talk soon!

Checking Out and Returning to Las Vegas

Well, it's about 8:30am now and I am packing up the room. Richard is moving around now so will be awake soon. I'll see if he wants to get in a quick swim before we check out. The boarding passes are already printed so we are all set there. I found a Maytag laundry close by; we'll stop there and get the laundry done then I'll repack our suitcases for the trip home. It's hard to believe this is our last day of vacation. We'll say goodbye to Flagstaff and a brief hello to Las Vegas before turning in our Chevy Cruise. Then we will be boarding the 11:39pm flight home. After a quick re-connect in Washington, DC, we should be arriving in Boston about 9:30am tomorrow morning.

This is the next to last blog of our vacation. I'll do a final wrap-up after we get home...maybe I can talk Richard into adding a line or two. (Good luck to me, right? LOL). Until then...

Weather Perfect Day on the Southern Rim

Richard and I slept in late this morning. We had a very long (although extremely fun-filled) day yesterday so I thought a little extra sleep today was in the cards. Plus I wanted to see the sunset at the Grand Canyon which meant we would be there for a while once we arrived. After breakfast at the hotel, we fueled up and got on the road arriving at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center about noon.

I saw online that there were bike rentals on the canyon rim and thought it would be cool to do this. Riding along the rim and then stopping along the way to soak up the scenery and take a few photos. So we rented mountain bikes and helmets and rode off. Well, it's kind of confusing where you can ride a bike and where you can't. Unfortunately most of the bike riding was on the Greenway which is a trail in the woods. It wasn't what either of us expected. After riding around confused about where we could ride, we opted to go back to the visitor center and go in the opposite direction, toward Mather Point. Along the way, my chain came off. Richard was able to get it back on without getting too much chain grease on his hands. Then we found that you aren't allowed to ride bikes near Mather Point either...further beyond that you can, but by this time, we both lost our biking enthusiasm. So we rode for an hour and a half, then turned our bikes in opting to walk and take the bus shuttle. I did get a refund (although I didn't ask for one) so we essentially paid for one hour of biking and got a little extra.

We walked over to Mather Point for a bit and then Richard's belly started rumbling. The only food place I'd seen was the Canyon Cafe so we hopped on the Blue Route shuttle for lunch. Actually the prices in the cafe weren't too bad, especially for a tourist area. After lunch we jumped back on the blue line and got off at the red line transfer stop. This is where the paved path begins for walking the rim. This was so exciting. The paved trail is lined with small boulders so people will stay on the trail and not venture too far near the edge, but folks still do. There are some really wide areas inside the path that are fine and not close to the edge.

We saw many deer today also. They weren't very large and one (not pictured here) had some nice antlers coming in. Richard videotaped with his phone and I took some photos. 

We walked out to Maricopa Point and the color was really beautiful. This was about 5:00pm. It is hard to say how they will come out, but the memory of the beautiful color is vivid. We finished out walk at Hopi Point which is the end of the paved rim trail and the beginning of the unpaved rim trail. The unpaved walk will have to be saved for next time as by the time we got to Hopi, it was about 6:15pm and we settled in to watch the sunset. Soon the area was a bit crowded with folks who came up just to watch the sunset.

We watched the day end sitting three feet from the edge of the canyon surrounded by families, couples, old people, young people and teenagers. It really was a beautiful sight and something every person who goes to the Grand Canyon should make time for. I'm glad we did.

Then it was time to take the bus back. It was a bit crowded...and then we had to switch lines from Red to Blue, and the Blue line bus was extremely crowded. Finally, we reached the parking lot and, if you forgot for a time where you were, you quickly remembered when you stepped off the bus into almost complete darkness.Thankfully Richard had a flashlight on his iPhone and the car lights came on when I pressed the car key.

We made it back to the hotel at 10:30pm. Tomorrow we check out and drive back to Las Vegas for our return flight home. I'll try to blog before we check out..

Glen Canyon Mild Water Rafting & Hummer Desert / Secret Canyon Tour

Wow, what a day we had today! I was up at 3:30am and woke Richard at 4:00am. The reason for our extremely early rising was the 2 hour drive to Page, AZ where we would begin our Colorado Discovery Tour. Richard did well, he got up right away, showered and dressed so that we were out of the hotel and on our way by 4:30am. There was a beautiful sunrise as we headed north up Rt 89. Richard was already back sound asleep so it was only I who enjoyed the sun's rise and the distant storms silhouetted on the haze in the west. It's amazing, with so much open land...you can see storms that are miles and miles away even if the sun is shining bright where you are.

My morning ride was going very well, barely any cars on the road, smooth sailing. I got about 14 miles outside of Page when I saw the scenic vista overlook for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I had time so I stopped and took some photos...Richard just turned over and continued in his slumber. I was back in the car maybe five minutes when I looked down at my GPS and it said I would arrive at 9:56am. Wait, 9:56am!! I was supposed to be there at 7:00am! I looked at my cell phone, the time read 7:43am! Holy crap!! I wasn't aware of any time change between Flagstaff and Page AZ!! How stupid could I have been! Frantically I searched for the phone number of the Colorado Discovery Tour office. I had to pull over and dig out my reservation form. What was I going to do! I've paid for the tour already, we've driven two hours and I totally messed this up! I found the number and called. I quickly explained my situation and oversight to the young woman who answered the phone. Am I too late? I didn't realize there was a time difference? I'm about 12 miles out, can I make it? Her response? Relax, you have plenty of time, she said, it is only 6:43...then the connection ended. I quickly called back. The next person who answered assured me of the same thing, I was on time and there was no time difference. I later found out that Page is on the Utah and Arizona timeline and cell phones often switch back and forth between the two. Utah is one hour ahead. My GPS is still on EST! I continued my drive...very relieved but also upset that I didn't check the timezone issue beforehand.

 

The tour company was very busy. There were two busloads of people taking the rafting tour. We loaded up on buses after leaving behind firearms, hand grenades, knives, liquor and sharp instruments in our vehicles. We were going to the Glen Canyon Dam and it is a secured area, so security was very tight. The ride to the bottom of the canyon at the dam was 4 miles long, 2 of them in a tunnel with only intermittent light. We donned hard hats at the bottom while walking down to our rafts as we were right below the rock falling zone. Not sure what good the hat would have done should a boulder topple down upon us.

Our tour guide was Matia, a very friendly, knowledgeable young woman. There were about 20 of us on the pontoon raft. We slowly glided down the Colorado, beginning at the dam, going around Horseshoe Bend and ending at Lee's Ferry. Along the way we saw blue herons, touched the canyon walls, waded in 47 degree water and saw 2000 year old petroglyphs. We glided over the smooth water with folks from China, Cuba and New Orleans. I took way too many photographs, but every direction I looked at beckoned me to push the shutter button. It was a very relaxing, informative and social 3-hour tour.

We then took the bus back to the Discovery store where our bistro lunch of turkey and cheese sandwich, chips, water, apple, chocolate chip cookie and a couple of snacks awaited. Not everyone was going on the Hummer tour so those that weren't left. It was only Richard and I sitting out front at the picnic table, eating our lunch and then driving a half-mile down the road to the Hummer center for the second part of our journey.

Our guide for this tour was Jason, a young man who lives in Dallas, TX  the rest of the year...but is a tour guide in the summer. For this tour Richard and I and an older couple from Israel, Shosana and Ramini, were the only folks in the Hummer. We drove down the road about 2 miles and turned onto Navajo territory. We learned from Jason that a Navajo family, the Manson's, owned the land where Page is now. The government wanted it so offered them this land, three times the size of their original landholding, in exchange. I think it amounts to about 6000 acres. From the moment we left the main road, we were on Manson-owned land. The Manson's are cattle farmers with a very large herd...which we were to meet very soon..

We 4-wheeled over the desert, did some crazy climbs and turns before finding ourselves at the entrance to the Secret Canyon, a smaller version of the Antelope Slot Canyons. When the government traded the land to the Manson's, they did not know this canyon was located here. The tour company we were with has exclusive use of these canyons for tours. The swirling, wavy walls are truly incredible.

The lighting wasn't perfect but I'm sure the photos will be okay. Richard especially liked this and was very talkative with the tour guide. We went through the canyon, walked around the desert a bit and then headed back. Jason took a photo of a Black Widow Spider for us...it was high up in the canyon wall. Richard followed him up to see it first-hand. On the way back from the tour, Ramini asked Richard if he wanted the front seat which Richard was very happy about...me too, as I know he wanted to sit there in the beginning. On the way out, the cattle decided to block the road and were not keen on getting out of the way. They looked at the Hummer like it was a nuisance. Soon they moved and we were on our way.

After organizing ourselves and getting something to drink, Richard and I were on our way south to Flagstaff. All in all it was an awesome day. A half-hour in the hot tub by the pool soothed the aching back from so many hours behind the wheel. Tomorrow we have a leisurely day planned; hanging out on the Southern Rim.

Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, Painted Desert & Petrified Forest

Richard in the Painted Desert

Today Richard and I had planned to go south to Sedona and then go horseback riding. Well, I tried four different horse trail ranches and none were able to help us out; cattle drives or they don't work on Sunday or they are leaving in an hour and you won't make it, etc. So, no horseback riding. :( We did drive to Sedona, however, and through the Oak Creek Canyon down Rt 89. Sedona is located at the end of this gorge. Sedona reminds me of a desert North Conway; a popular touristy type town situated in the midst of some of Mother Nature's best work. There were many new age religion shops, artist galleries, and extremely expensive homes built into the red rock of the canyon...talk about homes with a view!! There are many hiking trails, bike paths, etc. in Sedona...but to stay there is rather pricey so not sure how many hikers and bikers actually find lodging in the town. What is great about Sedona is the towering Oak Creek Canyon walls that serve as a backdrop to sandstone shops and restaurants.

Oak Creek Canyon

View from Sedona

Cathedral Rock

Oak Creek Canyon towers over Rt 89. Hairpin turns up and down the canyon walls make for a very interesting ride. There is only one scenic vista point...the rest of the time, you'd need to pull over to a one or two car spot off the side of the road that was set up at various points. I stopped here and there on my way into Sedona. But on the other side of the town is Cathedral Rock. I had to go through the town to get a photograph of it, and it was worth the extra couple of miles.

The Painted Desert

Richard and I walked around a bit, he had lunch, I had a coffee, and then we headed back north. I thought we could take a trip east to the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. After stopping at the hotel to 'level set' we took off again going Rt 40 East. Unfortunately, I read the mileage wrong and found it was a lot longer ride than anticipated. As I was driving east I was debating turning around...then decided to follow through. As we got closer, the sky began to darken. More rain was on the way. The travel brochure said you should visit the Painted Desert late afternoon to catch the sun as it made the stones in the sand sparkle. Guess no sparkles today!!

Petrified Forest

We bought gasoline at the park (yes, inside the park...!) at the old style pumps (not digital). They were already on...you fill up and go tell the cashier how much you put in. That was pretty interesting. We drove through the park, beginning at the Painted Desert and traveling through to the other side of Rt 66 to the Petrified Forest. The painted desert was beautiful in the darkening day, I can just imagine how it must be in sunlight! By the time we made it to the Petrified Forest, the rain was coming down, the skies were dark. We got some photos, but not sure what will be visible on them, it wasn't the best of conditions. But, we made it there and saw enough to make us happy we made the extra ride.

We ended the day with pizza in the room. Tomorrow, our mild water Colorado River Trip and Desert Hummer Adventure.

Hiking Bright Angel Trail -Grand Canyon

Richard At Mather Point

On Saturday, July 21, Richard was up and dressed by 730am for our hike down the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon. We had not even seen the Grand Canyon yet as we got in too late last night to drive the 75 miles from Flagstaff to the Southern Rim. So after a quick continental breakfast at the hotel, we stopped at the little store across the street and bought water and food for the hike. Once I assured myself we were going in the right direction for the southern rim, I relaxed a bit. I had one little oversight; I forgot to gas up before leaving Flagstaff. This oversight became scarily apparent to me when I saw the access road into the national park was long and void of much in the way of gas stations. I did find one, however, and seeing as they had a monopoly on the business and seeing as I needed fuel, I willingly paid the $3.99 / gallon, a full 60 cents over what was being charged in Flagstaff. Lesson learned (I hope).

We parked the car, used the restrooms, lathered on some sunblock and took a walk over to Mather Point for our first look at this natural wonder. OMG! Spectacular! Incredible! Jaw-dropping! The vastness of the canyon and the various colors of sandstone, limestone, and shale owas (is) hard to comprehend. I wanted to forego the hike and walk the rim all day! But we didn't. After taking a few photos from here and knowing we would be back 2 or 3 more times, we turned away to grab the shuttle bus which would take us to the Bright Angel Trailhead. The buses were quite crowded, it must be tourist season. Nonetheless we made it over there and after a few photos from this rim perspective, we headed down the trail.

At the Beginning of the Hike

There were many families with young kids starting down with us...but they soon turned around and went back up. Hiking Bright Angel Trail in sandals and Crocs and carrying a bag of Cheez-Its was not going to make the cut. I would guess we got on the trail a bit after 10am. Of course, it was a photographer's dream to be surrounded by this wonder so our trek down took longer than it should have. I think I got a few good photos, almost filled a memory card, LOL. We made a few water and snack stops also.

We made it to the 3-mile mark where we rested up a little, relaxed, fed the squirrels (Richard made a few friends!) and chilled out before heading back up. I liked the sign I saw here, "Going down is Optional, Going up is Mandatory". Richard also noted, which I hadn't thought about, that usually you hike UP and then go DOWN...we were doing it opposite today. But our excitement was just beginning.

Looking back up to the rim from below

The air turned cool (a good thing), a breeze flowed through the canyon (also a good thing) and the sky began to darken (well, not such a good thing). We then heard thunder in the distance and saw spots of rain. We moved a bit faster. Then it started to rain, then it stopped...then the sky opened up; thunder and lightning rolled up the canyon. We lucked out a little as by this time we were near the 1.5 mile restroom stop. We ran up to the small cabin that held two "national park-style" restrooms which also had a small deck with roof. There were a few other folks taking refuge there already. By this time we were drenched, splattered with red mud and laughing (believe it or not)! The canyon was nearly non-discernible through the driving -rain. Then we were pelted by hailstones! Cold hard winds raced across the deck! Richard took refuge in one of the bathrooms and it wasn't long before I and three others joined him in the 4' x 7' room. At least it had protection on all four sides. The five of us were in there for about 20 minutes waiting for it to blow over.

When it seemed to be almost over, we ventured out and began our trek up again. We splashed through streams of water running down the trail and off the sides of the canyon walls and there were piles of small stones displaced from the rain that left small gaps in the trail edges. The rain left behind some trail work for the NPS. Before we reached the top, the sun was out and the colors in the canyon, as I expected, were even more vibrant than before. It was a wicked exciting way to end our hike in the Grand Canyon!! I wouldn't have traded that rain experience for anything!!

Tomorrow: Sedona and beyond.

Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon Caverns

So today Richard and I checked out of the Excalibur Hotel about 8:30am, stopped at Starbucks for coffee and a quick breakfast (they don't toast bagels) and headed out. But first we needed to get gas. As usual with a rental, I forgot to check which side the gas cap was on. In addition, I couldn't find the button to open the gas door (just like I couldn't find the button to open the trunk). Well, that's because there aren't any buttons for gas door and trunk latches in a Chevy Cruise; they are manual. Oy!

 

We headed out to the Hoover Dam after navigating our way out of Las Vegas and the one way streets and no U-turn traffic lights. We made it through security at the Dam and after being told to 'drive slowly' we parked for the reasonable fee of $7. We signed up for the power plant tour which included a 10 minute movie and the panoramic view of the Hoover Dam and Tillman Memorial Bridge. Wow, it is unbelievable what they were able to accomplish in the 30's!! The guys on the big dig could have taken some lessons from these creative engineers. Learning about how they were able to divert the water during the construction of the Dam was extremely interesting, very informative and the speaker had our undivided attention. It was 110 degrees here today but it was such a dry heat that it didn't bother us. (Well, Richard wasn't liking it too much).  We went into the generator room and while there, the alarm went off to turn on an additional generator based on the current demand. I'll bet air conditioners had something to do with it. Then Richard and I walked halfway across the new memorial bridge. From here, photographing the dam was a cinch.

After visiting the Hoover Dam, we got in the 'cruise' and drove out toward Flagstaff. But I added a via point to the ole GPS; the Grand Canyon Caverns. This is one of only 4 dry underground caverns. We needed to take Rt 66 out to the Grand Canyon Caverns, it was a little off course for us, but another little gem in the southwest that might be worth a visit. The cavern was found accidentally; the original owner found the hole, went down inside and the rest is history. Well, actually there is more to it, but that can spoken to at  a later date. It was nice to travel down Rt 66 also; one of those nostalgic trips, when life was slower, simpler and full of green dinosaurs at the Sinclair station. The tour guide at the Caverns was pretty good. They also rent a room in the caverns for the paltry sum of $700 per night for 2 people. Imagine that, and it is always a constant 56 degrees!! For those interested in the paranormal, it is believed there are ghosts in the caverns that move the chairs around haphazardly.

After the caverns, we had about an hour and a half trip before we could check in at the hotel in Flagstaff. In route we drove into a torrential downpour that ended as abruptly as it began. Tomorrow our plan is to get up early and travel up to the Grand Canyon for our first hike. Can't wait!

Zion National Park

Richard in Zion

This morning Richard and I left the hotel about 7:30 and began our trek north up Interstate 15 toward Utah and Zion National Park. Zion is about 165 miles from Las Vegas so it was a long trek for a one-day excursion, but, oh, how it was worth it.  Zion is a huge, wide canyon, carved into sandstone creating sculpted peaks, breath-taking cliffs and amazing rock carvings. We began our drive without breakfast and then had a real frustrating time trying to find a coffee and bagel shop. Finally, on the border of Nevada and Arizona, we found a 'mom and pop' coffee shop and enjoyed a bagel-to-go.

I had read about  Zion prior to our visit. ZNP has a bus shuttle system and there was no need to bring your car into the park. The shuttles show up at each of the nine stops in the park every 6 or 7 minutes. We began our shuttle ride in Springdale, a little town just outside the park. From there we used the Zion free shuttle . This system works extremely well. It is a controlled method of visiting the park as well as serving to ease the number of vehicles driving through the canyon.. I have nothing but praise for this system. It is, without a doubt, an exceptional way to visit the park. My compliments to the person or committee who put it together...and to whoever is overseeing it.

Richard took this video while we were driving through, I believe, northern Arizona. I was losing track of what state we were in. :)

I was in awe at the sandstone 'sculptures". So inspiring.  You would think that after I photographed the first few, I wouldn't need to photograph anymore, but not so. Each time the bus turned a corner, a new, natural carving appeared. We had not planned to visit Zion initially, the 165 mile trip up north seemed too much for a day trip. However I heard so much about Zion, I felt that being in the neighborhood, we should go. Richard, too, was awestruck at the natural beauty, of the canyon.

We got back about 6:30 and both of us were quite tired, so we relaxed a bit before deciding to get dinner. Tomorrow we check out of the Excalibur and begin our trek east toward Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. There are a couple of stops we will be making on the way; Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon Caverns to be exact so not really sure what time we will get to Flagstaff. No problem, this is our vacation and we aren't 'on the clock'; we'll get there when we get there!

Roller Coaster & Hard Rock Cafe

Richard and I at Hard Rock Cafe before dinner

So after the pool, we rested for about a half hour then got ready to see the lights in Vegas and have some dinner. But first, we needed to ride the roller coaster in New York New York. My original plan was to videotape the ride with my Flip video camera...but that is a big no no. As a matter of fact all purses, cameras, phones, etc have to be secured in a locker (at a cost of 50 cents!) before the ride. What a thrill ride it was, though! Bumped us around a bit but that is to be expected. Hopefully the video I added to this post will help to shed some light on the NYNY thrill ride. It was a lot of fun. We took a few videos of the sights and sounds of Vegas; the street actors looking for a dollar here and there, the crowds of people, and the lights, so many lights...rivals Times Square, I'd say but with a much different clientele. Then we walked up to Hard Rock Cafe for a very lively dinner... not us, the waiters and waitresses dancing to the music videos playing loudly behind the bar!! It was a very enjoyable evening and a great first day. 

Day is catching up to us now. I'm in need of a good night's sleep before driving up to Zion National Park tomorrow.

First View of Grand Canyon and Lights of Las Vegas

First View of the Grand Canyon

Richard and I had two uneventful flights to Las Vegas. We stopped in Cleveland for 45 minutes then went onto Las Vegas. Our first flight was in a small plane, only 3 seats across and 20 rows. Amazingly, we had quite a bit of legroom!! The second leg was on a much larger plane...with a movie.

This was Richard's and my first view of the Grand Canyon out the window of our United Airbus. We almost missed it because both of us were napping!! I don't know what made me open the shutter and look out...but so incredibly glad I did. Words cannot describe the view we witnessed, and we could see for miles!

I took a few photos with my camera and a couple of others may be clearer...but this was the first one so that is the one we are putting in the blog. When we leave it will be nighttime, we won't be seeing this out our window. But today we did.

Welcome to Las Vegas

We took our first walk up the Las Vegas strip...hot, crowded, action on every corner and in every casino! I won $5 in the airport and lost $5 in the hotel...so, day one, I'm even!! 

Well, off to the pool. We'll write another post when we are in for the night. We still have a lot of Las Vegas to see before that!

Note: Richard says 'Hi' and is anxious to get to the pool!

24 Hours

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.....

In less than 24 hours Richard and I will be embarking on the first leg of our journey; flying into that neon oasis of lights, sights and endless nights! Yahoo!

Anticipation

My oldest grandson, Richard, and I will be heading out West in July for a much anticipated journey from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon! While there we will be floating down the Colorado, 4-wheeling across the desert, riding high in the saddle in Sedona, body surfing in Slide Rock Canyon and seeing what all the fuss is about at the Hoover Dam. Oh, yes, I almost forgot...we will be visiting and hiking in that gorgeous, incredible, wonder of the world, The Grand Canyon!

We have lots of stuff to do to prepare for our trip and I have an itinerary to write; good planning makes for a good vacation. Of course we'll have some down time at the hotel pool and I'm hoping for one round of golf on a nice Par 3, (do they have Par 3's in Arizona?)

I'm hoping to keep this blog updated each day and am also hoping Richard will want to add his own posts and maybe a picture or two. We'll see how that goes.

Until next time; Go West, young man (and young-at-heart grandma), Go West!!