THE GRAND CANYON!! It doesn't matter how many pictures you've seen, or how many movies or fly-over documentaries you've watched, nothing can prepare you for your first, in person, sight of the Grand Canyon. And many of the locals will tell you that, no matter how many times they go there, they are still in awe when they first arrive.
We started the day being entertained by an old west shootout, then boarded the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams for a 2 hour ride to the Canyon village. Great and relaxing way to get there. The agent in our car, Dee, was great - friendly, amusing and knowledgeable. We had a fiddle player entertain us for a brief time on the journey up, and an accordion player on the journey down. We also had a gang of "bandits" stop and board the train on the trip back. We were all told to scream and act scared, so I pretended to faint. The oldest (and roughest looking) bandit immediately said he would have to give me mouth to mouth, at which point I miraculously recovered. Now, if it had been one of the younger fellows, I might have taken a bit longer to bounce back. We also saw some wildlife on the way (aside from the bandits) - javelinas, wild horses, coyotes and a big herd of antelopes.
We had opted to take a 90 minute coach tour along part of the south rim. When we arrived at the canyon village, we hadn't yet seen the canyon, as the rail line is down the bluff from the village. We got straight onto the coach from the train, and after winding around some roads, we came to our first full view of the Canyon. It was breathtaking, and I actually felt my eyes start to dampen. Everyone on the coach just gasped. We made three stops at view points. Once back at the village, we had a chance to get some lunch and then walk around a bit in the village before boarding the train back to Williams.
Unfortunately for me, I have a bit of a fear of heights, so I definitely wasn't enjoying it as much as Robin. I'm OK if there's a railing and a bit of outcrop on the other side, or a tree top there, but no way I can approach that railing if it is a straight drop off on the other side of the rail. And if anyone is getting close (as in closer than about 10 feet) to an edge where there is no railing, I HAVE TO turn and walk away. And if there's a kid involved, I get so nervous I almost get sick. Nevertheless, it was AMAZING!
I'm sharing some pictures, actually quite a few, but nothing other than the naked eye can do justice to the grandeur of the Canyon.
We started the day being entertained by an old west shootout, then boarded the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams for a 2 hour ride to the Canyon village. Great and relaxing way to get there. The agent in our car, Dee, was great - friendly, amusing and knowledgeable. We had a fiddle player entertain us for a brief time on the journey up, and an accordion player on the journey down. We also had a gang of "bandits" stop and board the train on the trip back. We were all told to scream and act scared, so I pretended to faint. The oldest (and roughest looking) bandit immediately said he would have to give me mouth to mouth, at which point I miraculously recovered. Now, if it had been one of the younger fellows, I might have taken a bit longer to bounce back. We also saw some wildlife on the way (aside from the bandits) - javelinas, wild horses, coyotes and a big herd of antelopes.
We had opted to take a 90 minute coach tour along part of the south rim. When we arrived at the canyon village, we hadn't yet seen the canyon, as the rail line is down the bluff from the village. We got straight onto the coach from the train, and after winding around some roads, we came to our first full view of the Canyon. It was breathtaking, and I actually felt my eyes start to dampen. Everyone on the coach just gasped. We made three stops at view points. Once back at the village, we had a chance to get some lunch and then walk around a bit in the village before boarding the train back to Williams.
Unfortunately for me, I have a bit of a fear of heights, so I definitely wasn't enjoying it as much as Robin. I'm OK if there's a railing and a bit of outcrop on the other side, or a tree top there, but no way I can approach that railing if it is a straight drop off on the other side of the rail. And if anyone is getting close (as in closer than about 10 feet) to an edge where there is no railing, I HAVE TO turn and walk away. And if there's a kid involved, I get so nervous I almost get sick. Nevertheless, it was AMAZING!
I'm sharing some pictures, actually quite a few, but nothing other than the naked eye can do justice to the grandeur of the Canyon.
A completely satisfying and fulfilling day. Until next time dear followers, junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.