Grand Canyon

[LONGEST POST EVER – PHOTO OVERLOAD WARNING!]

After leaving Hoover Dam, we headed out for the Grand Canyon.

We stopped briefly in Williams, Arizona for a quick bathroom break and to pick up our boxed lunches.

The restaurant we stopped at was actually on Route 66 and the driver gave us the history of the road. Which, we already knew half of thanks to Disney’s CARS. haha

After the quick stop, we were back on the bus to eat and drive the last leg to the South Rim.

Our first stop was the Bright Angel Lodge where we were able to walk along the rim trail.

This was our view!

There was canyon as far as you could see!

Video!

We made time to pose for some pictures, of course!

We then walked over here…

…to get these shots!

We went back to the trail and found a shaddy spot to sit and look over the canyon.

We watched the animals running around but were careful not to approach them. We’d been warned that approaching or feeding the animals could result in a $500 fine!

A very nice woman asked us to take her picture in exchange for taking a picture of the two of us. I was pretty happy with what she took!

We got back on the bus and drove down the road to Mather Point.

We immediately headed right to the edge of the canyon for pictures. It was a bit of a hike from the parking lot but it was worth every huff and puff! The views were more stunning than at Bright Angel!

VIDEO!

This was our next stop!

Self-portrait time!

Seriously? Can you believe this view?!?!

At the top of the stairs, heading down to the observation point!

Hi Mike!

Holy Awesome View, Batman!

More self-portrait action!

Notice Mike desperately trying to avoid being near the railing!

We went here, next.

While we were there, we noticed these crazy people at the next stone formation down the trail.

NOT AN AUTHORIZED TOURIST STOP! CLIMBING DOWN A ROCK WALL! STANDING ON A ROCK FORMATION WITHOUT RAILINGS! CRAZINESS!!!

CRAZINESS, I SAY!

It is a beautiful view, isn’t it?

Hi Amanda!

That’s where we just came from.

Mike holding onto the railing for dear life.

Hello, gorgeous!

Hello, Colorado River!

Mike avoiding the edge, again.

And one last shot…aren’t I mean for making him go right to the railing? 🙂

After this we headed back to the Visitor Center in search of water. Well, Mike was in search of water. I was in search of air conditioning. 🙂

I found the A/C while he went off in search of water…and I got some neat pictures while I was there.

….and, back at the bus. Nothing better than water, A/C and a nice cushy seat after traipsing around the Grand Canyon in the heat of the summer!

Our next stop was to go back to Williams, Az for dinner at Wild West Junction. 🙂

We had an old west-style barbecue dinner including chicken, baked beans and biscuits all served on tin plates and drinks served in tin cups.

We ate outside under a white tent in the courtyard.

And nearby 2 gentlemen played on a stage…singing country songs and periodically stopping for pictures.

It was totally cheesy but dinner was good. We probably would have enjoyed it more if we didn’t have a 4 hour drive back to Vegas ahead of us.

An after-dinner self-portrait!

Nothing overly exciting happened on the ride back to Vegas. We watched videos on the TVs on the bus, listened to our iPods, I read and napped. Fun was had by all. 🙂

One item of interested was that we drove back over Hoover Dam in the dark. It was all lit up and looked really cool. Unfortunately, the camera’s flash was reflecting off of the bus windows and because it was dark and we were moving, I couldn’t get a shot in focus with the flash off.

I did take video of us approaching and crossing the dam. Enjoy!!! (Cheesy elevator music complements of the driver!)

Next up….Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat!