Grand Canyon 2017

July 28th - Grand Canyon Railway - Williams, AZ to the Grandest of Canyons. (Click on images to enlarge)

Old #5 - Williams, AZ

The long walk to Pullman

Khai working his way to the Pullman Car

All aboard! Tickets please.

Stolen glasses!

Cozying up to Pappa!

 First glimpse of the Canyon - Khai says "....its massive!"

Our "Gang"

Pappa John, Grammy Terry, Jaylynn, Tosha, Khai and Greg

The Henderson Gang

Tosh and Jaylynn peering into the depths of the canyon

JJ and Chippy

Stormy Sunset Canyon Tour

Loving it!

Dad and the JayKid

A hug for mom

A stop at roads end

Greg looking for the elusive pot of gold

The Grand Canyon along the Hermit's Rest Route

The Colorado River

Junior Photographer!

 Jaylynn's picture

Rainbows

The Sunset Storm

Animals and Buildings

California Condor soars above

 Lookout Studio

Kolb Studio

Hermit's Rest

Elk grazing

Thirsty Elk

Indian Hoop Dance

Returning to Williams! 

Heading for home!

Deep thought.

Logging her 1st National Park visit!

She's got the loot! 

7/27/17 - Departing Phoenix at approximately 9:30 am in route to Williams, AZ to meet up with daughter Tosha and her brood - husband Greg and her two kids - Khai, age 6 and Jaylynn, age 5...going on 25.

But first, we must drop off the pups Bella and Aimee at our new DogSitter - Micki Mosel. This always proves to be an anxious time as the little critters sense we are about to abandon them and they tend to freak out. Aimee will immediately go on hunger strike. Bella will adapt. 

The forecast for this three day trip calls for occasional thunderstorms. Excellent for picture taking!

Terry has us booked at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel for the evening of the 27th. Our reservation includes dinner at the buffet. After gnawing for several minutes on a couple pieces of shoe leather served on the buffet line, Terry and I opt to have dessert in Spensers Pub. 

7/28/17 - Back to the Buffet for breakfast. Yikes! The room at the hotel was very nice. The Breakfast Buffet...well...it was better than eating last night's shoes! After breakfast, we mosey over to the mockup Western Town for a 15-minute Cowboy Show featuring the Cataract Gang and the local Sheriff.  Khai and Jaylynn got a kick out of watching the Sheriff shoot it out with the Outlaws. 

9:30 am. All aboard! We are seated on the Pullman Car departing for the Grand Canyon. The train and its tracks have been hauling people from Williams to the Canyon since 1901. Originally, the train was used primarily to haul miners and their cashe to and from the Grand Canyon.  When mining activity declined, the Grand Canyon Railway became the most convenient mode of transportation for tourists seeking a glimpse of the canyon. 

We arrive at the South Rim Train Depot at about noon. Skies are filled with big, fluffy clouds. Perfect for picture taking. To the rim we venture to see what sort of reaction the kids will have once they peer down into this huge chasm. Jaylynn looked about inquisitively but withheld her opinion. Khai, on the other hand was quick to quit, "It's not as impressive as I thought it would be, however it is massive!"

Lunch at the Arizona Room was part of our package and I must admit, the food there was as good as it gets for most tourist traps. After lunch, we strolled around the Rim gazing at the canyon, the tourists and spending money of souvenirs and such. 

This evening we will stay at the Maswik Lodge which is located about a quarter mile south of the Rim. Terry has us scheduled to do a 2 hour Sunset Tour which departs the Lodge at 5:30. The skies are getting darker and more ominous. At 5:25, our entourage makes its way to the bus for the Tour. Unfortunately, Khai melts down. Big time. Greg ushers him back to the room. Terry decides to relieve Greg of Khai Duty and gives up her seat on the Tour Bus to Greg. He is forever thankful for her selfless act!

The Sunset Tour is the highlight of the visit to the Canyon. Ben, our Bus Driver and Tour Guide, takes us on the restricted Hermit Road, making 4 stops along the way. All of the pictures of the Sunset Storm and many of those under the heading Hermit's Rest Route were taken while on this Tour. Stormy weather makes for exciting pictures!

7:45 pm. Back at the Lodge, we meet up with Terry and Khai at the Pizza Pub. A long, rewarding day culminating with pizza and beer!

7/29/17. Our train doesn't depart for Williams until 3:30 this afternoon. Hence, we have most of the day to continue exploring the Grand Canyon. I suggest we take the Blue Bus to the main Visitor Center to let the kids watch the 30 minute movie about the Canyon. Great movie. One of the best we've seen at the park Visitor Centers and the nicest theater of all.  

Terry and I opt to hike the 2 1/2 mile Rim Trail back to the Bright Angel Lodge where we'll meet up with the Tosh and Greg and the kids, who chose to ride the bus back to the Village. Along the Rim, Terry and I witness several close calls of Death in the Canyon. A father wanted to take a picture of his two daughters who were standing very close to the edge of the cliff. Dad told his daughter to "get rid of the stuff in your hands." So, she unwittingly tossed her bottle of water and the papers she was holding to the ground. Gravity has a way of pulling stuff downhill, and sure enough, the water bottle was heading straight for the edge of the cliff! And the little girl was about to chase after it until Terry and I screamed for her to stop! Over the edge did the water bottle go. Fortunately, the little girl did not!

It's hard to put into words the splendor of the canyon and the stupidity of humans! Most of those who die at the Grand Canyon do so by not thinking of the consequences of their actions. Hopping from rock to rock. Standing way too close to the rim's edge. Walking backwards toward the edge of oblivion because the photographer wanted to get a better shot. "Just a little farther back so I can get the clouds in the picture". Oops! "What happened to my subjects? They were in the viewfinder just a second ago"!

We meet back up with the Henderson's around lunchtime and choose to go back to the Arizona Room. After lunch, we wander up buy the El Tovar Hotel and watch a fascinating Indian Hoop Dance. The kids are mesmerized by the dancer as he adds hoop after hoop to his dance. jaylynn exclaims, "he's so talented." Khai is counting out loud the number of hoops the Indian is using in his dance. "He's got 6 of them now!" Khai exclaims! This disturbs the lady standing close by who is videoing the dance and knows Khai's ring-by ring commentary is being caught on her tape!

Terry, Tosh and I sneak away for an ice cream just before we head back to the Train Depot. All aboard for the 3:30 departure back to Williams. The return trip is much more eventful that the ride to the Canyon. The first musician was a good old Geezer from Prescott who was able to get the crowd in the Pullman car to sing along. Jaylynn chimed in loudly and melodically when "You are my Sunshine" was played. 

At about 5:15, the train makes an unscheduled stop out in the boondocks. A couple of bad guys from the Cataract Gang hop on board and begin looting the passengers. The kids hand over all their loot (which they only moments before...stole from Grammy Terry!)

Happy trails!