Bea: We’ve also noticed lots of families and with we’d see more wildlife!
Gigi: You’re right! It was Butch Cassidy and the movie was “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Congrats! Gas prices have gone from a low of $3.13 to a high of $3.39 where it’s been for the past week. Peter’s the driver, Connie’s the navigator and Marilyn is our guardian angel.
MARCH 28, 2008
We awoke to another gorgeous day, blue sky, sun, and temperature in the upper 60s. We’ve said it before but it bears repeating………..we’ve certainly lucked out on the weather! It’s also time to introduce our newest piece of technology. Prior to a couple of days ago, Connie had been taking sketchy notes so we could relive our day on the blog. Peter decided there must be an easier way to do this so he purchased a digital recorder. We’ve mastered this piece of equipment so now we note everything we pass on the recorder and use it to write our blog entries either on the road from one place to another or in the evening as we’re putting the finishing touches to the day’s posting.
We had coffee on a terrace in Sedona but the hordes were still there……..it’s definitely not the time of year to be a tourist here! Before exiting Sedona we averted a near tragedy:………couldn’t find the camera! So we pulled over, searched the car, our pockets, and our bags before finally finding it when we put the top up. It was folded in the convertible top! Phew!! Peter had left it on the roof when getting into the car and then putting the top down.
As we drove along another scenic route we’d read about, Red Rock Scenic Road AZ 179, we encountered construction and traffic and although the views were spectacular it wasn’t up to the level we expected…………..just too crowded! From AZ 179 we wended our way via interstate 17, through Flagstaff and up the other side of Humphrey’s Peak. Marilyn again saved us as we had to find our way through Flagstaff to AZ 180, the back way up to the Grand Canyon through the San Francisco Mountains. We did make one quick stop in Flagstaff to take a picture of the San Francisco de Assis Church with its pink gargoyles. We climbed to 8000 feet, went through two National Forests where we observed some forest fire damage and even passed a pickup truck, the first vehicle Peter has passed!!!! Lunch was another picnic at the side of the road amidst all of this fabulous scenery.
As we approached the Grand Canyon, we stopped at the National Geographic Visitor Center to see an IMAX film on the history of the Grand Canyon. Great movie, well worth seeing, a great introduction to the park!! Our park pass didn’t work at National Geographic but it did when we entered the Grand Canyon where the regular admission is $25 per car.
The Grand Canyon, as we expected, was very congested; we had a hard time finding a parking place along the rim and finally parked with others along the road. It was Connie’s first glimpse ever of the Grand Canyon and she was absolutely speechless! The height, the depth, the breadth, the colors, the majesty, the contours were totally breathtaking. When you stop to contemplate the awe that the first explorers must have experienced upon their initial view, it’s almost incomprehensible; the beauty, the grandeur, the ruggedness; how to get across, how to get down one side and up the other, how to navigate the rapids…….too much!!
We walked a little bit along the rim trying to see everything and feeling overwhelmed. There must have been a French tour going on because every other person was speaking French, the first French we’ve heard on this trip! There were lots of folks around also trying to take in everything; lots of Asians, lots of families, many tourists our age. After our short walk, we decided to head for Williams AZ, 54 miles away, where we had booked a room. It’s hard to find a place to stay any nearer that’s affordable. In Williams we had dinner at the renowned Rod’s Steak House, opened in 1946 along the then prosperous Route 66. Interstate 80 has replaced most of Route 66 in this area although Williams still touts its Route 66 heritage.
MARCH 29, 2008
For some reason this morning was a time of several incoming and outgoing phone calls, mostly family stuff. We finally got to Old Smokey’s just across the street from our motel for a big breakfast to start the day. Like Rod’s last night, the restaurant has been in Williams since the mid 40s and like Rod’s is a Route 66 institution. Both of these great eating places were mentioned prominently in ROADFOOD, a book Kathleen and Mike gave Peter for his birthday.
On our way back to the Grand Canyon, we stopped at the Planes of Fame. Peter toured the museum while I did some blogging. It was fairly small but very interesting at least for an aviation buff. Back on the main road, we were surprised at the lack of traffic; we figured a Saturday would be extremely busy. The cars and RVs we saw entering the park as we were leaving yesterday must have been full of weekend campers! Yesterday we went to Mather Point so today we decided to try Yavapai Point.
We walked about half a mile to the rim……………and there IT was again!!! Wow!!!! Did I say “WOW!” yesterday, too? Then we walked about a mile to the point, stopping along the way to ogle the Canyon. Like yesterday, we were overwhelmed with the magnificence and grandeur. We walked out on the rocks at the edge of Yavapai Point and the canyon walls and sat quietly for quite a while just taking it all in. A couple from Toronto was sitting near us and told us they’d been here many times just to enjoy the canyon and occasionally to hike the canyon. They were full of National Park information since they’ve been doing the parks of the Southwest for many years. When asked if there was one viewing point they thought was the best, they replied by asking if there was one view on Cape Cod we thought was the best!
Back in the car, we drove to Grandview Point for another perspective of the canyon (On the way we spotted a coyote along the side of the road. We never tire of seeing wildlife!). This was the site of the first hotel, built for the first tourists from Flagstaff who rode a stagecoach for 12 hours (Flagstaff is 70 miles away1) With the coming of the train further along the canyon, the hotel proprietor began mining copper down in the canyon. With the binoculars we could make out the remnants of the mine. Here, again, as yesterday, there were many French tourists……….Grand Canyon must be a big draw for the French or is it the dollar? But, we do wonder what’s happening to tourism in France and elsewhere in Europe.
Well, we couldn’t absorb any more! We headed back to Williams, did a little window shopping, had some dinner and called it a day……………. but what a day it was. What better way to end a trip around the National Parks of the Southwest than with the King of the Parks! This is Peter’s third visit to the Grand Canyon and he still can’t believe it!
Gigi: You’re right! It was Butch Cassidy and the movie was “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Congrats! Gas prices have gone from a low of $3.13 to a high of $3.39 where it’s been for the past week. Peter’s the driver, Connie’s the navigator and Marilyn is our guardian angel.
MARCH 28, 2008
We awoke to another gorgeous day, blue sky, sun, and temperature in the upper 60s. We’ve said it before but it bears repeating………..we’ve certainly lucked out on the weather! It’s also time to introduce our newest piece of technology. Prior to a couple of days ago, Connie had been taking sketchy notes so we could relive our day on the blog. Peter decided there must be an easier way to do this so he purchased a digital recorder. We’ve mastered this piece of equipment so now we note everything we pass on the recorder and use it to write our blog entries either on the road from one place to another or in the evening as we’re putting the finishing touches to the day’s posting.
We had coffee on a terrace in Sedona but the hordes were still there……..it’s definitely not the time of year to be a tourist here! Before exiting Sedona we averted a near tragedy:………couldn’t find the camera! So we pulled over, searched the car, our pockets, and our bags before finally finding it when we put the top up. It was folded in the convertible top! Phew!! Peter had left it on the roof when getting into the car and then putting the top down.
As we drove along another scenic route we’d read about, Red Rock Scenic Road AZ 179, we encountered construction and traffic and although the views were spectacular it wasn’t up to the level we expected…………..just too crowded! From AZ 179 we wended our way via interstate 17, through Flagstaff and up the other side of Humphrey’s Peak. Marilyn again saved us as we had to find our way through Flagstaff to AZ 180, the back way up to the Grand Canyon through the San Francisco Mountains. We did make one quick stop in Flagstaff to take a picture of the San Francisco de Assis Church with its pink gargoyles. We climbed to 8000 feet, went through two National Forests where we observed some forest fire damage and even passed a pickup truck, the first vehicle Peter has passed!!!! Lunch was another picnic at the side of the road amidst all of this fabulous scenery.
As we approached the Grand Canyon, we stopped at the National Geographic Visitor Center to see an IMAX film on the history of the Grand Canyon. Great movie, well worth seeing, a great introduction to the park!! Our park pass didn’t work at National Geographic but it did when we entered the Grand Canyon where the regular admission is $25 per car.
The Grand Canyon, as we expected, was very congested; we had a hard time finding a parking place along the rim and finally parked with others along the road. It was Connie’s first glimpse ever of the Grand Canyon and she was absolutely speechless! The height, the depth, the breadth, the colors, the majesty, the contours were totally breathtaking. When you stop to contemplate the awe that the first explorers must have experienced upon their initial view, it’s almost incomprehensible; the beauty, the grandeur, the ruggedness; how to get across, how to get down one side and up the other, how to navigate the rapids…….too much!!
We walked a little bit along the rim trying to see everything and feeling overwhelmed. There must have been a French tour going on because every other person was speaking French, the first French we’ve heard on this trip! There were lots of folks around also trying to take in everything; lots of Asians, lots of families, many tourists our age. After our short walk, we decided to head for Williams AZ, 54 miles away, where we had booked a room. It’s hard to find a place to stay any nearer that’s affordable. In Williams we had dinner at the renowned Rod’s Steak House, opened in 1946 along the then prosperous Route 66. Interstate 80 has replaced most of Route 66 in this area although Williams still touts its Route 66 heritage.
MARCH 29, 2008
For some reason this morning was a time of several incoming and outgoing phone calls, mostly family stuff. We finally got to Old Smokey’s just across the street from our motel for a big breakfast to start the day. Like Rod’s last night, the restaurant has been in Williams since the mid 40s and like Rod’s is a Route 66 institution. Both of these great eating places were mentioned prominently in ROADFOOD, a book Kathleen and Mike gave Peter for his birthday.
On our way back to the Grand Canyon, we stopped at the Planes of Fame. Peter toured the museum while I did some blogging. It was fairly small but very interesting at least for an aviation buff. Back on the main road, we were surprised at the lack of traffic; we figured a Saturday would be extremely busy. The cars and RVs we saw entering the park as we were leaving yesterday must have been full of weekend campers! Yesterday we went to Mather Point so today we decided to try Yavapai Point.
We walked about half a mile to the rim……………and there IT was again!!! Wow!!!! Did I say “WOW!” yesterday, too? Then we walked about a mile to the point, stopping along the way to ogle the Canyon. Like yesterday, we were overwhelmed with the magnificence and grandeur. We walked out on the rocks at the edge of Yavapai Point and the canyon walls and sat quietly for quite a while just taking it all in. A couple from Toronto was sitting near us and told us they’d been here many times just to enjoy the canyon and occasionally to hike the canyon. They were full of National Park information since they’ve been doing the parks of the Southwest for many years. When asked if there was one viewing point they thought was the best, they replied by asking if there was one view on Cape Cod we thought was the best!
Back in the car, we drove to Grandview Point for another perspective of the canyon (On the way we spotted a coyote along the side of the road. We never tire of seeing wildlife!). This was the site of the first hotel, built for the first tourists from Flagstaff who rode a stagecoach for 12 hours (Flagstaff is 70 miles away1) With the coming of the train further along the canyon, the hotel proprietor began mining copper down in the canyon. With the binoculars we could make out the remnants of the mine. Here, again, as yesterday, there were many French tourists……….Grand Canyon must be a big draw for the French or is it the dollar? But, we do wonder what’s happening to tourism in France and elsewhere in Europe.
Well, we couldn’t absorb any more! We headed back to Williams, did a little window shopping, had some dinner and called it a day……………. but what a day it was. What better way to end a trip around the National Parks of the Southwest than with the King of the Parks! This is Peter’s third visit to the Grand Canyon and he still can’t believe it!
1 comment:
Connie and Peter,
We've been reading your blog and are amazed at all you've seen and done. The Grand Canyon has to be the best. The pictures were great. Ed and I have been busy (in florida and sick with colds) since you left us. Hopefully spring will bring relief. Must have been fun to practice your french! Take care,Lize
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