VISITING GRAND CANYON with VICTOR

Rain, rain go away; go again some other place!  It started yesterday on our trip back from the Grand Canyon.  But it was minor until late in the evening and has not stopped.  I am sure that they need it here for crops, but it will play havoc with the super bowl.  That will not be our problem as we will not go close to those crowds.  Much better to watch it on TV, if we were interested.

Wednesday, January 28th, we left early for Grand Canyon so that we would have sight seeing time after getting there. We returned on Thursday.
This was Mt. Humphrey east of Flagstaff as seen from the highway.  We did see a little snow on the ground, but most of it had melted except on the high elevations.  Mt. Humphrey peak is 12,633 feet, compared to the elevation at the Grand Canyon where we were 6,800 feet.

View driving north, from just north of Flagstaff.

View as we got closer to Grand Canyon.
Notice the difference going from
cacti and junipers to pine forest.

View as we left the canyon going
west and south.

Now on to the views of the Grand Canyon.  They are so different from when we were there three years ago.  It was cold that trip and began snowing the morning we left.

Our first view of the canyon from
near the lodge where we stayed overnight.

Another view from near
the lodge.

Victor on the
south rim.

We only could do the south side as the north rim is closed at this time of the year. 

After lunch, we started going to each look-out and the clouds began to dissipate later in the afternoon.

I love the Junipers.

An Amish couple on their honeymoon.
They are from Pennsylvania.

Victor tried panorama shots with his new camera also.  I am anxious to see how they open up from the published Blog.

Inside of the Desert View Tower

In the morning we went to the Tusayan Museum and Ruin, and the Desert View Tower going toward the west end of the canyon. Victor was the only one taking pictures then. 

When back in the car we came upon a herd of elk and had to sit and wait on them crossing the road, going toward the canyon.  So I took pictures with my phone.  My camera battery went dead on the drive north and I did not have a spare one with me.  I won't be caught short handed like that again!!

There was still a straggler to run across after these guys crossed. And I was in the back seat taking these pictures as we dared not open the doors and scare them off.  Didn't do too bad.

Not sure what is on the agenda next, but have a list.  Victor has some place that he is going to check out tomorrow on his own.  

I will be back with more next week.  Take care and God Bless.

SEEING ARIZONA WITH VICTOR

Victor has been struggling with a cold since he left home, but that has not kept him from sight seeing with us here.
On Monday, January 26th, we began by having Bill and Esther join us at Red Mountain Cafe' for breakfast.

Bill was a scout leader through Victor's scouting journey to receiving his Eagle Award. From there we all went on to the Commemorative Air Museum of Arizona which is just a few blocks from us here in Mesa.

The maintenance and restoration garage.

Man working in the cockpit.

Another man working on an engine.

Crew working outside also.

When Esther and I finished checking things out, but before the guys were finished reading all of the information about each plane, we took the car and went to our motor home and played 5-Crowns until the guys finished.  We got in two games. This is Esther's relaxation from her stressful job.

Tuesday was spent driving northeast out Rt 88 also known as Apache Trail. Prior to 1906 this was a stop for travelers on the Yavapai trail which connected Tonto Basin with the Salt River Valley.  In 1906 it was completed as a freight road for the construction of Roosevelt Dam.  It still remains a welcome stop!  Maybe we can get as far as Roosevelt Dam on another day.
Our goal was to get lunch at Tortilla Flat.  Much of the two lane road was switchbacks with 15 mph curves.  Thanks goodness for the pull offs for picture taking.

Victor and Gary about to look out over
Canyon Lake

Loved the multiple terrain!

On down the road arriving at Tortilla Flat.  Wonderful food and a very busy place! They were not bashful about asking us to move on after we finished eating, while we were visiting with two other Canadian couples at our long table.  We graciously moved out and took pictures outside to remember those moments and memories shared.

Don't know who was enjoying the drive
in these vintage cars.  But it looked like fun.

Another restaurant papering the walls with
dollar bills.  The waiter said there is probably
150K on their walls.

Gary found his soul mate!

We tried driving on but the asphalt soon stopped and the road was then like a washboard.  Gary did not want to give our new car that kind of a workout, so we turned around and headed back the way we came.  We passed a Marina on the right and navigated the single lane bridge while going back through the hairpins again. We stopped at a lookout, looking back on the road that we had just covered.

We just came through there!

More of the awesome mountain scenery!

Maybe I should have used Victor's
shots in this Blog.  He takes much
more time focusing them.

Arrived home safely but did not have too much time before our afternoon show at Mesa Regal.

Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers along with his daughter, McKenna and Bill's band entertained us with many songs from the Fifties and Sixties. 

Bill Medley of the
Righteous Brothers

Bill's 27 year old daughter, McKenna,
who will be getting married soon.

It was a good two days and we will be heading out in the morning for an overnight stay at the Grand Canyon.  Weather is looking good so must take it while we can.
I will be receiving a group picture of the friends we made at Tortilla Flat by e-mail.  When I receive that, I will drop it into this Blog.  Making new friends is always so enjoyable.
Stay with us and we will be showing you more.