The GRAND Canyon

West End of Canyon right above the Colorado River

     Mike has wanted to take me to the Grand Canyon, oh let me see, for the last 36 years.  This month we finally made it.  I booked a week at the Red Rocks...Sedona, AZ.  That was our home base.  We not only saw the Grand Canyon from the west end, which is part of an Indian reservation, we also drove the south and east end another day, and then finally made it to the North Rim.

At the bottom of the canyon on the barge.

Some of the Red Rock in Sedona.

     We finally made it to Sedona on Sunday night about 8 PM.  We drove to Tucumcari, NM Saturday night and then stopped in Albuquerque, NM for lunch Sunday.  We drove through the painted desert and The Petrified National Forest on our way to Sedona.

South Rim of Grand Canyon

     We looked at all the Red Rocks around Sedona, took day trips to Jerome, Prescott and in and out of several canyons.  We took the train through the Verde Valley.  If I mis-spell something forgive me.  These names are not familiar to me.  I am doing my best.

East end of Grand Canyon

     The best trip was the day we flew in a plane to the West End of the Grand Canyon..hopped a helicopter down to the bottom of the canyon and then floated on a barge down the Colorado River.  It was an all day trip and we also walked out on the skywalk.  You must put on shoe covers to walk out there and NO electronic devices were allowed out there.  No cameras, phones, videos... nothing.  They have a photographer that is out there to take pics for you and you can purchase the disk for $100.00 and print your own pics.  I chose to get one picture that they took.
     Our favorite view of the Canyon was from the North.  We did have an encounter with a large Bull Bison who did not want to get off the road.  He even thought about charging our car.  We would have lost.  A ranger drove up behind us and blew a device that was supposed to scare the bison... it sort of worked, but only in the bulls own time.
      I kept seeing a beautiful picture of the Colorado River all over Arizona.  Postcards, posters, and just pictures of this beautiful place.  I finally found out it was called Horseshoe Bend  and it was a couple of miles south of Page, Arizona.  When Mike and I left the north rim we drove north to Utah and drove the southern border until we ended up in Page, AZ.  The next morning I got to walk 1 1/2 miles round trip half of which is up hill to see this wonderful view of the Colorado River.  I must say it was worth it.  I would do it all over again, even though it was hot, and I felt like I might not be able to make that last climb, I did and I have the pictures to prove it. LOL

North Rim at Angle Point by the Lodge

     We made it back to Albuquerque, NM in time for me to eat at my favorite Cafe in Old Town.  The Church Street Cafe is probably the BEST Mexican food I have ever eaten.  Someone asked me what made it the best in my mind.  I had a hard time answering the question.  I am not sure why it is the best..it just is!!!  I also go to eat there on the way to AZ.  Mike knows I love that place and I can even tell Mike how to drive to within a block of the Cafe.  It has been 3 or 4 years since we ate there last time.
      It was really good to get back home.  It has been almost a week since we got home, but I am good on the traveling thing for awhile.  The next trip we have planned is to Philly in March.  I know that is going to be fun too.

Bull Bison who wanted to say hello!

     Mike and I really do well traveling together.  We can be together for about 10 days non-stop before we start to need some space.  I think that is pretty good.

Horseshoe Bend, Page Arizona