Claire L
<font color=blue>Enjoys a good broadway show<br><f
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2002
- Messages
- 10,782
Friday June 30th 2006
Today was another long drive this time from California and into Arizona. We got up at a reasonable time and headed into the breakfast room this time with our own mugs and tea bags
The tea did taste much nicer like this. After having the usual cereal and toast we packed the car and off we went. It was a bright sunny day once again and the temperatures were rising, even at 10am it was nearly 100f!! We kept criss crossing with the rail track soon after leaving Barstow and saw some very very long trains full of cargo carriages. Some of these trains had 4 or 5 diesel engines and must have been nearly two miles long 
The roads were clear and mainly dual carriage way, strangely you had to keep saying to yourself this is dual carriageway as often the lanes in the other direction were some 200 to 300 hundred feet away and often not visible due to the terrain!
We drove for quite a while observing the changing scenery. Soon we were near to the Arizona boarder at Neddles and we saw quite a sight, pre fab swimming pools on the back of a lorry.
At that point a nice swim sounded so inviting as the temperature peaked at 108f.
It was then time to cross the Colorado River and go from California to Arizona.
By now we were running low on gas so stopped at Henderson and filled up, also a good opportunity for a loo break! It was then back onto the open road and we were off towards Williams. It was now well into early afternoon and the miles were ticking along. The cloud was building as well and in the distance we could see lightning strikes from the stormy clouds.
Then the sun came out again as we headed towards Williams.
Once through Williams there is just one main road to the canyon and it goes on for about 40 miles through trees and open plains.
Eventually we were at the gates to the Grand Canyon and made our way through and then drove to the El Tovar. As we got to the El Tovar we noticed how crowded the roads were with cars just parked anywhere at the good viewpoints and then trying to park at the hotel was a nightmare as there is no guest parking you have to fight with the day visitors to get a space, we thought this very poor for a hotel of its class. Soon we were checking in but our room was not ready so we wandered into the bar feeling thirsty and hungry we ordered cokes and a plate of nachos. The drinks soon arrived and we did some people watching for a while and then it was time to eat. Wow what a plate of nachos!!! They tasted great and we soon demolished the plateful. By now it was 4pm and we were able to get our room key. Luckily when Nathan dropped the luggage off he found a place to park in the adjacent car park. Our room was nice not as small as the reviews I had read had lead me to believe and it was nicely decorated. I was surprised that there was even a little fridge available in the amoire
Once all the luggage was in the room we wandered off for a walk out along the rim.
By now the park was emptying out of day guests and not feeling like dinner we went to the local stores and bought some juice, milk and ice cream
Once back at the room we ate the ice cream and decided that we would order breakfast from room service as England were playing the following morning, after this we fell into bed fast asleep.
Claire
Today was another long drive this time from California and into Arizona. We got up at a reasonable time and headed into the breakfast room this time with our own mugs and tea bags
The tea did taste much nicer like this. After having the usual cereal and toast we packed the car and off we went. It was a bright sunny day once again and the temperatures were rising, even at 10am it was nearly 100f!! We kept criss crossing with the rail track soon after leaving Barstow and saw some very very long trains full of cargo carriages. Some of these trains had 4 or 5 diesel engines and must have been nearly two miles long
The roads were clear and mainly dual carriage way, strangely you had to keep saying to yourself this is dual carriageway as often the lanes in the other direction were some 200 to 300 hundred feet away and often not visible due to the terrain!
We drove for quite a while observing the changing scenery. Soon we were near to the Arizona boarder at Neddles and we saw quite a sight, pre fab swimming pools on the back of a lorry.
At that point a nice swim sounded so inviting as the temperature peaked at 108f.
It was then time to cross the Colorado River and go from California to Arizona.
By now we were running low on gas so stopped at Henderson and filled up, also a good opportunity for a loo break! It was then back onto the open road and we were off towards Williams. It was now well into early afternoon and the miles were ticking along. The cloud was building as well and in the distance we could see lightning strikes from the stormy clouds.
Then the sun came out again as we headed towards Williams.
Once through Williams there is just one main road to the canyon and it goes on for about 40 miles through trees and open plains.
Eventually we were at the gates to the Grand Canyon and made our way through and then drove to the El Tovar. As we got to the El Tovar we noticed how crowded the roads were with cars just parked anywhere at the good viewpoints and then trying to park at the hotel was a nightmare as there is no guest parking you have to fight with the day visitors to get a space, we thought this very poor for a hotel of its class. Soon we were checking in but our room was not ready so we wandered into the bar feeling thirsty and hungry we ordered cokes and a plate of nachos. The drinks soon arrived and we did some people watching for a while and then it was time to eat. Wow what a plate of nachos!!! They tasted great and we soon demolished the plateful. By now it was 4pm and we were able to get our room key. Luckily when Nathan dropped the luggage off he found a place to park in the adjacent car park. Our room was nice not as small as the reviews I had read had lead me to believe and it was nicely decorated. I was surprised that there was even a little fridge available in the amoire
Once all the luggage was in the room we wandered off for a walk out along the rim.
By now the park was emptying out of day guests and not feeling like dinner we went to the local stores and bought some juice, milk and ice cream
Once back at the room we ate the ice cream and decided that we would order breakfast from room service as England were playing the following morning, after this we fell into bed fast asleep.Claire
