Trip Report Grand Canyon (Day 2 evening & Day 3)

[keishashadow]

finally made it to the Grand Canyon...bit of a maze getting in...really worried we'd miss sunset...finally, with 1/2 hour to spare found an elusive parking spot & registered @ Bright Angel Lodge -next door to our hotel on the rim Thunderbird Lodge.

The reviews on trip advisor had me worried...without cause, it was well-maintained, newer bathroom & fantastic view (staff commented one of the best views onsite ). You'd def want to request 2nd floor so people aren't tromping past your window @ the rim...u r literally on the edge

the white area is actually the bottom floor - double set of rooms

view to the right

to the left

far left view, u can see historic Kalb studio in next 2 pics (2nd zoom) where bright angel trail begins just past it

 

[keishashadow]

sunset

we took a hike up to the end of complex then tried to get dinner @ any of the bright angel restaurants, but the wait was hours long so we settled for a table in the lounge & appetizers. Walked the 3 min to our room & set the alarm for sunrise

 

[keishashadow]

morning came early jr didn't rise, too tired to argue so we dug in suitcase for extra clothing (temp had dropped into low 60's) and grabbed out cameras...at least we only had to get up 10 min before the sun since we were on the rim

 

[keishashadow]

Grabbed coffee, jr & set off to hike bright angel trail a bit

interesting how the canyon looked different in the various lighting of the day

this is the last semblence of a wall all the way down

mules have the right of way, people get to move to the outside of rim

told them i was done after 1/2 hr & planted it, family went down to next cave...altitude was difficult to deal with we all agreed

their shots of me hanging off the hillside (i have quite the fear of heights )

fyi, they tell u to allow double (or triple the time to retrace your steps)

indian pictographs on hillside after 1st bridge/cave

after a couple hours, we regrouped & toured the Kalb studio, then packed up the car after taking a few more pics in this area

 

[keishashadow]

pic working east to Watchtower from the western area of grand canyon village

elk were plentiful & def not spooked by people

looking down to where colorado river runs

lookout

 

[keishashadow]

zoom of colorado river

i was glad to see overlooks WITH railings

 

[keishashadow]

indian settlement @ GC approx 800 AD, that had been excavated to show footprint/some reconstruction as to how they lived

watchtower complex, furthermost eastern area

inside

looking up @ family

we decided to drive a longer (mile-wise route) past mt charles

back to Las Vegas thru Flagstaff...def recommend it, beautiful drive; little traffic & took over an hour less than drive to the Grand Canyon

 

[KimAshton]

I haven't been to the Grand Canyon in years. Looks beautiful.

 

[keishashadow]

I haven't been to the Grand Canyon in years. Looks beautiful.

pics def didn't do it justice, so amazing; glad we worked it into our trip

 

[RVGal]

Beautiful pics! And why does sunrise insist on happening so darn early in the morning?

I'm afraid of heights myself, but the view of the Grand Canyon was definitely worth it.

 

[keishashadow]

Beautiful pics! And why does sunrise insist on happening so darn early in the morning?

I'm afraid of heights myself, but the view of the Grand Canyon was definitely worth it.

not sure why i thought there would be a railing all the way around it though

it'd be some trick keeping an eye on little kids , i had a fit everytime somebody in my party tripped on a rock when walking near the edge...something to do with the tale park ranger recounted as to the # of fatalities every year

 

[loribell]

Amazing pics Janet.

By the way, have I ever told you guys that I left one of my kids at the Grand Canyon?

 

[RVGal]

By the way, have I ever told you guys that I left one of my kids at the Grand Canyon?

No, you never told us about leaving a kid at the Grand Canyon.

You can do that? Can I go leave one of mine there?

 

[keishashadow]

Amazing pics Janet.

By the way, have I ever told you guys that I left one of my kids at the Grand Canyon?

do tell

 

[loribell]

Well it was many, many years ago. I think Mikey was about 3 so Miranda would have been about 12. We had driven my inlaws big conversion van out for our first trip to DL. On the way home we decided we would also do a day drive by/visit to the Grand Canyon.

We got there early in the morning and things were going well. After being there for about an hour or so Mikey started to feel a little icky. We decided it would be best to go ahead and head out but stop at some of the different look out points along the way.

Now let me interject here that this van had a rear seat that folded out into a queen size bed. We had the bed made out for the entire trip with blankets and pillows on it so the kids could nap some while on the road. (I know I am a bad mom for letting them get out of the seat belts but remember this is a story about me leaving a kid at the GC so we already know that.)

So we are going along stopping at all the different turn outs/viewing spots. Mikey is starting to feel worse and he is starting to run a fever. We have to get on the road.

We pull out of the last spot we had stopped at, it was an unmanned one. I asked Miranda to get me a pepsi out of the ice chest. She didn't answer me. I asked again. No answer. I said Miranda if you are back there you better answer me. Still no answer! I told dh she is not back there! Now for those of you that have driven the rim of the GC you know you can't just turn around. I think it was probably only a couple of miles before we found a spot to turn around but it seemed like it took forever. When we got back she was sitting on a rock with tears streaming down her face. We have not been back to the GC needless to say.

Now my defense:
You see she had been playing with Mikey all along during the drive of this trip. She would hide from him under the blankets. It looked like someone was under the blankets. I swear I heard the car door shut before we got in. Really, I did.

 

[macraven]

i bet she played that incident for some miles with you.



great story.


i howled at it when i read it!!

 

[loribell]

I have asked her occassionally if she wants to go to the GC. For some reason she always says no.

Oh well, she survived. She is now 25 years old.

 

[keishashadow]

it was her fault for wandering away from the pack...lucky a jack-a-lope didn't run off with her

(always turn it around & put the 'lil monsters on the defensive)

that would be my story & i'd stick to it

u realize u'll be hearing this story...forever from ur kids

 

[RVGal]

Now let me interject here that this van had a rear seat that folded out into a queen size bed. We had the bed made out for the entire trip with blankets and pillows on it so the kids could nap some while on the road. (I know I am a bad mom for letting them get out of the seat belts but remember this is a story about me leaving a kid at the GC so we already know that.)

That's my favorite line of the whole story!

I think it is safe to say that if every parent were to have to recount every moment of their children's young years, there would be something somewhere for everyone to be embarrassed about.

 

[keishashadow]

That's my favorite line of the whole story!

I think it is safe to say that if every parent were to have to recount every moment of their children's young years, there would be something somewhere for everyone to be embarrassed about.

i think my kids keep a journal somewhere to jog their memories