The Grandest Canyon of Them All!

We stayed two nights in Williams, AZ because we wanted to take the train to the Grand Canyon from Williams--a two-hour and 15-minute ride one-way.  We stayed at the Grand Canyon RV Park that is across the street from the railway station.  They also have a hotel, pool, kids play area, and (this is extremely important) a kennel for Sadie!  Yup!  This hotel is thinkin' things through by offering a kennel so you can take the train (which takes most of the day) to the Grand Canyon and enjoy it without thinking about your pet.  Sadie wouldn't last that long (as most dogs wouldn't) in the RV without a potty time.  Not to mention she has separation anxiety disorder that means the second we leave her alone she is stressed out.  This kennel gave us the freedom to take a whole day trip and not worry about her at all.

It was a beautiful day and we took the second (and last) train leaving the station.  There were a few wildlife sightings on the trip--antelope, deer, and a wild boar.  They were fleeting glimpses because once they heard/felt the train, they quickly scampered out of range.  Here are a couple of pictures of the scenery on the way to the Grand Canyon and a shot of our train as it rounded a sharp turn.

We got to the Canyon and walked across to the hotel and restaurant.  The first photo below is of the train station at the Grand Canyon.  From here you walk up to the hotel and restaurant.

 

Also at the rim is the Hopi House (below).  We didn't go in--neither of us were too interested in it. 

 

Before lunch at the restaurant, we captured a few fast photos of the canyon's south rim. It was a beautiful day for the canyon.  Lightly clouded skies.  Nice and temperate.  Not too crowded.  Just perfect!

 

After lunch we strolled along the rim trail.  We didn't go too far because we had to be back on time to catch the return train ... and they wait for NO man!

 

My gang-banger husband:)

 

Here is a video of the Grand Canyon.  Reminder:  The possibility exists you may only be able to view it by going to the website.  Simply click on the blog title and it will take you there.

 

Once we got back to the hotel we bought a few grandkid gifts for Christmas (thinking ahead!) and then sat on the front porch rockers until it was time to head back to the depot to catch the train home.

 

El Tovar, the hotel & restaurant

 

It was a bit of a wait to get a rocker.  As you can see, they are very popular!

 

 

God was good, and we jumped onto two rockers facing towards the Grand Canyon rim.  This is our rocker view.  Not too shabby, huh?

 

The return trip held a special surprise.  The train was stopped by robbers who jumped on the train.  We all had to fork over some moola to get them on their way!

 

Chasing the train.

Getting ready to board the train.

Entering our car to collect the cash.

 

And here's the sheriff, trying to locate the thieves so he can arrest them.

It was a fun respite from a long, otherwise uneventful, ride back to the Williams Train Depot.

 

This picture was taken of us on the train.  We fell for the "package" deal.  Really didn't want the whole package, but the pricing lent itself to buying.  We weren't the only suckers that day, though, if it makes you (or us) feel any better!

Back at the train depot in Williams, they have this train on display.  They also do some "fun" train rides like the Christmas Express.  All-in-all, it was a fun way to go to the Grand Canyon since we only had one day.  You get about 3-1/2 hours at the rim, but honestly, you don't need much more than that unless you want to hike further on the rim than we did. 

What else is on my bucket list?  Inquiring minds want to know ... I know!  Well, I want to take either a mule or horse ride down to the bottom of the canyon.  That's for some other time, though.  But it is on my list.

Psalms 78:15-16 //  He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths.  He brought forth streams also from the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers.

Historic Williams, AZ

We had a limited time to see historic Williams, but a stroll down the main street is all you need.  Route 66, "The Mother Road", runs right through the middle of the town.  Here's a little bit about this historic town:

Williams, Arizona is a charming town nestled at the base of Bill Williams Mountain in one of the largest Ponderosa Pine Forests in the world. In a setting like this, it's no wonder Williams is considered an outdoor paradise.

Only in Williams will you enjoy the beauty of a mountainside town, the best-preserved stretch of Route 66, outdoor adventure to suit every need, a railway to get you to the Canyon in style, an outdoor drive-thru wildlife park, a true western setting with cowboys swaggering through town, and a friendly atmosphere greeting you the moment you arrive and bidding you farewell when you depart.

Entering the town of Williams, gateway to the Grand Canyon.

Elevation 6,672 feet.  Established 1881.

 

 

Walking around town there are so many sights to see. So many photo opportunities.  It is a town filled with memorabilia to the maximus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And my all-time favorite sign ... ever!! :)

 

Isaiah 49:11-13 //  "I will make all my mountains a road, and My highways will be raised up.  Behold these will come from afar; and lo, these will come from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim.  Shout for joy, O heaven.  And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains!  For the LORD has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted.

Ramblin' Man

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man

Tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best I can

And when it's time for leavin'

I hope you'll understand

That I was born a ramblin' man

Do you know/remember who wrote and recorded that song?  I'll tell you at the end of this blog, but what this blog is about is the first half of our seven-day whirlwind travel to Colorado to arrive at our Workamper destination in Canon City, CO.

We left Gardnerville, NV on April 12th and our first stop was in Beatty, NV right outside Death Valley National Park.  The highlight of this one-night stand was the local tavern, Sourdough Saloon.  We went there for some pizza and beer.  OMG, it was so much fun.  First off, you have to love a state that allows open-carry.  For you Californians that means you can wear a gun on your body that is visible to all.  So here we are in  Podunk kinda-nowhere and in this bar are three older gents dressed in cowboy duds all sporting six shooters on their gun belts.  Gotta love it!  Gary and I do anyway.

Here's a photo of the outside of this fine gun-toting establishment.

 

This is a picture of the bar.  See all the dollar bills stapled everywhere?  The whole bar was filled with dollar bills.  People wrote messages on them in black marker.  Quaint.  Our bar tender was also the pizza maker.  He was like a one-armed paper hanger and stayed very, very busy, but he was great.  We gave him a BIG tip because he was quite impressive in his ability to juggle a whole bar (that wrapped around in a horseshoe) as well as making pizza for people at the restaurant and those who called in to-go orders.  Simply amazing!

 

 

Another place we saw on the road was Lake Mead.  We didn't have time on this trip to stop at Hoover Dam, but we did get a glimpse of Lake Mead through the car window.

Our next stop was Kingman, AZ (April 13th) where we stayed overnight at Blake Ranch RV Park and Horse Motel.  Here are some photos of that fine establishment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part of our route included stops on Route 66.  This is a menu from a diner we stopped at on the road in Arizona.  It's not the first nor was it the last time we intersected Route 66, the "Mother Road" (as she is so often fondly referred to).

 



Next stop?  Williams, AZ and the grandest canyon of them all, The Grand Canyon!

 

Oh yeah, and for all you song buffs out there, Ramblin' Man was an Allman Bros. original.

 

Ruth 1:16-18
But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."