Day 27. 29.4.16. Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, USA.

Up at 4.30 in preparation for potential sunrise. Looked out the window and there is no snow on the ground and none falling. Dressed and out to catch the shuttle about 200m from our room. Thankfully, we could wait in the Lodge lounge and a bus arrived very promptly. We took the Blue Shuttle to the Visitors Centre, to hook up with the Orange Shuttle out to Yapi Point.

We arrived at 5.25, to total cloud and fog and no Canyon visible. The sun is due to rise at 5.38, we had one brief glance of the Canyon as the wind move the fog, then it blew right back in. At 5.37 there was nothing to see. 

5.37am.

Then as if on cue, the fog sort moved to reveal Canyon. While the sun didn’t burst into view, it did find a hole in the clouds through which to send some rays. We let a couple of buses go, to see what else happened – it was still bloody freezing, but it was worth it to see something.

5.38am Sunrise???

The sun was trying its hardest to break through the clouds.

A little bit of colour in the clouds.

Its coming I think.

Waiting, waiting, waiting, it was cold, really cold. Fingers were hardly moving.

Still smiling tho.

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Here she comes.

Rays into the Grand Canyon.

Back home to shower, pack and go to breaky and plan the rest of the day. I am feeling very icky in the tummy, so Glenda went off to explore alone and I sat and rested in the warmth of the lodge lounge (close to the fire…and a loo!) its, still cold, cold, cold out. I watched people come and go and rested the eyelids a little typed a little of the blog, but mainly gathered myself for the couple of hours between 8.30 and 10.30.

Our Lodge. Yavapai.

The sun was shining, so I checked my luggage at Yavapai and set off on Blue Village Shuttle to the Visitors centre and back out to our initial viewpoint yesterday – Mathers Point to see what we had missed. 

The Grand Canyon NP Visitors Centre.

Well the Grand Canyon can only be described as stunning. The vistas just amazed at every turn. 

Mathers Point. THIS is the what we didn't see at our first stop yesterday.

Mr Mather, after whom the point is named.

Back to the bus to a couple more viewpoints, then back to Visitors Centre and onto the Blue Village shuttle to collect luggage at Yavapai, before hopping the Blue Shuttle again to the other end to Angels Rest Lodge, El Tovar Hotel, The Train Station, Kobi Studio, Hopi House and some other old original buildings.

The shuttle at the Visitors Centre.

This blackbird had beautiful purple colouring in its feathers, not really captured in the photos tho.

The squirrels are around, but lots of signs warning visitors not to feed them.

It was good to see this little guy doing what comes naturally and feeding in the trees.

I did wonder what happened if they fell, they were sort of hanging out over the Canyon.

The long shot.

He is out there, balancing on thin branches over the Canyon.

Ahh the views, so many photos.

El Tovar Hotel.

An old house, now containing Native American Art.

This is Hopi House.

The other side of Hopi House.

Front entrance of El Tovar.

I listened to a National Park Ranger talk about the endangered California Condor and even walked a bit of Bright Angel Trail INTO the Canyon (the smell of the mule poo, was a bit overwhelming, so I hot footed it back up to the fresh air.)

Ranger talk on the California Condor.

He was very good and I learnt a lot.

Looking down on the Bright Angel trail INTO the Canyon.

There are some cabins down there amongst the green patch at the base of the Canyon.

Kolb Studio, this was an old projection room. The boat is one of the original used to travel along the Colorado River in the canyon.

The Lookout, an original building perched on the Canyon's edge. 

The Lookout, also at the start of Bright Angel trail.

The start of the trail.

That's the trail zig zagging it's way down into the Canyon.

People trekking the trail.

A squirrel and his shadow.

Met up with Glenda about 3.00 and we waited for the buses to return to try our luck at a lift back to Vegas (it was all a bit vague as to how it actually worked.)

Chatted with Margaret and her husband, they were on our bus yesterday and did the Train Tour – which saw them leave us yesterday at Williams and catch a train to the Canyon and back to Williams yesterday, then I think they trained back to the Canyon today to catch the bus home this arvo. Margaret is a pretty well travelled and well educated lady. Yet another set of Americans we have spoken to who are worried about Trump and elections. Margaret is a psycho therapist and has done some interesting study and work with traumatised youth.

Eventually Glenda ascertained that we were allocated to Bus 3, the LAST bus due to leave at 4.30. We scored the very back seats and the driver was not really all that helpful (these guys expect a $25 tip per couple – honestly, their customer service is pretty poor. I reckon he is an out of work or would be comic, his attempts at humour fell very flat.  I managed to doze and rest on the return journey. The movie played was Ratatouille (which I listened to with eyes shut and a Vegas show featuring Vegas ventriloquist Terry Fator.) We had a 30 minute ‘dinner’ stop at Carls Jnr in Kingman – like Mc Donalds – I wasn’t eating, but took some pics of the last of the daylight on the surrounding hills.

A view on trip home.

Sunset from Carls Jnr in Kingman.

Sunset from Carls Jnr in Kingman.

We drove past the Hoover Dam in darkness, couldn’t see a thing. Then finally into Vegas and we were the last Hotel stop, so took quite a while as the bus wended its way along The Strip to drop off passengers from Old Vegas at Fremont Street, all the way back down The Strip

Finally back at TI (Treasure Island)about 10.00/10.30. Then a long line to Check in again. Finally, only smoking rooms available and on 9^th floor, unable to get near Suzie on 18^th. Finally got up to Suzie’s room to collect our luggage and share stories about 11.15ish.

Back to bed finally a bit after midnight. Still not feeling great – started the day with some toast and porridge and only 3 dry biscuits all day.