Grand Canyon Trip - Day 2 - The Train & the Canyon

Today we are really looking forward to our train trip to the Grand Canyon.  We dropped our suitcases off in the lobby so they can be placed on the train for us, and headed over to the cafe for breakfast. Again it was buffet-style, plus an omelet station where everything was made to order.  Really delish!

After breakfast we walked over to the train station to see the Wild West Show.

Waiting for the show to start

The cowboys arrive and the show begins . . .

We learn that the cowboys are hungry,
but they have no money for breakfast

So they coax a guy out of the audience and into a poker game

When the sheriff shows up,
the cowboys accuse the guy of cheating

The sheriff questions the cowboys' story,
and turns to the audience to get the truth

All of a sudden there's a gunfight and one cowboy . . . 

And then the other two were shot dead!  

Whew!  It got pretty intense there for a moment!  Fortunately, all the cowboys were OK and willing to pose for a photo with us . . .

Gotta love them cowboys - and their horses!

And now it's time to get on the train . . .

All aboard!

We found our seats and met our host for the day . . . 

Nick

Nick told us lots of interesting stories and jokes, and kept us entertained and laughing . . .

Until the musical entertainment arrived.
Very fun - and a good voice too!!

Everyone was so friendly,
even the Conductor stopped to chat with us.

There was one little disappointment though . . . We specifically planned our trip so that we would get the steam engine, which only runs on the first Saturday of each month.  However, there was some sort of mechanical problem with the steam engine and the mechanics weren't able to get it up and running in time, so our train was pulled by the diesel engines.  Oh well, just a minor hiccup and not that much of a big deal - as long as we get to the Grand Canyon safely, that's all that really matters.

Our Engines

We were having so much fun that we almost forgot to look out the window at the scenery as we passed by.  Here is some of what we saw . . 

Prairie Dogs

Lots of beautiful trees and a gorgeous sky

And then this . . . 

The most unusual rainbow ever!
Doesn't it look like God's hands reaching down?
Awesome!

We arrived safely and headed to lunch before our
bus tour of the Grand Canyon

After lunch we hopped on the bus for our sightseeing tour of the Grand Canyon.  We can't wait to get our first look, and we were not disappointed . . .

Our first stop was at Hopi Point, which is at 7,071 feet and there are just no words to describe how spectacular and amazing the Grand Canyon is.  Here are just a few of the gazillion photos we snapped, but no picture can truly capture the grandeur of this place.  And to think this was all the result of the Colorado River carving it's way through the rocks. Wow!  (Click on the photos to get a better look.)

Our first look at the Grand Canyon

Zoomed in a little

A closer look at the Colorado River

Some info on how the canyon was formed

More info

WOW!!!!!

More Views

Our bus driver was nice enough to take a group photo for us . . .

Front - Debbie, Linda, Joy
Back - Seema, Tina, Chris, Barbara, Carol N, Annie

This is the view we were posing in front of

Back on the bus and on to our second vista stop - Mohave Point . . . More breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon . . . 

Impressive to say the least

It was hard to pull ourselves away and get back on the bus.  Back at the train station . . .

Grand Canyon Station

We found a beautiful steam engine . . .

And a photo opp!  

We spent some time walking around the village, checking out some of the classic hotels and other sights along the Rim Trail . . .

El Tovar Hotel

Rest stop

Hopi House

We didn't tour the Hopi House, but it was really interesting just to see it from the outside.  It was designed by Mary Colter who was also the architect on many of the other buildings in the Village, such as Bright Angel Lodge, Hermit's Rest, Lookout Studio and several others.  The Hopi House is made of sandstone and dates back to 1905.  It was used as a marketplace for Native American crafts, many of which were made by artisans on site.

Eventually we made our way to our hotel, some taking the road, others taking a "short cut" . . .

The more scenic route

We all made it safely to the . . .

Maswick Lodge

Where we convened in one of the rooms to discuss what to do next . . .

Planning 

We decided to take the shuttle bus to the Yvapai Geology Museum, which had lots of information about how the canyon was formed and more amazing views . . .

Fabulous!

We made our way back to the Village for dinner.  And we were able to catch a glimpse of the sunset . . .

Sunset over the Grand Canyon

And later a look at . . .

The moon

One last little tidbit before we say good-night.  They are very water-conscience here and there are handy stations where you can refill your water bottles in many of the hotels and other buildings.  And then . . . we found this in the ladies restroom . . .

Ummmm . . . Really?  

And on that note, we laughed our way back to our hotel for the night.  Can't wait for tomorrow's adventure!!!

Grand Canyon Trip - Day 1 - Driving to Williams

After planning and saving and anticipating for a year and a half, today we finally get to leave on our trip to the Grand Canyon - to celebrate our 10 amazing and wonderful years of growing friendships and having fun together as Red Hatters.  We are so excited!!!!!

After changing our minds and re-arranging our itinerary several times, the final decision is to drive in three cars, convoy style.  Car #1 is Barbara, Debbie and Chris, Car #2 is Linda, Tina and Annie, and Car #3 is Carol N and Joy.  Seema is flying in later tonight and will meet us in Williams, and then she will ride back in Car #3.  We are meeting at 6:00 AM at the 15 Fwy and 4th St. where our adventure begins.

What a gorgeous beginning for our trip

First stop - Breakfast in Barstow

Waiting for our food.  Please hurry - we are hungry!!!!!

After breakfast we jumped back on the 15 heading North.  Here's a little of what we saw along the way . . .

Desert

Entering Arizona!

Always fascinated by windmills

Pretty sky 

We're here!!!!!

Our home for the night

We checked into our rooms which were really nice, conveniently lined up side by side, and had two comfy queen beds in each.  After getting settled in, we headed off in different directions to explore. Linda, Tina and Annie went shopping in town, and the rest of us headed over to the railway station to pick up our tickets for tomorrow, and to check out the . . .

Steam engine

We look so small next to it!

We eventually made our way into town to see what's there and to check out some of the little shops.

Williams is a really cute little cowboy town

With lots of quaint little places to explore

And classic cars driving around

Interesting sign - and check out the gas price!

Hi Smokey

Oh no!  Smokey's cousin?

Red Hattitude!

Cowboy Joe

After we made our way up and down both sides of the main street, we met back up with the rest of the group for dinner at the  . . .

Grand Depot Cafe

Dinner was buffet-style and included a Pasta Bar - yum!  And not only are we celebrating our 10th Birthday as F.R.I.E.N.D.S., we are celebrating Barbara's birthday as well . . . . .

Happy Birthday B-Lo!  

It's been a long day and we're ready to call it a night.  See ya tomorrow!

Roger's Gardens

It's Spring!  And for F.R.I.E.N.D.S., that means spending some time taking in the beauty of God's creation.  This year's choice is Roger's Gardens in Corona Del Mar.

Roger's Gardens entry sign

And we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to spend wandering through all the gorgeous displays of trees, bushes, plants and flowers in  every color and variety that you can imagine. This place has everything . . . it's a full service nursery and landscaping business, it not only sells plants of every kind, but it has them displayed in amazing garden-like arrangements that definitely give inspiration and ideas to even the most novice of home gardeners.  It's quite the place to spend a day just strolling around and soaking it all in.

Since pictures are worth a thousand words, I'm going to let the photos do the talking . . .

It was hard to even decide where to start -
you can see we were going  every which way

Drought?  No worries - you can make gorgeous gardens
with drought-friendly plants

Such cute ideas and they look beautiful

Of course, there were lots of plants that need normal amounts of water as well.  Here is just a very small sampling of what they have to offer . . .

Pink Beauties of different varieties

Hanging Baskets

Purple!!!!

Naturally we had to pose by the purple flowers -
Chris, Barbara, Leslie, Carol N, Debbie, Carol L & Joy 

Red & Purple Fuschias

Just like us!  Oh Yeah!

 Roses of every color - Pink

Yellow 

Variegated - All so pretty!

Even veggies can make gorgeous gardens

Everything is so perfectly arranged

Cooling waterfalls

Interesting shapes and trellises 

And fascinating trees

Even pots in every shape, size and color

Of course, no matter where you go, there is always a gift shop.  We spent quite a bit of time wandering through, and found this very clever archway . . .

Now we know what to do with all those old books . . . 

Barbara, Leslie, Carol L, Debbie, Chris, Carol N, Joy -
We really enjoyed our time at Roger's Gardens 

Walking through all these amazing gardens made us hungry, so we reluctantly left and headed off to California Pizza Kitchen for lunch . . .

Check all that yummy food!

Thanks Queen Carol N for planning such a beautiful and fun day!  Can't wait to see where next Spring takes us!