The Grand Canyon

I promised yesterday to tell you about the Covid-bag breakfast supplied by our hotel. Honestly, it wasn't that hot. At 6 am I was ready for a real breakfast. Kathy wanted to get ready for the day more leisurely, so I took off on foot. Alone. In the snow. 

I walked into town to eat at the Pine Country Cafe, recommended for their breakfasts in the Moon Arizona guidebook. Unfortunately, they weren't open at 6 am. So, I walked through the center of town, looking for a diner serving the other early risers. There weren't any other early risers. I was entirely alone.

As you enter Williams, there is a Safeway, and that was open. They had a food counter which had just opened, and they were making egg sandwiches. I got two, and walked back to our hotel. They were great. Now, you know where to get an early breakfast next time you visit Williams.

After breakfast, Kathy and I drove over to the train depot. We walked through the Harvey House and the Depot gift shop. Outside, there was an old steam locomotive, and a photo opportunity that I couldn't pass up.

At 9 am there was a wild-west skit prior to boarding the train at 9:15. Our tickets were for the original 1923 Pullman Car, which was surprisingly comfortable.

I was amazed at the workmanship, and how well everything was restored.

The 63 miles from Williams to the National Park depot takes about two hours. The train looked to be about 25% filled. Lots of families with kids. Some oldsters like us. A garrulous conductor and a banjo player made it a fun trip in a way.

When we got to the park we skirted the original depot, constructed of logs, and took the stairs up to the Canyon rim. There we found the El Tovar Hotel, with a long line waiting to get in for lunch. Next door was Mary Colter's 1905 Hopi House, a museum and gift shop, featuring Native American arts and pottery. 

Of course, we didn't come to the Grand Canyon to visit a museum, so we walked on by and over to the rim of the Canyon, where we were awe-struck. There didn't seem to be any canyon there.

The entire thing was socked in with fog. You couldn't see a hundred feet, even if you stood at the edge. I tried.

By this time, it had also started snowing even harder. We considered just going into the Hotel, grabbing a hot-chocolate and a seat by the fire, and reading a book. But that would be quitting. Neither of us are quitters.

So, we decided to walk the Rim Trail from the Village center up to the Yavapai Observation Station and Geology Museum. The train left at 3:15 and we thought we could make it back. (We did make it back, but in the future, I'll be sure to consider that I'm no longer 60, and plan a little more realistically.)

There was a long line at the museum and so we sat outside on a bench and ate our lunch. When we headed back, it started snowing even harder. Kathy got out her umbrella. I was wet and tired and miserable. Then, an amazing thing happened. The snow started blowing from the bottom of the Canyon, right up the rim, and the fog started lifting.

By the time we got back to the Village Center, we could see almost the entire Canyon. I liked this picture of Kathy walking over to the edge and taking a selfie.

As you can see here, the picture came out great. (I tried to do the same thing, but I have a fear of heights and my hands start shaking.)

Every few minutes there was something else to see. Kathy took a video of a herd of mule deer feeding and then shot this picture of me with an elk in the background.

We tried to identify the trails on the bottom of the Canyon, and talked about how difficult they must be to climb.

Finally, we got back to the train, not a moment too soon. In fact, we didn't have time to walk around to the Bright Angel Trailhead, so we still can't figure out how people can actually reach the bottom of the Canyon.

Two more items of interest. On the way back to Williams, our train was robbed. We each lost a dollar. If you recognize either of these miscreants, contact law enforcement.

Fortunately, they missed our credit-cards, so we still had time for dinner at Rod's Steak House, a Williams classic since 1945. It was great.

Tomorrow we're up early to head on down to Prescott, then over the Verde Valley highway past Mingus Mountain and Jerome, to Sedona. We'll spend the afternoon in Sedona, and sleep in Flagstaff. I understand that there will be no snow.