Rocks can be pretty too!

I am feeling a little bit behind in my blog. It is hard to get caught up with the internet being so slow in the campgrounds. Sometimes I can only load about 3 pictures a day. So I have tried staying up late and that doesn’t work either. So I have to  hit the Barnes and Noble or Starbucks in town to load pictures. I consider it a win either way. Plus it’s always fun to people watch!

Let's go to Sedona!
Let’s go to Sedona!

While we were in Williams we realized that we were a day trip away from Sedona, AZ. I had heard that the drive was beautiful and I love a good drive, so off we went. We were not disappointed, the drive on 89A is spectacular!

This is 89 A
This is 89 A

You start at the top and go all the way down. It drops a thousand feet. Our water bottles were collapsing on themselves due to the pressure. It was pretty cool!

The drive winds all the way down here.
The drive winds all the way down here.

On 89A, you can stop to hike, play at Sliding Rock State Park, go camping, or just stop and take pictures.

Thanks to the hood of the truck for holding my camera so I could get a family picture
Thanks to the hood of the truck for holding my camera so I could get a family picture
We started to get into the Red Rock! Beautiful!
We started to get into the Red Rock! Beautiful!
This one scared Mike just a bit! I might have gotten a little close but it made for a cool picture!
This one scared Mike just a bit! I might have gotten a little close but it made for a cool picture!
It is so much to take in that your brain has a hard time keeping up. Well my brain anyways.
It is so much to take in that your brain has a hard time keeping up. Well my brain anyways. Welcome to Sedona.

 

When we get into these towns we never know if we are going to find any parking. Parking garages scare Mike and frankly we never know if we are really going to fit. Today God had us a spot right as we pulled into town and it was FREE! Free parking is hard to come by we are finding.

It was still tight but we fold up the mirrors and go.
It was still tight but we fold up the mirrors and go. See us all the way down there.

 

In my own opinion, Sedona is very touristy! There are a lot of shops that sell Indian stuff and t-shirts. It really reminded me of Gatlinburg. But it’s the scenery behind the shops that makes Sedona a really cool place.

See!
See!

Every time you walked out of a store this is what you would see. I loved it! Of course there is the Pink Jeep Plaza. The Pink Jeep tours take you through the Red Rock Park and you can climb rocks in pink Jeeps.

They are really pink
They are really pink

We are being picky about what kind of tours we spend our money on and nobody really wanted to do it, so we didn’t do it. Sometimes just getting into town and sightseeing is plenty.

Well we couldn’t come all this way and not eat, right? If you look past the pink Jeep, you will see the Cowboy Club. I read that they had some different types of food and I thought it would be fun to try it. Not everybody shares my enthusiasm!

He knows he isn't getting chicken fingers.
He knows he isn’t getting chicken fingers.

This place was full of cowboys.

That's my cowboy!
That’s my cowboy!

Anyways, all the waiters had holsters with guns, cowboy hats and tight jeans. (Not the sparkly kind that Luke Bryan wears though).  Our cowboy was named John and he recommended the rattlesnake sausage. They had a sampler platter so we just decided to go with that and a few other things, just in case the sampler didn’t work out.IMG_4300So here we have onion rings, chicken wings, and our sampler. In the bucket are cactus fries, with the rattlesnake beside it, and buffalo skewers in a cilantro flatbread. IMG_4302First I am not a big fan of sausage but I really liked the flavor of this. It came with a tangy dipping sauce and wow, it was yummy. The cactus fries were not so good though. My favorite was the cilantro flatbread and Thai peanut dipping sauce. ( I bet you didn’t know cowboys ate Thai peanut sauce). I was proud of Micheal for eating rattlesnake that day!

After our snack, that’s what the boys called it, we headed back down the other side of the street to look at more Indian stuff and decided to head back to Williams.

Just one more of downtown.
Not a bad view if you are staying at the Best Western!

 

It isn’t a long distance from Sedona to Williams but because the road is so curvy it takes longer. So by the time we got back the boys were hungry, that’s where Mike always come to the rescue!

Grill master!
Grill master! We do have a grill table but the wind was so bad at times that Mike has to grill from the truck to block the wind.

 

The next morning we decided to lay low and hang around Williams. We heard about a really nice golf course so we went.

Elephant Rocks
Elephant Rocks

This was a beautiful course! Not really busy either, so it made for a relaxing afternoon.

San Fransisco Peaks behind him. Love the snow and we are in shorts.
San Fransisco Peaks behind him. Love the snow and we are in shorts.
Love my boys!
Love my boys!

Our time in Williams was great! I think it is a great home base for the Grand Canyon.

Next stop, Boulder City, NV.

Same to you!
Same to you, Tumble weed Willie!

Whoa, now that’s a big hole!

DSC_0770When I was a little girl my parents suggested taking a road trip to see the Grand Canyon. I was not to thrilled about going and might have called it a big hole in the earth. Well now here I am looking at this big hole in the earth and wow! I had to tell my brother how sorry I was for ruining this experience for him so many years ago.

Welcome!
Welcome!

We get to the gate to pay for a pass, which is good for 7 days. It was very busy, especially for a Tuesday.

Everybody in America was here....well almost.
Everybody in America was here….well almost.

When we got into the park we noticed people were parking everywhere. I kept driving and we finally came to a marketplace parking lot. The marketplace serves as a grocery store/gift store for the campground. We went in and bought our Christmas ornament (we try to buy one at every location) and Mike and I got matching Grand Canyon T-shirts. (My grandparents matched all the time so I think it’s ok). After we bought our souvenirs we headed down the trail

Just one of the many trails
Just one of the many trails

and came to the Grand Canyon National Headquarters.

Everybody is all smiles at the beginning of an adventure
Everybody is all smiles at the beginning of an adventure

 

This is where we had to ask for directions. You would think finding the biggest hole in the earth is easy but it wasn’t. So we were directed down another trail about 1/4 of a mile.

This looks like the right trail.
This looks like the right trail.

 

Walking up to the Grand Canyon is like nothing I have ever seen before. It is so quiet and still that it doesn’t seem real.

Wow!
Wow! Looks like a painting from God!

 

The rim trail runs along the canyon and from where we were parked, we had the option to go left towards the historic buildings or right back to the visitors center. We went left.

El Tovar Hotel
El Tovar Hotel

This is the El Tovar Hotel. It was opened in January 1905. This was a very poplar destination back then and with the ease of riding the train, the canyon became a popular destination. In fact the hotel became so busy they had to expand the hotel. Theodore Roosevelt visited the hotel in 1906 and 1913. Another building we came to was lovely. This is Verkamp’s gift shop.

and this place.
Verkamps

Mr. Verkamp came to the Grand Canyon in 1889. He set up a tent and sold his goods. Business wasn’t good so he packed up and headed back to Flagstaff. He came back in 1905, built this building and opened in 1906. He made $4.98 on his first day and was very happy. He moved his family up and they lived in the apartment above the business. Not a bad place to have a cup of coffee in the morning if you ask me!

As we continued to walk we came to the Bright Angel Trail. This trail is 9.5 miles on way. Some warning came with this trail like flash floods, dehydration, and loose footing. We had to check it out.

It should also say, watch where you step!
It should also say, watch where you step!

Little did I know, Micheal is not a fan of heights. This trail does not have any rails or fences. Most of the canyon is open and you could just fall off if you weren’t careful.

See Micheal on the left? That is where he stayed for the hike.
See Micheal on the left? That is where he stayed for the hike.
A very cool trail but it isn't going to be explored by the Patricks
A very cool trail but it isn’t going to be explored by the Patricks

We did walk down some of the trail. You get such different views at every turn it was hard not to want to explore. Well, some of us wanted to explore.

Some one is not happy with his situation
Some one is not happy with his situation

We didn’t walk but maybe 1/2 mile and came back up. I don’t think I would like to walk the entire trail but maybe a donkey ride would be fun.

Now my other man is a little more daring when it comes to walking on the edge but thats where you can really see everything.

You have to watch this one!
You have to watch this one!
The Patricks 2015
The Patricks 2015

 

So I really recommend everyone to go see the “hole” at some point. At every turn there are place markers that try to tell you how this canyon was carved from water running through it for millions of years. I think it is more amazing to know that God created this canyon in an instant. He said it and there it was!