We had really talked about getting up early enough to watch the sun come up over the Grand Canyon, but because we had gotten up early yesterday morning, we opted not to do it again. I woke up a little after 4 AM and after laying in bed for a bit, not being able to get back to sleep, I got up and took my computer down to the lobby to work on some pictures. About 6 Barb joined me, but the continental breakfast was not till 6:30, so we just sipped some coffee and waited.
When every one was done with breakfast and we had every thing packed into the car again, we headed back to the South Rim of the Canyon. It was quite cloudy, so the canyon was not lighted as good as it could have been. We spent some more time in the gift shop and then walked back to the rim ad drove a couple more miles down the road to the lodge area.
When every one was done with breakfast and we had every thing packed into the car again, we headed back to the South Rim of the Canyon. It was quite cloudy, so the canyon was not lighted as good as it could have been. We spent some more time in the gift shop and then walked back to the rim ad drove a couple more miles down the road to the lodge area.
From the lodge we headed down one of the trails. Jessica likes to check everything out as she walks, so I walked with her while Karen, Barb and Christopher went ahead. There was still a lot of packed snow in the shaded areas so I tried to keep Jessica between me and the edge. This really worked out quite fine, as the further into the snow she could get the better she liked it. We walked about three quarters of a mile down, while the other probably went over a mile. After taking about 100 pictures, I discovered that I had left the white balance in the tungsten mode, so all my pictures were coming out with a blue shade. (I was able to salvage most of them with some software, but definitely not as good as what they should have been)
You can't drive any further without a permit, so we hopped onto one of the free shuttles and rode to one of the other lookouts. By shortly after noon, we were getting hungry, so we rode the shuttle back to the lodge and walked back to the car. There we had some sandwiches, chips and fruit. By one PM we were all packed and on our way to Las Vegas. Karen and the children have to catch a flight back to Portland tomorrow.
It was pretty much clear sailing the rest of the way. We had to go through the Homeland Security Check Point, before we could cross over Hoover Dam. The bypass bridge appears to be approaching completion, and would suspect that by this time next year may not have to be checked if you are not stopping at the Dam.
We had reservations for two rooms at Sams Town and were checked in by 6:30. Since both rooms had two beds, Christopher stayed in our room, while Jessica and Karen each got a bed to sleep in.
We then went over to the Mirage Casino for what we thought was going to be a reasonable dinner buffet. As I am signing the visa, I noticed that it said $128 and after a gasp, got them to cancel it, and we went over to the Terribles Casino instead where it was only about $50 for the five of us. After returning to Sams Town, by the time the 10PM show started in the courtyard, Christopher was out cold, but Jessica managed to watch it out her window before turning in.
Tomorrow the kids fly home and we will drive back to Ehrenberg.
Red Lion Man (& Lady)
Enjoy today's slide show.
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