Oh, wow....that was great! It was 34º
outside and we were freezing, but who cared?...we were going in a horse and
carriage! The driver was already intoxicated, or whatever, but at least the
horse was the designated 'driver' and would get us safely to our destination. We
had great conversation with the guy. But wasn't that sweet of Les to do for
us?....a horse and carriage to the train station.
We
arrived at the train
station....took some pictures, went to the gift shop to browse and pass the time
until it was time to board the train. I was very, very bundled up...it was cold.
But, as the day wore on, it warmed up and I was over-dressed with a coat, long
sleeve shirt, and big heavy-pocketed vest....which was filled with containers of
film. We also toured the Grand
Canyon Railway Museum and other odd things.
And even boarding the train was a wonderful
experience. The 'train dudes' wore white gloves and we walked upon a red
carpet...right up into the train. Of course, the only public restroom I used
during our entire vacation was aboard this train...and the bathroom was no
bigger than the one on our camper. Just couldn't get away from the tiny
bathrooms.
We had the best seats in the train
car...right in front of the brass and mahogany bar....huge windows and lots of
seat and leg room. We had a bartender, Adam, and a few singers
/ guitar players. They made us sing 'cowboy
songs' with them and it was a lot of fun. On the upper right hand side of
the right picture, you can see me sitting behind the cash register.
On the way to the canyon I had hot
chocolate...Les had some sort of almond drink that had milk in it and wanted me
to take a drink of it. So I did and he took a picture...had it all over me.
And every once in a while the steam engine
of the train would let off some steam and I was able to get a great picture of
it as it cast a rainbow. (as shown above)
After
a two and a half hour train ride to The Grand Canyon, we were there...we were
really there. We were only able to see a glimpse of the canyon from the train
window. We boarded the bus for the three hour tour...a three hour tour. This was
known as the 'Grand
Tour'. Les and I had front seats in the bus and at times that got scary....
Words cannot describe what it was like to
actually stand at the canyon and look at it. The pictures will just have to
speak for themselves. And for as long as I live I will never, ever forget my
first full view of The Grand Canyon....it took my breath away....with each step
I took closer to the canyon, it grew bigger and bigger and bigger....
Before I go on to the next page, I have got
to tell you more of what my first view of The Grand Canyon was like. I had
ridden with my husband in the van for almost 2,000 miles....went through Arkan-Hell
with him....slept in a camper with him...spent three weeks shopping and planning
this vacation with him. Saved change for about three years with him. And we left
from the bus together....walked towards the canyon...and with each step we took
the canyon grew and grew .....we were astonished. After all of our planning
together we were finally standing in front of this huge, beautiful
wonderment....and then Les took my hand for about twenty seconds as we stared in
awe at this vastness....and then Les took the 'good camera' and abandoned me!
That's right....he left me standing there for the rest of our entire 15 minutes
at this look-out point. He went off to other areas to shoot some pictures
....and I had to stand there, after all of this....and enjoy the canyon by
myself.
And, I might add....if you are not back on
that bus in 15 minutes, they will leave you there....they will. And I watched
the bus load up with everyone...and Les was no where to be seen. I started
yelling for him...in a panic. The bus driver already explained to all of us that
the cab fare back to Williams, Arizona was $137.00....
Finally, at the last possible second...he
rounded the corner...running. I don't think I ever exercised that much control
in my life, in front of everyone in the bus, as I 'explained' to Les how 'upset'
I was at being abandoned. Everyone knew I was upset...but I did not make a
scene....and Les never left my side again.
Intro
Page Arkan-hell Cadillacs
And Sunsets The
Grand Canyon The
Grand Canyon 2 Train
Robbers And Cowboy Cactus Las
Vegas And Getting Married California
Bound Hollywood
And Los Angeles Cool
Adventures Things
People Don't Tell You
