The Grand Canyon

While Thibault wanted a day off to enjoy the Vegas pool and party scene, Joe and I, knowing we just fry, got up at an ungodly hour for a day trip to the Grand Canyon.

Early morning view from my room

Even Thibault realised this was a mistake on his part. It was too hot even for him to go to the water park he wanted to visit - while he was happy with 30C over 40C is frying time even for those who don't look like an irradiated lobster at the first sight of sun. And the youngsters he was to meet up were too hungover from the night before. So he settled into sending me haiku poems about how dire Vegas was.

Meanwhile Joe and I were picked up at 6am for a long journey in a very comfortable air conditioned little bus. I had chosen this particular trip because the travel company didn't use big standard coaches and offered the longest walking time at the South Rim of the grand Canyon - 3 hours. The journey was like travelling business class on a plane. Spacious comfortable seats with ample leg room and good air conditioning.

First stop on the journey out - which was just over 6 hours - was about 30 minutes out - to Hoover Dam. This massive structure was one of FD Roosevelt's New deal projects during the Depression. It produced useful infrastructure as well as lots of jobs. We will pass over the work fatalities, as they did at the time. Let's just say it was pre health & safety. And there was a long way to fall.

The relief tunnel to the Dam

Me looking, err, fat and American

There were two further stops at  sort of gift shops along route 66, allowing comfort breaks and snacks. but one of which had a  strange car and bike collection which wasn't for sale. In between, well not much. Its a desert.

This, in case you are wondering, is what a Joshua Tree looks like.

Eventually desert scrub gives way to pine forest. We even saw an elk crossing the road.

And then onto the Grand Canyon. We did a three hour walk along the South Rim trail to Bright Angel Point. There isn't much point in describing the Grand Canyon when there are pictures, other than to note the scale - about 10 miles wide and a mile deep. Its grand alright.

For the courageous you can wander out onto several bluffs. I am not courageous

Joe however is rather more fearless.

Way down below you can just make out a footbridge across the Colorado River. This shot required maximum zoom.

This is as fearless as I got.

Joe trying to take a selfie from prone position

Not too close Joe...

So all in all a great trip. But there was a sucker punch at the end. Joe decided to purchase a couple of postcards at a gift shop at the end of our walk. Most expensive postcards ever as he managed to leave his wallet on the counter as he was sorting out the money. Regrettably I wasn't watching as I have a it of an aversion to gift shops. So there was his money, a card but most irritating of all his international driving licence. With the result that he was unable to share the driving with Thibault for the second half of the road trip. T not happy.

Oh and another plus point of the trip - in contrast to our United Airlines flight - they played 3 decent films on a video screen to stop us being bored on the long drive home. So a shout for Photo Adventure Tours for this particular trip.