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DAY 10 - FLY THE GRAND CANYON, A BUS TRIP THEN SOUTH TO SEDONA
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| Early Start | You know what it's like when you know you have to get up early - tossing and turning all night wondering if the alarm will go off - will you hear it go off (if it goes off) - what time is it anyway - exhausting! And you still have to find time to actually sleep!
It was a relief then, when the alarm went off at 7am - as soon as the digital display (which I had been watching) displayed 07:00. Rang the girls at 7:10 - they were already awake and had packed last night. About 7:30 Mary went to the Lobby to get a coffee (and a tea bag and hot water for me). While she was there she talked to the Desk Clerk, who said that we would have plenty of time to do the Helicopter Ride and get back to check-out. OK then - Plan B. Broke the news to the girls and at 8:10 we set off for Tusayan Airport.
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| (Too) Early Arrival | So - 8:15 we were standing at Papillon's desk getting signed in - a bit early!. We all had to be weighed, I handed over the dosh (this flight is "sponsored" by Barclaycard) and we were told to go to the little room at the side for a Safety Video, then to be back by 8:50.
Trouble is they have a Gift Shop. Got everyone out of there in plenty of time, in fact we watched various trips take off and return thru a large picture window. Don't imagine that this is a small-time operation. Oh No. Slick, professional with about 8 helicopters either taking off or landing at any one time.
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| Our Turn Next | Eventually our turn came round. KT had been wittering on about not wanting to sit in the front with the pilot. (She isn't a very good flyer - even after I assured her they only crash the once) We were given our "boarding cards" which all had seating numbers on them. We were with an Italian (Spanish?) couple to make up the six. KT's number was 1 - she wanted to swap until I told her that the numbers were allocated by weight so as to balance the 'copter. She saw that this was An Important Point and resigned herself to a nerve-wracking ordeal that she would hate and be terrified of.
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| The Flight Begins | We were all duly strapped in and yes, KT's No 1 really meant up front next to the pilot and OO Look! Even the floor round her feet is glass!! The pilot introduces himself, we take off, hover a bit, then up and away 200ft or so above "ground level". Fly west for a while until we reach the airspace they are allowed into, then turn north towards the rim.
I and Lucy (plus KT of course!) are facing forward and can see what's coming, Mary is opposite me facing back. As we approach the Canyon Rim, the piped music in our headphones changes from Pan Pipes to - Yes - Thus Spake Zarathusta (2001 Theme) - and the ground fell away a mile or so beneath us.
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| Over The Canyon | We flew across a very wide part of the Canyon, pilot pointing out various named buttresses on the way. Far, far below was the Colorado, snaking its way in and out of the magnificent buttresses it had created over eons. (Sorry - got a bit lyrical there!). As I said before, it is undoubtedly the biggest THING I have ever seen.
At last we reached the North Rim and swung round to return across. This time, my side was shaded from the sun and the colours were different. Took loads of photos both ways so we will see which ones a) Don't have solar flare in them and b) don't have the reflection of my chubbly knees in them.
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| And Ends Too Soon | By this time the pan pipes were in our ears again. As we flew over the forest towards the airfield the music broke out into the Ride of the Valkyris - even the Spanish (Italians?) thought this was hugely funny and we all laughed. All too soon we were swooping down, landing, being whisked away from the 'copter and back into the main building. The "official" photos that were taken as we boarded were on display - didn't buy ours as Lucy had her eyes closed. Down a corridor and "surprise, surprise" we were in the gift shop. Did the spending frenzy (me a T-shirt, KT a leather belt etc) and back into Tusayan for breakfast.
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| Too Scary? | What of KT, you may ask. She was not in the depths of despair, not I the last throws of physical and mental anguish. OH NO - she was in total SMUG-MODE. Mentioned on many occasions that she had the best seat, best view, most fantastic views, panoramic fantastic views, even under her feet she had views etc etc etc - Good slap should shut her up.
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| Check Out Time | Breakfast over in Wendy's Diner, we rushed back to our hotel (next door!). Zoomed into our rooms, picked up our already packed baggage and as the girls and I loaded the car, Mary checked us out. 10:58am - 2 minutes to spare!
This had been an unmissable experience - thanks to Y2000 for the opportunity.
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| Back To The Canyon | All packed and breakfasted we set off for the South Rim once more. First we found the Post Office/Trading Post and purchased, wrote and posted all our postcards (most/all of which were on the Grand Canyon theme - odd!). Then we pepared to travel westward along the rim using the free buses. Similar system to Zion and Bryce as only part of the rim is open to the general public.
Short journey on the 1st bus which took us to the change-over point (from here west, no unauthorised vehicles). Had to queue for the next bus - this never happened in Zion! As before you can get off/on where you want - so we did. Took several photos along the way. Some even had glimpses of the Colorado in them! Eventually reached the end point, small cafe/shop - means trinkets purchased - catch a bus back, one last look and back to the car. The original plan was "just a quick final look before we go" . . . .
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| South To Sedona | Finally. . after 3(ish) we set off for Sedona. This doesn't seem to be a hard journey - mind you none have been more than 150 miles. Southward, ever southward along the 89A until we reach Interstate 40 and hang a left towards Flagstaff. 75mph speed limit on the Interstate so zoom along at a fresh pace, over the top of Flagstaff then turn south again towards Sedona.
We are back in forest country now - trees crowding in and the road fairly narrow - even tho' it's the main route. Oh and of course we are still very high up. I make a big deal of this because since leaving Las Vegas we have been consistently above the level of UK's highest peaks - sometimes almost double the height of Snowdon - and it does have an effect.
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| A Dizzy Descent | Eventually came to a scenic pullout which we assumed overlooked some plains or other (Arizona being a desert state and all that), but no, it was closely followed by signs indicating Z-bends, low gear, no wagons over 50ft (did I mention bends?).
There then followed an amazing descent via steep hairpin bend after steep hairpin bend for what seemed like an hour. Huge queues of traffic as the RV's at the front were taking it very carefully. All this to descend a steep, narrow, tree-filled canyon.
After an age we saw a sign saying 6000ft, then after another age, one showing Elevation 5000ft. Then we saw signs of housing and places with Sedona somewhere in their title. Must be nearly there - WRONG - another 15 miles further on we got into Sedona "proper". Look out for our Radisson Poco Diablo resort Hotel - must be on the main push.
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| A Surprising Arrival | Round the final bend and open out from the canyon into a fantastic display of red sandstone "geography" - huge buttresses, buttes etc from wall to wall, colours reminiscent of Bryce, closeness of cliffs etc reminiscent of Zion, but, as we have opened out from a narrow gorge, something of the feel of the Grand Canyon.
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| Searching Stretched Sedona | So, where is this hotel? Not on the main push - carry on. 3 miles further and Sedona starts again with lots of shops, diners, drive-thru pharmacies etc. Still no Radisson. 5 miles out and still lots of hotels in "clumps" about a mile apart - strange town. Got to the edge of town, stopped and looked at our chitty to find an address. Address had I172 after it and "South" in there as well - we are still on the good old 89A heading west, so head back into town and look for a right (south) turn. Here it is - I179 South to Phoenix etc. Take that. Again pockets of shops/hotels/galleries spread out with mile gaps, suddenly, round the corner, our next stopover. Radisson Poco Diablo Golf and Tennis Centre - OOH Posh!
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| Check In | And so it is - 9-hole golf course and tennis courts, pool, hot tubs, well-equiped gym etc. Its around 5:45pm. Book in, find rooms in the 3rd block down - 502 and 504. Adjoining doors - which also enable 501 to "adjoin" from the other side - lock that from our side straight away. Girls have twin double beds, Mary and I have a huge double - 3 pillows wide. Hey we even have coffee making things.
Usual story, girls have a look round, I crash out for a while even tho' we are only at 4500ft. They find the pool Jacuzzi etc and sort out how expensive the onsite restaurant really is - we wont be using it!
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| A Quest For Food | All rested and changed and all available literature read and digested - what to do for tea/evening meal (its 8ish as we left Grand Canyon after 3pm). Decided we had not yet tried Denny's Diner. Remembered we had seen one - two Sedona's over to the west - so back into town in the dark, in a foreign country, on the wrong side of the road, with no street lamps - even in the centre of town. Left turn at the lights (oh-oh, inside (right) lane can also turn left - spotted them coming and avoided my collision waver). Keep over to the right, see signs for Denny's, turn right - nope, forecourt to Indian Restaurant, back onto main highway, dash into next right and yep, big plaza with loads of shops - and Denny's.
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| Denny's & "Yvonne T" | Park up, inside, table for 4 - and the waitress arrives. How to describe her? Mrs Doubtfire with a sing-song "I'm-everyone's-favourite-granny" type of voice "MY that looks Gooood". Spectacles made out of coke bottle bottoms, big gravy stain on her left bosom (breast is not an ample enough word) and chintzy white socks with a lace border. Impressive!
Anyway food was fine, service also fine - she (Yvonne T) could be heard all over the Diner, in the kitchen - everywhere - and we got free refills on our drinks.
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| We Find Our Way Back | Eventually left to try to return to chez-nous. OOPS - right turn only at the entrance we came in on. OK, do that, right at next lights, U-turn in side road, approach lights and turn left. Success! Reach Poco Diablo OK also - into rooms and rest.
Another full day, must investigate these Vortexes tomorrow. This hotel and its set up is along similar lines to our Canada trip. There we had 3 days at the end in a "posh" hotel in Whistler prior to 3 days in Vancouver. This time we are having 3 days here then moving onto Washington DC (via Phoenix).
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Words and pictures © Steve Andrews 2001 - 2012