Williams, AZ

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Grand Canyon Train departs for the Canyon

Williams, AZ.  Last Route 66 town by-passed by I-40.  One of the neatest little towns we've stopped in over the past two years.  This year it was to get the truck service and spend more time in Williams.  And if time permitted, see some of Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.  We were lucky.  Sometimes you get the truck back in a couple of hours.  Sometimes in four days.  This stop was the two hour variety.  So we spent some time in Flagstaff and then moved on to the Grand Canyon.

Mather Point Lookout

My last visit to Grand Canyon was with my parents either in 1963 or 1964.  Donna was here in 1968.  My only memories are of the Desert View Watch Tower and the campground near there.  Today, the Grand Canyon South Rim shows a lot of influence by a Disney Imagineer.  Major paths are paved and rarely straight.  You move about the south rim via a shuttle system with interior overhead advertisements specific to the national park.  Though busy, the park seemed very clean.

One of hundreds of views from the South Rim Trail

The weather was great this week, so our views were outstanding.  We overheard a tour guide estimate visibility in excess of 85 miles.  We took advantage where ever we could.  If you look at the 350+ pictures we took, all pictures of the canyon seem to be the same.  But as we walked various portions of the south rim, each turn seemed to give a new perspective. 

Phantom Ranch

The south rim walks are easy and most of it is handicapped accessible.  Our first day was just along the south rim and the Trail of Time.  The second day was on the Greenway Trail.  The Greenway Trail is the last portion of the old 1912 Hermits Road - now paved, handicapped and bicycle accessible.  And for nine months of the year, only accessible by shuttle bus.  We really enjoyed both days.  May try to visit the north rim the next time we're in this area.

Desert View Watch Tower

 As always, Williams, AZ is fun.  We found a new, hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint: The Singing Pig.  You have two choices for dinning:  1) the noisy saloon or 2) the trough - a long table with eight to ten chairs on each side.  The trough is best for conversation.  We spent over two hours there just talking after dinner.  Once people realized Donna and I are full-time RVers, the questions just kept coming.  I've learned those questions center on two areas: 1) logistics - how do you get

View of the Colorado River from the Greenway Trail

mail, do banking, doctors, dentist, etc and 2) which is better - motor home or fifth wheel trailer?  We answer as best we can and keep going. 

So that's a recap of our week.  Tomorrow we move to Lake Havasu City, AZ -  home to the London Bridge.  Current plans are to have the trailer serviced there and hang out through Thanksgiving.  At least that's the plan.

Later, David

Old Locomotive Display at the Grand Canyon Railroad Depot