So, we thought that the drive down from Wahweap to the south rim of the Grand Canyon would take about three hours. We were wrong, COVID got us again as the last 40 miles of the drive was closed as it spanned a Native American Reservation. So, we had to drive all the way down to Flagstaff and then west and then back up north. It added an additional two hours to our drive.
We stayed at the Trailer Village campground located within the Grand Canyon National Park. The place was pretty good and we were excited to stay in a National Park because we usually can’t do that do to the size of the Busse Bus. The best part was all the elk roaming around! Although Bear did want to chase and play with them.
We were able to get a quick hike in and explored some of the south rim.
While waiting for our friends, Blair and Lane Billings to arrive (as they were going to spend a few days with us), we hiked more of the south rim.
Once the Billings arrived,
we went over to the south rim again to watch the sunset over the Grand Canyon.
Katrina made awesome steak fajitas where the five of us polished off about seven pounds of the marinated flank steak!
While we were hiking on the rim, we ran into Stan and Angela Garner who, we met at Stonebridge up in Idaho. We would see them again in a week or so at the AIM Rally in Kanab. They stopped by for an after dinner drink:
The next morning, Lane and I secured a mule tour that lasted two hours and took us to Yaki Point. My ass and knees were sore! Afterwards, we hiked the South Kaibab trail for 1.5 miles down 1,250 feet and turned around at Cedar Ridge.
Once we returned to the coach, everyone hit the showers to get all the dust and dirt off of us. Katrina made yummy tuna poke bowls for dinner. For fun we watched one of the Bond movies that we had brought along.
On the following day we were all set for a big hike called the Bright Angel Trail.
After reading this sign we were a bit hesitant but we decided to push on:
The trail starts at the south rim and continues all the way to the Colorado River. Nine miles one way, easy down and hard up. The nice part about this trail is that there are restrooms and drinking water available every mile and a half. Off the five of us went.
Blair went to the 1.5 mile marker and decided that that was enough for her as she had just started hiking a few days past. Off the four of us went.
I went to the three mile marker and decided that that was enough for me and turned around to face the hike up.
Off three of them went. At the 4.5 mile marker, Katrina was going to turn around but she was feeling good so all three of them continued on to the six mile marker.
Quite impressive for Katrina, Keenan and Lane to hike down six miles (although Katrina’s Apple Watch had it at 7 miles!) and then back up. Very proud of them!
Exhausted, we ended up at the Busse Bus to relax. Good thing that I came back a little earlier as I smoked a beef tenderloin and then sliced it and grilled it:
We had enough energy to go buy some ice cream:
and watch another Bond movie and then hit the hay.
The following day we said our “goodbyes” to the Billings, packed up and headed to National Indoor RV Centers in Las Vegas to get our cracked windshield replaced and spend some time in Las Vegas – our last state.
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