24.06.08 Tour to the Bottom

Saturday, June 6, 2024

We had to be at the Grand Canyon Hotel lobby by 9:00. Marley went to Doggy Daycare. We had reservations for an Inner Canyon Tour to the bottom of the Grand Canyon to swim in the Colorado River! 

We stopped at the Reservation Store for snacks and potty break. Our guide purchased a permit to enter the canyon from the Hualapai Reservation and on we went. It was a very bumpy ride down into the canyon and it was so hot…over 110 degrees down there! 

Sherry, Cashton, Al and I about halfway down into the canyon. The ride was so bumpy and slow but we got there!

Our tour guide said we had to stand in the river or she insisted we wear a wet towel around our neck. The water was very cool!  We stopped for ice cream at a little town on the way back where the real ‘Mater’ truck is parked. Cashton says his two favorite things of the whole trip were the helicopter ride and swimming in the Colorado River.

Here is a short video of Grampa Al and Cashton playing in the Colorado River!

Kat, the guide, said this is called  Kings Rock because it looks like a man with a crown. I just think it looks like Groot!

We stopped at the Snowcap for ice Cream on the way back to Williams. This town inspired the Disney movie "Cars" including the fictional town of "Radiator Springs" and many of the characters.

Tow Mater

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The original owner of the ice cream shop was quite a joker apparently, he even put two door knobs on the entry door to mess with people.  Colleen was too smart to fall for that trick!

Cashton liked his ice cream cone so much that he decided to wear some of it on his face!  LOL

Grandma & Cashton having a little fun!

Below is the small reservation grocery where we stopped for the permit and a potty break.

Two videos today! Check out my video of our Tour to the Bottom and the Colorado River

Back in Williams at the Campground. Cashton tried out the pool. It will be another big day tomorrow! Another surprise!

 

24.06.14 We have visitors!...Helicopter Tour and Route 66 Car Show!!!

We were SO excited!!! Cashton and Sherry are here for Fun and Adventure with us! 

First things first...FOOD! We went to Station 66 Italian Bistro. Super delicious! 

Grampa had Baked Mac n Cheese with Buffalo Chicken.

Cashton had Baked Mac n Cheese with BBQ Pulled Pork

Sherry had Chicken Alfredo

and I had The Chicken Parm Sandwich

YUM!!! There was a "gunfight" going on outside too!

We surprised Cashton with an Imperial Eco Star Helicopter Tour of the Grand Canyon! He was so happy!

They went through their safety instruction video! Those are life preservers strapped around their waste.

The moment the Helicopter went over the edge of the canyon.

If you look closely you can see a couple of rafts in the river below the rapids.  They look like specs in the water from here but they are really 10 or 12 person rafts!

This is the confluence of the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River.  The aqua color in the Little Colorado is from iron and minerals in the canyon carried in the water.

This is Point Imperial, the highest point on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon at 8803 feet of elevation.  This is also the most northern boundary of the park.

I think someone is having a great time!!

Here is Cashton's video of his helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon!

I thought this would  be a genuine chocolate factory. Boy were we disappointed! They had some fudge and ice cream. The fudge was dry. 

A spur of the moment roadside pull off...Bedrock City now called Raptor Ranch!! This place used to be a whole village of Flintstone buildings theme park.  

A link to check it out: Bedrock City Theme Park

After The helicopter tour we headed back to Williams to the Route 66 Sock Hop Car Show and Parade. WOW! 

Another video! This one is the Route 66 Car Show. 

Sherry bought Cashton a sucker with a real scorpion in it! No. He did not eat it down to the bug!

Back at the campground, Cashton had to take Grampa's e-bike for a spin.

Of course we needed hamburgers and chocolate malts to finish the day!

Cashton and I both had the patty melt and sweet potato fries. YUM!

Another big day tomorrow! Cashton said that today can't be beat...we'll see!

LOVE THIS KID!