Grand Canyon

Friday Mom flew in for a visit with Kenna before she leaves for the summer. She wanted to see the Grand Canyon, and it was something I had never seen either, so we went!

Kenna was in charge of documenting the trip on the drive there, but I won't bore you with pictures of highways and roads. We woke up at 4:30 am to leave, but ended up leaving around 5:45 am....still very early!

(This photo is out of order of course) Jack looking out of the window of the train.

We arrived in Williams AZ to board the train. This was an old steam engine they used once upon a time ago....it was HUGE

See how massive this thing is?

This is the new-fashioned train that we rode.

This is the car of the train we rode....I was so excited to see the number of the train. I started jumping up and down and my mother couldn't figure out why I was so excited....Does anyone see what is special about the number of this train???!??!?

Self portraits of K, J and I

The train ride from Williams AZ to the Grand Canyon is 2 hours 15 minutes

They had "entertainers" on the train. This is a pic of J listening to the first entertainer, whose picture is below...he sang us old country songs

Jack dancing with Sam, our PSA (passenger service assistant)

Dancing makes for a thirsty Jack Jack

Jack playing with his sisters hat

Finally, we arrive at the Grand Canyon, this was the first view we saw before hiking around to see other views....and I do mean hiking....tip for future travelers....
hiking over rocks + stroller = nothing good

I think if you click on this picture to make it bigger, in the upper left corner, there is a person standing on the ledge -

If you look very carefully, you can catch a tiny glimpse of the Colorado River

This place is absolutely massive - something you cannot possibly see in three hours, for that matter, you need more than one whole day

Canyon flower

OK, so we see the Grand Canyon, we get FORCED into hiking because the paved "trail" we were on was closed, directing us to a "detour" trail, which in my opinion was a REAL trail....we make it back to the train depot with 30 minutes to spare.

We get on the train and head back to Williams. Everyone is exhausted, we want nothing more than to sleep. Another entertainer sang to us and Kenna purchased a miniature harmonica.

An announcement is made over the PA that the robbers the sheriff placed in jail that morning had escaped and were headed our way. We are about 45 minutes away from Williams when we start seeing cowboys with horses running along the train. Low and behold, our train is robbed.

Yes, we are the only train in the history of trains to stop to be robbed.

Here are the robbers. We were asked not to hit, kick or punch the robbers because they had to use them tomorrow =) At first, Kenna thought the robbery was real, until she recognized one of the cowboys.

Jack wasn't sure what to think of the whole experience, he just watched.