Day 2 - Las Vegas trip to Grand Canyon - Monday 23rd June

Grand Canyon day trip, exciting day ahead!!

Monday 23rd June

We have put our birthday money together from family and we have also put some more £'s towards our trip too as this is a once in a lifetime experience so we thought we would go on a splurge and this for sure is way over our budget!  We booked this trip before we came to Las Vegas.  We are travelling to the Grand Canyon by bus and then taking a helicopter over the Canyon, WOW!!  We would have loved to go from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon on a helicopter ride instead of the bus but our budget did not allow this for sure and we didn't know how Amy would be on a helicopter!!!  So this will be Amy’s first helicopter ride, Colin and I’s second as we took a helicopter over Niagara Falls in 2002.  The tour is all day and starts off with being collected at 6am from our hotel

 

 

Bright eyed and bushy tailed for 5.50am

 

Seeing the sunrise is beautiful and the temperature at this time of day is absolutely gorgeous I could quite happily go for a long walk but we are waiting for the bus, exciting!!

 

Excited faces!!!  Now some people may have noticed there is a slight shadow around Colin’s face well that is because he has decided to grow a beard!!!  He is going to grow his beard until we reach Hawaii, we’ll see how he looks first!!!

 

 

Here is our bus to pick us up and then take us to register for our trip, this is such a cool bus we would love to be taken to the Grand Canyon in this bus!  It reminds me of The A-Team I was just waiting for BA Baracus to come out now wouldn’t that be funny !!  The funny thing was it was a little weedy bus driver instead that evolved from the bus doors!!

 

We get dropped off at Miracle Mile Shops downstairs office, they check our ID then we get a blue sticker with number 4 on it and that is the bus we now need to find in the bus car park.  Loads of tours are leaving right now going and doing different things.  Here is our bus with our driver and commentator Coach Ed, no messing with him!

 

Look at those sun creamed shiny excited faces!!  Ready for our 120 mile journey to Grand Canyon!

 

It isn’t long until we are in the desert!

 

Our first stop along the way is to the Hoover Dam with the new road network around the Hoover Dam the famous side of the Dam is only visible from a different freeway

 

Hoover Dam Bypass bridge

 

 

Lake Mead and the colours on the rocks shows how much the water has decreased over the past 100 years.  They are supposed to be receiving water from Colorado but it has never arrived!

 

It is 8.45am already!!

 

 

And then we drive by a run off or spillway in case of high waters but if I remember rightly this was originally built to divert the Colorado River whilst they built Hoover Dam

 

The second run off tunnel.  It was horrible driving by on the bus and then you looked down and eeeek the tunnel with no end in sight!!  Amy thinks that could make a good slide!!!  Your on your own there kiddo!!

 

The museum of Hoover Dam

 

 

A lizard just hanging out enjoying the sun on the rocks

 

This is where we have driven through

 

 

Really see the water marks on the walls of Lake Mead where the water level has gone down

 

Just below the bridge is where Hoover Dam is

 

 

30ft tall wings of the Angels with gold feet that if you rub their feet will bring you good luck!

 

The Hoover Dam but the sun was shining through the window reflecting my t-shirt (poor shot sorry!)

 

Colin has taken out the old camera and here is Colin’s shot helps having a dark t-shirt on today with the sun!!

Well done Col, good shot of Hoover Dam!

 

 

Colorado River in the distance

 

We stopped in a cowboy town at this café for food and toilet stop

 

Then we drove through a Joshua Tree forest, the largest and oldest Joshua tree forest in the world

 

We turned off to go to the Grand Canyon and there were workmen laying tarmac down.  This road has been dirt track road since the early 1900’s and the last remaining part of the dirt track road was going to be tarmacked over next week so at least we can say we have been on the original road leading towards Grand Canyon

 

Spirit Mountain that if you see faces in the mountain it will bring you good luck only for 24 hours!

 

 

How exciting we are nearly there!!!!!!

 

Wow it looks busy look at the amount of buses that are here already!

 

The map of the area, Hualapai who are the Native Americans whose land the Grand Canyon is on

 

Ok here we are getting checked in for the helicopter ride, nervous for Amy just hope she likes it and excited because I think it will be awesome seeing the Grand Canyon from above!!!

 

Amy getting weighed for the helicopter ride

 

 

Amy is getting so excited now we are in another queue waiting for 2 other people who are supposed to be joining us in the helicopter and waiting for the letter A (instead of a number) to be shouted!!

 

Excited faces :O):0):O)

 

Now if you have noticed Colin is looking stubbly he decided to grow a beard whilst we are on our big holiday adventure.  He said he will shave when we get to Hawaii!!!

 

 

Here is our helicopter!!!  Woo Hoo!!

 

 

Here we are away to board the helicopter.  The lightest person has to sit next to the pilot, woop woop!!

 Amy, Daddy and the pilot on the front seats, how exciting!!!

 

The lady behind had a ‘front seat’ stamped on her hand too so I think she was supposed to be in the front seat as well if it was on a different helicopter  but the guy at the helipad said Amy should go in front seat.  So the woman was originally sat in the front seat and then had to move for Amy to get in so hence the not impressed face from her!!

 

Colin giving Amy thumbs up, the pilot helped Amy into her seatbelt and headphones, so cool and exciting!

 

All smiles from the front xxx

 

 

Smiles from the back too xxx

 

Well done Col for the selfie, you’ve had a great teacher!!

 

Our pilot, Mr Talkative NOT!!!  He did not whisper a word to us!!

 

Our pilot and co-pilot ha ha!!

 

 

We have taken off now with the theme tune to Top Gun playing in our headphones!!

 

Think we are nearly there, woop woop!!

 

Wow we are now over West Rim of Grand Canyon, spectacular!

 

View out the front of the helicopter by Mr A!!

 

 

 

Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon

 

I managed to catch a rotor blade in the shot too!

 

Amy appears to be enjoying herself thankfully and thumbs up, well done Amy xxx

 

Loving the views over the Grand Canyon, becoming an expert now Col on your selfie taking!!

 

Looking happy and beautiful, our little gummy bear xXx

 

 

Heading back to helipad now, truly amazing

 

Nearly back at the helipad base.  It was like a conveyer belt the helicopters constantly filling up and dropping off passengers, monotonous for the pilots though!

 

We have landed back at the helipad and such a smooth landing we didn’t even feel a bump, well done to our pilot who didn’t speak the whole time we were up.  We did have some commentary and music when we were up in the air through our headphones!

 

 

 

 

Come on gang!!

 

Happy, excited faces!!  Glad Amy enjoyed her first experience being in a helicopter and

what a venue to do it!!!

 

We walked back over to the main entrance and had to jump on a shuttle bus to take us to the Ranch area

 

 

It took about 5 minutes to get to The Ranch on the shuttle, true Cowboy area!!

 

Yeeehah!!!!

 

 

Nobody getting hung today thankfully!!

 

We told you Daddy that if you are too grumpy you would go to jail!!!

 

Lock the door and throw away the key Amy! Ha ha only messing about!!!!

 

Real country and western music going on too!

 

There was horseback riding and wagon rides but we were on a tight time so couldn’t do any of the extra activities

 

 

Colin trying to throw the horseshoe rings but no luck Col, they were too heavy for Amy as they were two real horseshoes joined together!

 

Next there was a real cowboy teaching people how to use a bow and arrow, Amy did good and managed to hit one arrow onto the straw

  It was my turn next (sorry no photo) and the guy told me I was rubbish as I didn’t listen how to place my fingers and how far I needed to take the bow back, never mind I managed to hit the top of the straw, not my forte the bow and arrow not the listening!! 

 

Col’s turn next and this is the cowboy taking the arrow away from Colin for not listening too, not your forte either Col! 

 

Colin managed to get his second shot near the target but the cowboy told us that Amy was the best at the bow and arrow as she listened more, it was such a laugh! 

 

Next up is the stand-off shoot your partner with blanks through the screen, oh yeah so I am not keen and Colin is very keen!!  Colin is in his element with the cowboys!!  Little boy coming out in him!!

 

Colin is so competitive I am just making sure he isn’t cheating!!!

 

Look at that cocky face on him, he thinks he is going to WIN!!!  I am representing the girls so look out you boy!!

 

 

Now he has found a hat to put on, holy moly it’s not as if he is taking this seriously or anything!!  Oh my word!!  The stubble quite suits the cowboy look!!

 

 

Amy is doing a fab job on the camera too, well done Amy xxx

So there is an actual cowboy there with all the safety instructions and saving any cheating so the guns are loaded with blanks and placed into the holsters which are on wooden bars at the side of us!!  Ok so the cowboy is going to shout DRAW and then we need to take the gun out of the holster, pull the hammer back and then fire. 

First round - DRAW – We are neck in neck with taking the guns out and hammers off but I am first to go BANG!!  But only a split second difference!

Girls 1 – Boy 0

Second round – the guy says STRAW just to put us off and then DRAW – both got the guns out at the same time but Colin struggles to get his hammer off so my gun goes BANG

Girls 2 – Boy 0

Third round – DRAW – both guns out and I am slightly faster than Colin again BANG

Girls 3 – Boy 0

Ding ding ding ding!!!  Girls are WINNERS!!!

What good fun and Amy had good fun watching!!

That was us done in The Ranch we headed to Eagle Point next, we are all looking forward to seeing the eagle on the cliff face

 

 

The scenery going by in the shuttle bus, wow!!

 

Eagle Point is where the Skywalk is now located.  The Hualapai Tribe were reluctant for the skywalk to be built but agreed to it after a few years but there were certain restrictions the planners and builders had to follow such as no drilling into the face of the cliff so everything had to be drilled downwards.  The skywalk is a glass walkway protruding out from the cliff face with a view down of over 4,000+ft oh not for me!!!  I struggled with the Blackpool Tower glass cube let alone that!  This is a view of the Skywalk as we are driving there

 

 

There is a massive crack in the rocks and it goes down deep, watch your feet everybody!!

 

And there we go the Eagle in the rocks!

 

Nice family pic

 

Selfie moment

 

And there is nothing between us and the big drop down, no safety fence or rope, absolutely nothing stopping anyone drop off the ledge and go all the way DOWN!!  So un-nerving it is horrible!!

 

Colin’s shot as he is more daring than I am going near the edge, Amy doesn’t like the height either so I stay back with her in safety!!!

 

The skywalk, no thanks I wouldn’t fancy paying extra for that!  And they have stopped people taking anything onto the Skywalk as people were dropping their cameras and scratching the glass so only professional photographs can get done! 

 

One slip of the foot and you are a gonner!!

 

 

The Eagle flying low!

 

And another low flying Eagle!  Amy didn't want to partake in this crazy stunt near the edge!!

 

Don't do it Col us girls promise to be nice to you, we promise!!  Colin does get a hard time but he knew the consequences when he was coming on a 3 month adventure with his two girls ha ha!!!

Colin is more daring than the girls and goes close to the edge so as you can imagine we are shouting at him ‘not that close’ ‘stay away from the edge’ etc etc and the reply ‘yeah yeah’ as if we are fussing over nothing, it is only 4,000+ft down nothing to worry about really!!!!!

 

The first time I have seen ropes and boy yeah that is a big crevice on the rock pathway!  How about at the edgeway though, no ropes there?!

 

Looks like Colin has a parachute on his back and is away to skydive I can assure you he is not, it is Amy’s rucksack and we are only messing about ha ha!!!

 

Ok enough is enough Colin ‘come back from the edge please!!’

 

Colin loves getting these shots but until you are there you can’t appreciate how far down that drop is as the photos are just not showing the true depth of the canyon!

 

 Amy just not sure about being up here looking down, funny she thought the helicopter was brill but won’t go near the edge at all, having a cuddle makes everything all better though!

 

 

Next we head to Guano Point to have lunch as we got a luncheon voucher with our tour ticket

 

 

 

It was a bit like school dinners getting your food plated for you but it was lovely food, Colin had shredded Beef and the girls had…..

 

Chicken with all the trimmings and we sat on picnic benches with a view over the Grand Canyon, best view at a picnic bench we have ever experienced that is for sure!

 

Here we go again!!!  Nag, nag, nag!!!

 

I think this is the shot he was taking at the point of getting nagged again!!!!

 

I am now feeling sick from looking down and Amy is going nowhere near the edge so it is just Colin still taking shots now near the edge!

 

 

The different colours on the cliff face are truly amazing and beautiful, this shot taken from afar I can assure you by me!!

 

Ok put the cliff faces into perspective here is a helicopter over the next few shots if you can see the black dot!

 

 

Absolutely tiny compared to the surrounding area and that was us a couple of hours ago!!

 

The precarious sit on the edge of the big rock but we won’t go any further closer to the edge it is this or nothing Col! 

 

 

A non-English speaking woman comes and thrusts her camera into Colin’s hand, it is just hilarious to watch so here is the first shot and then …..

 

another pose with a different background.  But it gets better as the lady is at a different part of the walk round and is ah ha at Colin and again thrusts the camera in his hands so his photograph duties are back on with hat on and hat off, different views and different poses and it is just so funny to watch Colin and her taking these photos!

 

 



 

Then a selfie on the rock once Colin is finished taking photos of the random woman!!

 

No way really I would  not have guessed there was a falling hazard, thanks for telling us at the end of the day!!

 

Part of the view where we flew over today

 

Amy is done at Grand Canyon and the sun, she is hiding in the shade and the furthest point away from the edge!!  Time to go!!!

 

I was away to get a photograph taken on the ledge of this window when Colin started shouting at me ‘don’t sit down on there’ ‘stay away from the edge’ oh now the shoe is on the other foot!!!  So we settle for a selfie and head off!!

 

Oh boy they are mighty close to the edge, now I am panicking for everybody and feeling sick, let’s go as my depth perception has gone as I have been looking down too long now!!

 

Amy spies someone that has written on the wheel from the old cable car ‘Team Australia’

eeek that will be us soon!!!

 

 

Time to go and the early morning has caught up with Amy and the heat as it was forecast for

104degrees F here today!!

 

Feels even hotter with a packhorse on my back and climbing up the hill!!  Real sweaty now!!

 

Eeek that is just not right looking down there!!  So that last shot has now sorted Colin out as he is starting to feel not right when he looks down too!!  Gosh that took a while but we are now talking about how many people are killed or commit suicide at the Grand Canyon with its lack of boundaries and ropes.  We looked it up when we got home and the average is about 1 person a year, wow that is scary but we also thought it would be higher than that!

 

So we are now back at the shop at the entrance heading back to the bus.  He looks like one of the chiefs of the Hualapai tribe (I don’t know if he is or not but other people didn’t have large feathers like that)  all the workers at Grand Canyon are from the tribe

 

 

 

They had a small tent outside selling all different native Indian things, this Indian is just chilling!

 

 

That is us done for the day it is 3.20pm and we need to be back on the bus by 3.30pm so perfect timing by the time we find the bus in the parking lot!  What a busy but amazing day!!

We have one stop on the way back to Las Vegas to break up the 120 mile journey!! 

 

 

And that was to The Last Stop, it was a real random place!!

 

 

 

 

I just can’t think of any words to describe where we were, the photos are random enough!!

 

The Hoover Dam well as much as we could see from the bus driving by at a fair speed!

 

 

 

Lake Mead

 

 

Here are the trains that are still on the railway since the early 1900’s that are owned by the cowboys and they won’t move them!  Funny thinking things like this actually happen in real life with the Indian tribes and cowboys.   Before we stop for a toilet stop we are pre-warned that it is normal here for people to ride up on their horses, have their guns in their holsters and go to the shops so don’t be surprised it is just how some people live out here!!

 

Now we are getting close to Las Vegas, Amy has had an hour sleep so at least she has caught up with some of her sleep from the late night and early morning!!  It has been a tiring day so we all managed to have a little snooze on the way home! 

 

Even closer now but we have found in Las Vegas that everything appears closer than it actually is, when we arrived at the airport we thought our hotel was close to the airport but it was actually over 4 miles away, hotels seem closer together but we think that is because of the size of them being huge makes them appear closer to each other!!  We were still a bit away though but it was nice seeing the skyline in the distance!

 

We go round and drop everyone else off at their hotels, typical there is 5 of us left until last but we get a sneak preview of the strip with the lights on as it is about 7pm.  Here is the Coca Cola bottle lit up, cool!!

 

M&M’s lights on!!

 

The Rio hotel with Penn and Teller as the main attraction for the hotel, this hotel looks cool as it is full of bright colours

 

Sun setting over one of the Catholic churches in Las Vegas

 

We are back in our room and this is the sight we see, the sun setting which is absolutely beautiful!

 

It has been funny staying in the hotel as we have not had our beds made since we arrived not that we are lazy at all but we thought that was a given staying in a hotel but obviously not!!

The sun has gone down so we head out for some tea before bed.  We headed to McDonald’s as it has a restaurant in the hotel but on our way there Colin says let’s put a $1 into the 1cent machines just to say we have played a slot machine in Las Vegas.  Ok then…..

 

 

Colin playing and then….

 

and me but in Las Vegas under 21’s are not allowed to be in the gambling areas but these machines are just on a walkway through the hotel and not near any tables but as if from nowhere a security guy comes and says ‘you need to move on with the little one’.  Wow that is hot on our tracks we only wanted a photograph so that is it money done and moved on to McDonald’s!!!  By the way we didn’t win anything but we didn’t really know what we were doing anyhow!!

 

Because it is cooler at night we walked to the largest gift shop to get the customary sticker and magnet!  Wow the shop was full of some tat but we got what we wanted!!

 

We are now walking back and see people on top of the tower on the Big Shot ride.  Our plan is to go on the Big Shot tomorrow if we are brave enough!!   Amy doesn’t want to do it so she can stand and watch, the Big Shot is the highest ride in the world so Colin and I feel we should do it to say that we have done it!!  We’ll see, tomorrow is another day!!!

 

Our hotel and the tower all lit up!

 

Cool entrance sign

 

So on the way to the souvenir shop we stopped by the Popcorn and Candy store in our hotel complex and got some popcorn, normal flavour,  cheese and caramel flavours.  The girl was good and gave us free samples of all the flavours, Tutti Frutti, Hot & Spicy, Cheese, Kettle, Jalapeno Pepper and Caramel before we decided on what flavour to get, yummy!  And on the way back from the souvenir shop we got some ice-cream with the help yourself toppings again, oh it is sooooo lovely and yummy!!!

 

Now this is our dessert and nightcap, oh yes please and good night!!!