I'm getting further behind, but will try to catch up a little today. I have internet service but it's slow. We took the train to the Grand Canyon, pulled by Old #4960 accompanied by other Golden Spike members. We trucked along quite nicely ... too fast to get many pictures ... the windows wouldn't open so I could hang outside, as I did in Carson City. Before the ride, we watched a little Old West Shootout. We ran into these guys later in the day. Nice horse ......
Here she is in all her glory ...
Rounding a couple corners, I was able to get this image through the glass. Yes, that is a diesel "backup" engine ... just in case. It's about 65 miles to the Grand Canyon station ... not an area you want to get stranded in.
Out the back window ....
Along the way we were serenaded by a couple of guitar players ... and the Sheriff visited with everyone.
Upon arrival at the canyon, we had a great lunch at the Bright Angel Lodge. From there we followed our personal bus driver guide Dan out the Hermit's Rest Road. Unfortunately there wasn't enough time to stop at every location and we headed back to the train. On the way home we were treated to a holdup ... the train stopped, the bad guys got on and collected change while walking through every car. The Sheriff followed, but not close enough to catch them!!
Thus ended a great day on a steam train to the big hole in the ground!!!
From Williams, Patty, Dan and I headed off to Verde Valley for a few days stay, hoping the temperature in Lake Havasu would ease off to allow for packing up the household for the move to Tucson. This was the first time I have stayed at a Thousand Trails campground and it was great!! Although we were close neighbors, we had 50 amp sites, nice grass, trees and a swimming pool all to ourselves. Cooper and Jessie weren't fond of the stickers on the roadside, so we stuck to the grass.
After some fat quarter quilt shopping, we headed out to Jerome, an old cooper mining town. I was expecting more of a "ghost town" like atmosphere ... but instead it is very artsy ... so artsy in fact it is rather out of my price range. Still, there were some nice buildings to check out.
As we walked up the hill ... we oohed and awwed over the lush flowers and trees. The hill is pretty steep, the view is awesome. Well worth the climb. Here's a look at the entire town from down the hill.
The Hotel Connor is still standing. Most of the wooden buildings burned down ... those that could, rebuilt with brick.
Before we left, we drove further up the hill, up a VERY narrow single lane road, towards the Jerome Hotel and the Asylum Restaurant. Pretty scary drop-off, but soooo cool to drive. We ended up at a rock shop that was a hospital in a previous life. The miners got a little carried away with blasting, causing a back corner to collapse. So they just built another hospital at a site across town. The old building, currently under repairs, has a glass solarium on the top floor, allowing natural light for surgeries. That's a scary thought ... surgery in the 1880's!! Yikes!!!
They have a great National Park Museum, but time constraints (and shopping) dictated we move along. This rock is outside the building ... no photoshop here. It's an amazing piece of Mother Nature's work.
As is this shot of the Verde River outside our campground. Okay, it IS kind of a stream .. but a raging river when the monsoons are here. We trekked uphill and down, through thickets of cottonwood trees and stinkbugs ... to get this image of the river.
Time's up ... but I definitely want to come back. My shopping trophies include two elk horns for Buzzards Roost (my home), a GREAT new cowboy hat ... like the old time cowgirls used to wear. I know, but I'm not THAT old ... will get a pic later for you. Lots of new Indian blankets and southwest quilting material as well as some fudge and toffee. Uh yeah ... that's gone already!!!!
We arrived back in Lake Havasu yesterday to 108 degree temperatures. My two AC units are screaming ... but keeping my RV a nice 80 degrees. Today Patty and I packed up the china cabinet and the spare bedroom. Tomorrow the world!!! I mean the bedroom and kitchen!! Wish us luck!!!
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