Grand Canyon

Today we were up very early at 5 am to get ready for our tour.

We had breakfast in the food court were we had bought our own cereal.

We made our way to the rotunda and waited for our bus to collect us at 6.15am.  

From here we were taken to a warehouse and divided into South or West rim.

Our 950km round trip was about to begin and we were on our way by 7.30.  During this time we were given some information on Las Vegas.  As it is a desert it only get 4% of rainfall a year.  Most of the water comes from the Rocky Mountains and runs into the Colarado river and then into the Hoover Dam.

We passed through Boulder City which was originally established to house people working on the Hoover Dam way back in the 1930's.  It was built by the 6 Companies Company, contractors for the dam.  The company decided to make the town alcohol and gambling free which it is the way it has stayed.

We passed the man made Lake Mead which is apparently surrounded by an exclusive estate with houses owned by celebrities.  Very expensive high 6 figures but one recently sold for around $575,000 but still very expensive for USA.

We arrived at the Hoover Dam at 9.30 where we had a short 20 min stop.  Upon approach to the dam the driver informed us that the bus would be searched by security and we were to open all hatches and warned not to be ruffling though our bags.  Security is very tough as it was found later that the 9/11 terrorist had been at the dam asking all sorts of questions about how many people would be killed if the dam was to fall.  It wasn't until later that they put it together.

There was about 67 steps to the bridge with a footpath to view the dam.

We hastily made our way back to the bus as we didn't want to be the ones that got in trouble for being late.  But there is always someone and we were 6 minutes late leaving.

Back on the bus we had an 1 hr 20 until our next stop Kingman.  Just a quick rest stop at McDonalds.  This the first McDonals we have been to in the states that feels like the ones at home.

10.50 oh no 5 mins behind schedule.  Off to the Grand Canyon.  The view has changed now that we are in Arizonia.

Time passed fairly quickly and we were soon arriving at the Grand Canyon National Geographic Centre at 1.30pm.

Lunch was supplied and was delicious.  At 2.30 we jumped on our Pink Jeep tour complete with great tour guide named Rich.  Rich took us on a 2 hour tour to some special spots and gave us an abundance of information.

The Grand Canyon

We returned to the centre just in time to catch the last IMAX show.  Where we soared above the Grand Canyon, wow what a view.

As we had followed a different path to the rest of our bus we had to wait to be picked up and they were late oh no!  We were concerned, no more than Hayley, who was most concerned.  But all was good and we were on the bus and on our way back to Las Vegas.

It was a long trip back, we watched a movie Fun with Dick and Jane and a Las Vegas show, the Muppets with Terry Fator which was very funny.  

As we neared Las Vegas we passed over the beautifully lit Hoover Dam.