Day 18 -- Grand Canyon and back to Williams, AZ

OW. Basically - that sums up my day. I'm tired, I'm getting cranky, and I'm starting to feel muscles and joints I never knew existed. I'm assuming it's a combination of the half-marathon after effects and the amount of walking/hiking we did in the past 2 days - wearing hiking boots.

So this morning started off very cool - but also very early. We woke up early and when we looked out our window, the sun was just starting to lighten the sky and all we could see outside was the trees, snow and open spaces. Our room was like a camping cabin - and there wasn't much else around. Very out of the way - with an isolated feel. We went to eat breakfast - and ended up walking there instead of waiting on the shuttle. It felt great to be out and walking with it so quiet and peaceful out. However, for the first time on our journey, the weather wasn't the greatest. It was overcast, damp and cool. It did not rain on us today as forecast - and it could have been a lot colder - so we weren't complaining.

After a not-so-spectacular breakfast we went back to our room and got our day pack ready for the day and our overnight gear ready to be picked up and put back on the train. Then we headed out for another jam-packed day in the park.

We decided to get on the shuttle and get off at each stop that offered any type of view or activity. We went to the visitor's center and caught the green route bus to a couple of neat view points. Then we headed back to the blue route and a few more stops. We made it to the train depot an hour early and went to get the boys some lunch to eat before getting on the train. We sat at the depot and let the boys eat while we talked with some of the other passengers.

I forgot to mention this in yesterday's blog - but when we got off the train and onto the bus for the tour - we sat with a couple in from St Louis (I believe). The man was originally from Queens - so he & Don began talking. At our 2nd stop I overheard the woman talking about "at mile 8". So I looked at her and said "did you just run the half-marathon in Phoenix?" She said YES - You too?! And we both cracked up. So much for resting after the big race!! We talked a lot about our experiences at the race. It was a good debriefing for me. When we got to the train depot, she & I caught up some more and compared notes on our time in the Grand Canyon. Seems we both started feeling the after effects of the run. We saw them at dinner tonight too and she was saying she was off to bed at 7:30!!! I'm just as exhausted and sore - but I had to get some sorting & packing done and get this blog in before I forget anything!!!

During the train ride back to Williams, both Daniel & Patrick were wound up. They had earned their Junior Ranger badges at the park and several people kept commenting on them. Later in the train ride we had a staged "robbery" and the marshall was so great about getting the boys involved as his deputies - since they were Junior Rangers and all! LOL We also had a good laugh when the guy playing the banjo for us played some songs that had both boys up in the aisle dancing along. I'm not sure why - but we were the ONLY people left in our car by that time - besides an elderly couple from CT who were doting on the boys. They even videotaped the boys dancing to the banjo - and offered to email it to me. There were some very nice people on this trip!

I am SO glad we head to Santa Fe tomorrow. In about a week we should be home - and I am SO ready!!!

Since I'm about to fall asleep typing, I'm going to call it a night. Back to the road we go tomorrow - and time to wrap up the journey! Stay tuned...