Grand Canyon Trip

So, I finally kifed the memory card from Jordan...it took me long enough. He wanted to show his coworkers the pictures yesterday so he took the memory card in his pda and I was left picture less. Sorry. But, fair is fair I suppose.

We left last Thursday and drove all the way to Kanab and spent the night there. It was nice, only driving part way to the Grand Canyon. Sarah, however, slept with me that night since our room was too small for her porta-crib to be set up. She would wake up during the night and thought it was fun to play with my hair, so needless to say I had little sleep...but I had fun in Kanab to say the least. It is beautiful there and I wouldn't mind going back again.

On Friday we traveled the rest of the way to the Grand Canyon. The 3 1/2 hour trip from Kanab seemed a lot longer! AZ's landscape had is beautiful moments, but overall I am not a fan of the dessert. But the wild flowers were in bloom, the trees were bright green with new leaves, so it was pretty in most parts against the bright red rock.

Since we arrived at the Canyon early we decided to scope the points to see what would be of interest when Justin and Lindsey came to meet us on Saturday. We parked at Shrine of the Ages and took the shuttle up to Hopi Point. It was fun...everyone on the shuttle thought Sarah was the best thing they had seen at the Park. She was making her 'motor' noise and laughing, cooing, and drooling herself into fame on the shuttle. It was really quite enjoyable. Sarah just can't help but be cute!!

On Saturday Sarah woke up at the early hour of 6am AZ time, which meant 7am at home. Breakfast didn't even begin till 6:30am, so we enjoyed taking our time getting ready for the day and deciding what trails to hike.

Justin and Lindsey arrived around 9am and we quickly piled everything in the tiny Honda and took off for the Canyon. Lindsey had never been to the Grand Canyon either, like Jordan, so she really enjoyed the picturesque views as did Jordan. We decided to hike the rim trail from Mather Point to Bright Angel Lodge, about 4 miles. It was really fun.

Sarah had the time of her life in the backpack. She kicked, made her all famous motor noises, and ate a yummy cookie...and eventually tired herself out into a nap. Isn't this the cutest picture?!

But that wasn't all. Jordan was walking and talking with Justin, Lindsey, and me and suddenly stopped walking. He looked around trying to spy something in particular. He then smiled and began laughing in hushed tones. Of course Justin, Lindsey, and I were confused. Jordan whispered trying to hold back laughter, "Sarah is snoring!". Of course I grabbed the camera and shot a video...here you go!

After we made it to Bright Angel Lodge we decided Sarah had enough hiking for one day and was ready for her 2 hour afternoon nap. And we were all ready for lunch as well. We headed back to the hotel, ate lunch really quick, and I put Sarah down for a nap while Justin, Lindsey and Jordan went back to hike Bright Angel Trail.

They were gone about 4 hours! They hiked down an hour, and it took them 2 hours to hike back up. Jordan said it was a fun hike, but very steep and exhausting. He was glad we decided not to take Sarah on that hike because it was unstable and steep-not a hike for anyone wearing a backpack with a mobile baby.

So, Sarah and I decided to go swimming while everyone recuperated from the hike. Jordan, however, came swimming with me and Sarah instead of taking a nap which he decided to take after we got done swimming. The water in the pool was cold, so we didn't stay too long.

We then met for dinner and ate at a diner, which was expensive...of course we were in a tourist trap so I shouldn't have been surprised. We then rushed to the Canyon to see sunset. We tried to catch the bus to Hopi Point to see the all famous sunset, but missed the last shuttle by 2 minutes!! They wouldn't take anyone back there and it was a 5 mile hike...we couldn't make that hike in 30 minutes for the presentation. Urgh, well, it was still beautiful where we were anyway, don't you agree?

Sunday we decided to see the last points of interest in the park before we headed back home. We stayed in the park for another hour or so, and the wind was blowing like crazy!! We all agreed we were glad we got our hikes in yesterday instead of then. It was a bone chilling wind and Sarah was having a hard time keeping warm--mostly because she would squirm out of the coat I had wrapped around her. She was born to be free!!

Once again Sarah entertained everyone on the shuttle. She held none of her sound effects back and let everyone know she was on the shuttle with them. She was the only baby on the shuttle so she did receive a lot of attention. I suppose she just can't help being cute. Auntie Lindsey sure thought Sarah was cute!

Then we drove home...wow, what a long car ride with Sarah! She was good the first 2 hours and then started fussing. But overall she did really well for being strapped down for 8 1/2 hours. Poor thing. We should have taken it slow home too, but Jordan had to be back for work on Monday since he decided to work the night shift.

Well, that was our trip in a nutshell. It was very fun and we are looking forward to going back to the Grand Canyon when Sarah is a lot older. We are planning on rafting down the Colorado for a few days--sounds fun, huh!!