Grand Canyon - National Park - Las Vegas





For a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, take an optional flightseeing trip over the Grand Canyon, with incomparable views of flame-coloured walls plunging 1,463 metres (4800 feet) into the Colorado River.  Leaving the high country of Arizona, we pass through Williams on famous Route  66, and then the old Mojave gold-strike country, which still has traces of century-old ghost towns.   Arrive
in Las Vegas - a neon desert oasis packed with spectacular hotels and casinos.
______________________________________

Today [Monday, 8 September] up early and left accommodation by 7 15 a.m. to go to Airport re our Flight over the Grand Canyons. Weather fine but a bit cloudy.

There were 6 passengers and the pilot. Took 5 minutes in the helicopter to get to the rim, and then continued over Canyon for 20 minutes rained a little. We really appreciated how huge the Grand Canyon is.   The Colorado River was brown due to the heavy rain up stream.

Taken prior to our Helicopter ride

Map where we went over Grad Canyon

Helicopter

Margaret on way to Helicopter

 

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

Colorado River at bottom of Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

All of these photos were taken out of the Helicopter

The bus picked us up and continued to Las Vegas.

Stopped at Seligman town. A old town on Route 66 which kept its 1950 - 1960 imagine. With 50s Cars and old mementos of the era.

Route 66

Route 66

Route 66

Route 66

 
Route 66

Route 66

Route 66

Route 66

We stopped at the Walmart at Kingsman (love Walmarts.) for lunch.

Proceeded to Las Vegas and on the way passed Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

Hoover Dam

Proceeded through Boulder City to Las Vegas. It only rains 10 days a year in Las Vegas and when we arrived it was pouring.

Boulder Town

Our Driver Andrew commented that drivers in Las Vegas do not know how to drive in the wet, so he was very careful.

Taken from the Bus as we were arriving in Las Vegas

Las Vegas from the Bus

Andrew the bus driver drove us up the Strip. We expected to be surprised but were amazed.

Reached Harrah's it is huge, walked through pokies to get to our room. Very nice, TV but no tea or coffee facilities. This is Las Vegas.


Bedroom Las Vegas

Bedroom Las Vegas

 Did some unpacking  then went for a walk.  Went to Caesars Palace which is even bigger. Weather was pleasant.

Wyndham Hotels (sponsor of the Greensboro Golf Tournament) approach offering free show tickets and breakfast and discount vouchers etc. for tomorrow morning selling (Time Share) we accepted.

Then we went for tea at the Grill. Very loud Grit Iron on the TVs (many) and women screaming. Ordered meal and could only eat half of what we got.

Bills comments on the Bus Trip

The Tour members all got on well.

The other 4 New Zealanders were great and have toured a lot.

There were also 3 Australian's, several from U.K. and the rest from the Eastern side of  U.S.A.

The Bus Driver Andrew was an excellent Driver and very religious.

The Tour Director was a good guy, with 4 years experience.

Saw millions of Pine Trees and acres of  Tussock.

Saw lots of aged men and women riding Harley Davidson Motor Cycles.

Have not seen a racecourse, but a few rodeo grounds and a few nice green Golf Courses.

Saw a car in Deadwood with a railway sleeper and thought of Lifestyle Vehicles for some reason.

Salt Lake City was designed in the late 1800's with very wide streets, and all streets numbered North, South, East and West from the Temple.

The highlight were Bryce and Zion Canyons, more so that the Grand Canyon which was huge.