Day 11 - Free Day in Williams, Arizona, 180 miles

Today is our rest day, although not quite sure what that means.  Perhaps not hurtling along at break neck speeds and travelling at the rate we want to go.

We are in Williams, Arizona.  A very small town, the home of the Grand Canyon Railway and our day off is spent travelling up to the Grand Canyon and driving around.  The town itself is classified as the gateway to the Grand Canyon and has many of the neon signs remnant of Route 66. We had initially decided that we wouldn't do the helicopter trip, then thought we would, and then didn't!  Instead, another of the group, Andy, John and Wendy as pillion went into the Grand Canyon National Park and toured around.  As Gary the tour guide says, " A big hole in the ground."

Nothing quite prepares you for it, absolutely amazing, and created over so many of millions of years.  We went into the viewing tower at Desert outlook, which was built in 1930 and has tried to follow traditional Native American building methods and is amazing to give you a fantastic view.

Viewing tower giving views from south rim to the north, east and west

Native American paintings inside the tower

 

Ceiling of the viewing tower - three floors up!

 

A leisurely drive back down to the hotel, laundry and a swim for Wendy.  Then a walk into Williams itself to try and find a Safeway to try and sort our wretched Cash Passport out (don't believe them when they say it is available anywhere.... pah!) and then pleasant dinner listening to Western music outside.  Back to the hotel and an early night as tomorrow is another very long day - 06.00 start again.