Grand Canyon Raft Trip - Vegas

Friday
We both took an early flight from our respective hometowns. We connected in Dallas for the onward flight to Vegas. After a couple of hours, with a view from the plane to the north, we were hoping for a glimpse of the Canyon as we flew over Arizona. Using a road map we established our position to be following I40 westward somewhere between Holbrook and Winslow, AZ. This was confirmed a few minutes later by the cockpit advising those passengers on the other side of the plane that we were passing Meteor Crater. On the wrong side to see the crater, instead we could make out the Little Colorado River valley. It looked dry from our height; I was hoping it was at least not in flood. I was looking forward, and hoping, that the Little Colorado would be running clear and that we would get a chance to visit it’s confluence with the Colorado within the first a couple of days of the trip. As we continued on we were also able to make out US180 (AZ SR 64) the road to the South Rim and Grand Canyon Village, and the airstrip at Tusayan. Slightly further in the distance was Great Thumb Mesa (opposite Tapeats Creek where we would be spending the 4th night of the trip). Our first view of the Colorado River itself was somewhere below Vulcan’s Throne I believe. I was excited to see it was green, not muddy, and hoped it would stay that way for the duration of our trip. Next we were flying over Lake Mead, unfortunately, though we had great views of the lake, we must have been almost directly over Hoover Dam and could not get a picture.

As soon as we arrived in Vegas, and tackled the Taxi line (it looked like it was going to be a very busy Memorial Day Weekend in Vegas!) we checked in to the Hawthorne Suites, where we were to be met early the next day. Lucky for us they had an early room available, and we could dump our bags, and go in search of food. Having been traveling since around 4:30 am, we were both hungry. We decided on the Spice Market buffet at the Alladin Casino for lunch and walked there as quick as possible. It was hot and dry in Vegas. Lunch was great. We both went back for second plates and several dessert choices too!

After Lunch we crossed to Bellagio and window shopped the stores we couldn’t even afford to ask the prices at! We enjoyed the glass flowered lobby ceiling and the Conservatory, then shopped for real in the gift shop for souvenirs. Bellagio was followed by a trip to Ceasar’s Palace and more window shopping. We found a pair of cute black opal earrings for a mere $2375 and change, but decided not to buy them this trip. The excitement of the “almost purchase” led to a cold soda in the bar, but even that couldn’t revive us much. We decided to make our way back to the hotel. Concerned that there may not be snacks provided on the trip we decide to stop off at one of the drugstores on the strip on the way back. As it turned out, our fears were groundless. There were more than enough snacks provided, and our purchases turned into smashed messes of packets in our day bags by the week’s end. Hindsight would have put us in a taxi directly from Ceasar’s Palace. Luckily, we at least managed to snag one outside the drugstore. We both had blisters, the souvenirs were becoming heavy and hitting every post and person we passed, and we were both ready to be out of the heat and in a cool pool!

At the hotel we joined in the evening Happy Hour. A couple of beers and sodas later MaryBeth won set of fuzzy dice. Ironically, the pool, probably around 60-70 degrees felt too cold to venture into! We ended up in the slightly warmer hot tub dodging splashes from little boys diving for quarters. It was after 8pm Vegas time, approaching midnight in our bodies’ time zone, and we soon went back to the room to repack our bags in river mode. The souvenirs, clean clothes, and suitcases were to be re-checked at the hotel in the morning, only our “essential” river items would travel with us. Tomorrow the big adventure begins!

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