We're doing the Canyon.

Hiking is on the agenda today. We're up early and at the Bright Angel Coffee shop for breakfast. The gift shop was open so I grabbed a Christmas ornament. After breakfast it's on to the bus and out to the furthest end.  This is one of my favorite areas in the canyon. For some reason, not a lot of visitor's make it out here.  If you do the "day hike" which is 8 miles from the Village to Hermit's Rest, you will be walking near the edge of the canyon. The views are worth it. We've done it and don't have a full day since this is John's first trip, so the bus it is. And since we're the first bus out, and we have it almost to ourselves, it's a quicker trip. Off the bus, and Hermit's Rest is just opening. I'm thinking we didn't bring jackets. Kary is thinking the same thing. Inside Hermit's Rest we spot... Grand Canyon fleece jackets. Only comes in one color. Kary and I are now dressed as twins.   Hermit's Rest was named for the prospector Louis Boucher,who came to the canyon in the 1890s.  He was the Hermit.  Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter and designed this log and stone building in 1914. This is one of the most unique buildings in the Grand Canyon. We're doing a quick walk around. The wind is downright cold and blowing us sideways. Darn, I'd have liked to spend more time out here. There's a really steep trail that goes to the bottom of the canyon, which we have never done. That was on the list for today, but just got "blown" off. Back on the bus, and stopping at some of the overviews. Decide to grab something for lunch and take the bus to the Maswic Cafeteria. This is new on our list also. It's pretty good fast food... sandwiches, salads, Mexican. Prices are pretty cheap for the Canyon.  Then to work of the binge,  down to the Bright Angel trail. Posting show there is no water available on the trail, so we grab some to take with us. We're not doing the full trail. This is a nice walk down, and we're going slow taking photos. We notice we have been getting progressively slower and taking more photos, or just stopping to look at the view. And all those condors flying overhead that you just have to gaze at. We're definetly not going to make the bottom and back, so up the trail we go. We decide to eat in at the Steakhouse in Tusayan, about 2 miles south of the Grand Canyon entrance and then hit the Grand Canyon IMAX Movie Discovery & Adventure in the National Geographic Visitors Center. The food was good and in a "cowboy/cowgirl" atmosphere. The Imax film took us to places we could never get.  It's really not a fly thru/hiking film, but the story of the ill-fated members of General Powell's crew and their trip thru the Canyon. The scenery was overwhelming, and the story of these fomer army officers kept you interested thru the film. Love the surround sound, and the feeling that you ARE in that boat, and the waves are hitting you. Back to the rim and packing up so we can leave tomorrow. Then we decide to hear a band who's playing at the Bright Angel Bar. They are good. and sometimes very good. We've planned to leave early, but stay till they are done. Ok, late night.     

The sun is just coming up

It's morning and

Kary and John

Back at Hermit's

Gary heading down

Kary coming up

Kary

Bright Angel Trail

Kim & Kary

Nice view

Does 3 make a

This looks like a good ridge

This little squirrel was just

I think I remember this

I found this little

Back at our rooms

The train comes

Here's the comdeian ranger

Kary's waiting for our

Another "wow"

Like this

Nice view

Hopi House

We were out walking the trail