Second Day At The Grand Canyon

3 October 2014

Weather: Sunny and 22C

It was an early morning for us again as we had to be at the Yavapai Lodge Office by 6:50am for a 7:00am departure.  I had prebooked a train trip for us and we were the only people that day going on the train from the Grand Canyon.  Everyone else was staying in Williams and doing a day trip to the Grand Canyon.  The Railway Express Tour and be booked via this link www.grandcanyonlodges.com/things-to-do/motorcoach-railway-tours .  We were driven to Williams Train Station were our driver collected our tickets for the train.  We had a buffet breakfast at the restaurant next door - The Depot Cafe within the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel.  After enjoying our large breakfast we went to watch the cowboy shot out behind the station before boarding the train back to the Grand Canyon.  We had an amusing carriage guide who told jokes and told us everything we needed to know.  One interesting fact was that the train trip helps to offer employment for the town’s 400 residents.  So it is great to see a rural community kept alive by this tourist attraction.  We had a violinist entertain us followed by getting our photos taken.  We looked for wildlife out the windows and saw pronghorn, horses, cattle and a set used in winter as the "North Pole" for the Polar Express.  The holdup of the train occurs in the afternoon on the return trip so if you want that, stay in Williams and do the return train trip.  

Set for the Cowboy Shot Out - Williams, Arizona

Railway Express Tour from Williams to the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Train Depot

Once the train arrived at the Grand Canyon Depot we caught the free shuttle bus to Yaki Point to arrive just in time for the Ranger Program about Raptors.  For Ranger led activities checkout the National Parks Website www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/ranger-program.htm  .  This talk was very informative and you learn the difference between a raptor and birds of prey, as well as the difference between a Turkey Vulture and a Californian Condor.  Attend the talk to learn these things and to look for raptors.

Once the talk finished we bused it to Yavapai Geology Museum to attend the Ranger led talk about the geology of the Grand Canyon, explained as DUDE but I don't won’t to give it away as these talks are informative and worth attending.  After the second talk of the day we looked through the museum and walked to Mather Point.

Grand Canyon from Mather Point

Justin at Mather Point

Me at Mather Point

From there we continued onto the Trail of Time detouring through the forest to the McKee Amphitheatre.  While sitting quietly on the seats at the Amphitheatre we heard a Woodpecker and so went in search to find in it the surrounding trees.  When we walked along the foot path back to our room a Blue Jay flew straight pass us. 

Can you see the Woodpecker in the tree?

McKee Amphitheatre

We had some time to get ready for our night activities - Sunset at Hopi Point and dinner at the El Tovar Dining Room.

Sunset are Hopi Point

Sunset are Hopi Point

Sunset are Hopi Point

For dinner I had a Stuffed Portobello Mushroom and Justin had the New York Strip Steak. For dessert we shared a nice Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake.  After a delicious meal we caught the free shuttle bus back to Yavapai Lodge to call it a night.

New York Strip Steak

Stuffed Portobello Mushroom