Grand Canyon National Park

We said good bye to our family and headed North through Flagstaff, Arizona en route to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We had a chance to get settled in our campground and ride a shuttle bus to the Visitor center and took a walk along the Rim Trail from Mather Point to the Yavapai Geology Center.

At 277 miles long, 10 miles wide and a mile deep it was astounding! The kids were all speechless and awestruck at it's immensity and beauty. The Canyon had  received 6 inches of snow a few days before and that white covering seemed to enhance the beauty of the red layers of rock.

Day two- we had a change in weather, it was cool and blustery. Will and Caroline went to a ranger talk on early peoples of the canyon at the Mather Amphitheater. Ranger Elyssa shared with us how to make the stick  figure that they have found throughout the caves in the canyon.

Ranger Elyssa.

Then we had a chance to visit the old part of the Historic Grand Canyon Village. The Hopi House, El Tovar, and Bright Angel Lodge haven't lost any of their charm. The Grand Canyon train still carries passengers to the station.

Peter completing his Jr. Ranger work.

Historic Hopi House.

Day three -we decided to hike down in the Grand Canyon partway on the South Kaibab Trail. The tops of the trails had been so icy because of the previous snow. It was truly nerve wracking traveling down the narrow trail with a 300ft. cliff next to you.

South Kaibab Trail!

A view from the Ooh Aah Point.

When Mom wasn't looking!

Visit from home!!! March 17-23

We picked up Grammy/Mary and Grampy/Bill at the Phoenix Airport on March 17. Picking them up at the airport with the View was a little scary, but we made the grab and headed to Scottsdale. It was a real treat to see them after three months on the road and we kept busy for the next week!

Our first day of the visit we spent for a lovely picnic with old Topsfield friends, Barbara who was visiting Marilyn at her home in Fountain Hills. The park there was beautiful and we enjoyed their company and the fountain that reaches 330 ft high!!


We had a chance to visit Buckeye for the Hellsapoppin'  Parade and Rodeo! It was a fantastic day and so exciting to watch! The enthusiasm of the spectators and participants made it feel like the wild, wild west.

The parade riders.

The biggest tractor we'd ever seen!

We keep running into these camels.

The happy spectators.

Oh, to be a rodeo queen!

The guys rescuing the cowboy from the bronc!

The gals were fantastic in the barrel racing.

The bull riding was amazing.

The next day we visited the old mining town of Jerome, Az. It was charming and has created an artistic niche on the side of the mountain.

A visit to the ruins of the ancient peoples at Tuzigoot . It is a National Historic Monument.

Mary and Bill take in the ruins.

The maze of rooms that made up part of the ruins.

We headed North from Tuzigoot to the picturesque town of Sedona for lunch and a visit to the fantastic red rock areas.

Sedona.

We visited closer to Scottsdale at the Mt. McDowell Regional Park with Topsfield friends Lynn and Al.

We were so lucky to spot a desert tortoise.

Our final day was a visit to Scottsdale's Greasewood Flats for horseshoes and burgers!!

Relaxing by the hotel pool.

Spring in the desert!

Riding on the Range in Catalina, Az

Caroline and Sampson.

No trip to the West would be complete without a trail ride into the desert! We enjoyed the views on the edge of the Catalina State Park on our trusty mounts. There was some grumbling about the lack of cowboy hats, but considering our ability, the crash helmets were the best choice.

William on Preston

The whole unruly lot of us.

Picacho Peak State Park, Casa Grande, Az.

The good guys.

We headed from Benson to the Picaso Peak State Park, North of Tucson. They were re-enacting some Civil War Battles in the park that had occurred in Arizona, the Western front, between the Texans and the Federal soldiers. They had a large crowd there for viewing. We coordinated with Steve, Mimi and their boys from Rye, NH. to stay in the campground and see the battles.

The Cavalry!

The next day we decided to visit the Casa Grande National Monument. These ruins are fascinating creation of the Hohokam people that lived in the Arizona desert over 1,000 years ago. These people farmed along the Gila river building an extensive series of irrigation canals. The structure that remains is over four stories high and 60 feet long. The Hohokam people were living in Arizona well before 1100 AD., the Casa Grande was believed to have been completed in 1350 AD.

The Casa Grande had windows built to view the sun during the solstices.

The kids became Jr. Rangers again!

This large structure was part of a huge community of individual dwellings that surrounded the area.

Sagauro National Park, Tucson, Arizona

We coordinated with Aline, Eddy, Cindy and Jenny to visit the Sagauro National Park on the East side of Tucson, Az. The sun was out and skies were clear. It was a perfect day to visit the "Sentinel of the desert" the grand saguaro cactus! We lucked out since it also happened to be Fiesta Day at the park. There were musicians, craftsman, performers, food, and a pinata for the kids.

The Sonoran Desert.

We stopped at the Visitor Center before heading out on the 8 mile drive in the Sonoran Desert. We stopped for a hike along the way with a chance to visit the cactus up close and a picnic at the Javelina Lunch area.

The View takes on the desert.

This cactus is about 150 years old!

Picnic in the park.

Swiss/US Jr. Park Rangers once again!

These young performers were amazing!

Caroline lines up for a hit.

Cindy proved to be the real slugger- later in the newspaper!

Spoils for the participants.