Day 20 (04 September 2015)

Early morning view of the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

This was once a uranium mine - now being restored to its natural state - along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

Meng and Choon along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

This is the "Battleship Cliff" along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

Rafting down the Colorado River taken from the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

Not a safe picture pose - along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

Morning view of the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

One of the many rapids along the Colorado River -taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona. 

The Colorado River taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

Deep canyon taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

The Colorado River taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona

Zoomed photo of the Colorado River taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona

A raven in flight taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona 

Free water top-up taps at Hermit's Rest - Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona.

At the Grand Canyon South Rim rail depot, Arizona.

This train takes tourists from Williams to the Grand Canyon South Rim and return on a daily basis.

Bertha, basically stayed at our accommodation while we travelled the Grand Canyon South Rim complex by the free shuttle bus. Leaving Yavapai Lodge to take the blue line shuttle to the terminus on the red line. Yes these free shuttle lines engulf klms and klms of South Rim roads. What we did is…. took the South Rim trail along an easterly direction and effectively leaped frogged from one shuttle, walked to the next and took the next shuttle bus to the next stop…and so on. Shuttle buses are serviced on a 10 minutes basis and after finding the end 16 klms away at Hermit’s Rest we returned to the Village Centre for lunch. What we seen was different aspects of the Grand Canyon overlooking to the North Rim and as we said before pictures do not do justice of what we see in our own eyes. We had lunch at the Bright Angel Lodge and walked to the train depot a saw the daily train from Williams to the Grand Canyon. Neil and Anne returned to the accommodation for a rest while Meng and Choon explored the other areas of the South Rim. Dinner at the Yavapai Lodge finished a great day with great walking temperature experienced and we had clear skies to allow great photo takings. Tomorrow we are off to Las Vegas (Sin City) so cheers to all our readers. 

Day 19 (03 September 2015)

View of the Grand Canyon North Rim from Bright Angel Point, Arizona.

A deep canyon where the Little Colorado River flows near Cameron, Arizona.

Navajo Indian art near Cameron, Arizona.

Desert View Tower in the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

View from Desert View in the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona. Along the rim trail.

Meng and Choon in the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona. Along the rim trail.

A walking trail tunnel located in the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona. Along the rim trail.

This road connects the South Rim to the North Rim - a strenuous hike of several days (about 15 miles in length). There are mules that take tourists along this gruelling trail. 

One of many rock exhibits along the Trail of Time - Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

Sunset view in the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona. Along the rim trail.

It ells you all about the Trail of Time - Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona. Along the rim trail.

Finishing the 3 klm Trail of Time - Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

Finishing the 3 klm Trail of Time - Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

Sunset view - Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

We left the Grand Canyon North Rim at 9 am and headed north then east then south and then west to reach the Grand Canyon South Rim. This is a huge busy tourist location, ten times busier than the north rim and 1000 feet lower. However, the expanse of the south rim side, in my opinion, is far more spectacular. On the five hour journey we stopped at the Little Colorado River canyon – a miniature Grand Canyon which feeds into its bigger brother the Colorado River. Lots of Navajo Indian artefacts and jewellery for sale here. Entering the South Rim (east entrance) we stopped at the Desert View Tower, Moran Viewpoint and the Grand View Lookout. Every rim view has its own character at these sites. We checked into our accommodation and took the free shuttle bus to start the Trail of Time 3 klm walk. Each step represents an equal amount of time starting from 1870 million years to today. At certain points there is an actual piece of rock from a time between these eras. That’s how old the Grand Canyon is. We witnessed a sunset over the canyon at 6:50 pm and walked a distance to the Yavapai restaurant near our accommodation. Good old Bertha is not going anywhere tomorrow as we have two nights at the South Rim. We will use the free shuttle buses that will take us to scenic spots along the rim. Until tomorrow cheers.   

Day 18 (02 September 2015)

Sunrise scene from our Monument Valley accommodation, Arizona.

A butte discovered between Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon North Rim, Arizona. Looks like Devil's Tower from Close Encounters?

Can you see the "face" in this rock formation, somewhere  many miles south of Monument Valley, Arizona?

The Page Dam holding back Lake Powell and the Colorado River before entering the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

Looking downstream from the Page Dam, Arizona - the Colorado River.

This is one of our favourite photos - the Horseshoe Bend near Page, Arizona where the Colorado River flows. It is a two klm hike in hot weather to reach this vantage point.

Meng at Horseshoe Bend, Page, Arizona.

Neil and Anne at Horseshoe Bend, Arizona.

Meng and Choon at Horseshoe Bend, Arizona.

The Vermilion Cliff travelling to the Grand Canyon North Rim, Arizona.

The Navajo Bridge near Page, Arizona. The only road bridge crossing the Colorado River for a few hundred miles. 

A zoomed photo of a rubber raft flowing down the Colorado River taken from the Navajo Bridge near Page, Arizona.

Interesting adobe at a town called Cliff Dwellers in Arizona.

Thought this was a skunk but a white tailed squirrel at the Grand Canyon North Rim, Arizona.

View of the canyon at the North Rim, Arizona.

Meng and Choon at the Grand Canyon North Rim, Arizona.

Meng and Choon's "cookout" at the Grand Canyon North Rim, Arizona.

One of the series of three beautiful photos of the Grand Canyon North Rim and sunset,

One of the series of three beautiful photos of the Grand Canyon North Rim and sunset,

One of the series of three beautiful photos of the Grand Canyon North Rim and sunset,

It was an early rise to witness the sunrise over Monument Valley - what an experience! Because of the time difference between Utah and Arizona we had a 25 hour day. We left Monument Valley and headed for Page passing some strange rock formations. The countryside is semi-desert but because of recent rains everywhere is green! We made Page, Arizona where a huge dam holds back Lake Powell and not far downstream is Horseshoe Bend featuring a magnificent view of the Colorado River from 1000 feet above the water. The Colorado River is a distinct green and is in preparation to enter the famous Grand Canyon. Onwards we had a picnic lunch at a place called Navajo Bridge. This bridges spans the Colorado River on the east side of the Grand Canyon, however in the westerly direction the next crossing is the Hoover Dam - many hundreds of miles away. We made The North Rim of the Grand Canyon mid-afternoon and checked several vantage points. Photos do not do justice of this great canyon. We had bought meat, chicken and other delights at Walmart in Page and a good ozzie BBQ was enjoyed on the rim of the Grand Canyon for our dinner. At sunset a view of the canyon topped up a great day. Tomorrow we will drive 220 miles to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Interestingly as the crow flies from the North Rim it is only 12 miles away. Cheers.