August 29

Got a bit more time with the Grand Canyon Tour today making our way all the way back to Phoenix, Arizona. Spent a bit of time talking about how to find books and stories about Grand Canyon history. I recommend Grand Canyon Association, combined with Facebook for stories.

August 27th - Grand Canyon - Wildlife Day

Today we saw more wildlife than a dozen other tours combined. Cliff Harris of New Hampshire started off the day by spotting three bears in the woods between Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff, Arizona. He has the well honed skills of an Eagle Scout.

We were driving by at 55 mph...  so we didn't get a picture, thus I stole a similar image of bears off of a Google search.

Tarantula in Village of Oak Creek

After a helicopter ride and lunch at El Tovar Hotel, Daniel Ramp took one of the best cell phone shots of a California Condor I've ever seen. (picture at top)

After lunch we spotted full grown elk near the grocery store and two more bull elk along east rim drive. While turning around to get great pictures, we spotted a rattlesnake who had a bad day crossing the road.

Clifford Harris by Bright Angel Trail
more photos by Cliff shown below...

After dropping everyone off at their hotels, I spotted a tarantula crawling by the Ridge Golf Resort.

Full Day of Critters & Beasts

Mule Deer at Grand Canyon East Rim Drive

Mule Deer with moss still on antlers

Bull Elk at Grand Canyon

Aug. 25 - Monsoon Rains in Colorado River

Recent Monsoon rains throughout the area have caused many of the small creeks which empty into the Colorado River to become swollen and muddy. In the video you can see the color of the Colorado River being changed to brown where the Paria River empties into it at Lee's Ferry, where the Grand Canyon begins.

On our way home, we also stopped to inspect the balanced rocks in the Marble Canyon area of Northern Arizona. We had seven guests with us Saturday on the "Smooth Water Float Trip" from Page Arizona, three of the guests spent time at Antelope Canyon.

April 23 - Clouds & Rainbows

Full Day Grand Canyon Tour

Journey to visit Xaviera at John Ford Point

 The Journey from Flagstaff to Monument Valley today took us through numerous thunderstorms, yet we arrived to great weather and amazing views. We even enjoyed a picnic lunch overlooking the valley's spectacular scenery.

It's a winding rough road, taking us to John Ford's Point where Xaviera awaits everyday... with her trusty horse, "Pistol," and a wide selection of handmade Navajo jewelry.

Our guests with Redstone Tours were three teachers from Spain, and a couple from England. The Englishman was a retired coal miner and a life-long "biker-dude." It seems John Wayne movies and stories of cowboys and Indians are just as strong in England as they are in America.

On the return trip we spotted the Navajo Nation coal train running  empty from the Navajo Generating Station in Page, Arizona back to Black Mountain for a reload. They gave us a toot of their horn as we passed along the highway... a fitting salute for our English coal miner.

During the day, we shared lots of stories of the area, including tales of the Navajo Code Talkers, and saw photos of their involvement in WWII at the museum in the View Hotel at Monument Valley.

Black Mesa Coal Train.

Colorado River Runner Trip August 18

One Day Whitewater Rafting trip

with the Hualapai Indians is always a great ride. The only downside of today's events was the first big wave washed up over the boat and took the prescription glasses and hat from our passenger from Minnesota.

It was a great adventure, finished off with a dinner stop at the Roadkill Cafe on Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona. Our guests dined on half racks of raccoon ribs, chicken which didn't quite cross, along with road pizza. Fun day starting from Sedona, AZ at 5 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m.

Bambi's Dad

Bambi's Dad came to visit the bus today on our Grand Canyon Tour while all the guests were in the new Visitor's Center at the Grand Canyon. It was a full-day tour including volcanoes, Indian Ruins, lunch with the Navajos, and numerous stops along the South Rim of Grand Canyon.

Special Stop on the way to Monument Valley

On the way to Monument Valley today with 5 guests, we took a short detour to view Coal Mine Canyon near Tuba City, Arizona. The site where we stopped is the place where Ty Pennington built a home for Lori Piestewa in Extreme Home Makeover... a promise to take care of each other's families made by Jessica Lynch; Iraq war survivor.

The views were spectacular, and the memories heartbreaking.

Show on Google Maps

Two young girls from Italy (both named Laura) joined us on this tour from Flagstaff, Arizona to Monument Valley. The just sent their photos for us to share on the site.

August 11th Phoenix to Grand Canyon

We crammed a lot into this trip. It takes so long to complete, it takes two different drivers.

• Phoenix to Sedona

• Sedona to Navajo Nation

• then off to Grand Canyon
including several overlooks and a 30 minute helicopter ride for our geology/biology teacher from Portugal (pictured at left) which was delayed by a lightning storm, giving the rest of us a bit more extended time at the Grand Canyon.

This was quite an international group, representing Portugal, Pakistan, India, Canada, along with an Phillipino-American family.

Pictured here you'll see us all gathered at the top of Oak Creek Canyon above Sedona and I've attached a very short video of the Elk we spotted while at the exit of Grand Canyon. Upon returning to Phoenix a couple hours after sunset, it was still 108 degrees... hot enough to feel the heat radiating through the bus glass. It was nice to have spent the day at a higher elevation, enjoying an 80 degree afternoon with light showers.

August 9 - Monument Valley

Very Full Day Tour 

Started early and ended late today. Lots of things to see and shop for on this tour from Sedona, Arizona to Monument Valley. At our stop next to John Ford's Point in Monument Valley, Xaviera completed everyone's shopping list after enduging a small dust devil.

Lots of photos today of dogs and sheep and goats and cows and horses, etc...  Sharon and Tom Huttemann made the day a lot of fun.

The view from the deck at Goulding's Lodge was spectacular today, watching approaching storms from several directions punctuated by lots of lightning strikes to watch while we enjoyed Navajo Tacos.

Paula (Cam Tran from the San Francisco area) kept us giggling all day as we renamed her since the trip was booked in her husband's name (Paul) and we spent the whole day trying to figure out whether to call her Paula, or Pauline.

The day turned into a game of names when everyone realized I was not capable of pronouncing our Japanese guest's first, or last name. Good luck to her... after a 14 hour Monument Valley Tour, she woke up this morning and has to fly to Phoenix for a flight to Tampa, Florida - followed by a flight to Japan.

Wow

"The Duke" would have said, 

"That's quite a long ride little lady."

The Binnion Family

Today we rode Grand Canyon Railway to the Park. The Binnion family are mostly from Pennsylvania, and joined in Sedona, Arizona for whole series of outdoor events this week. 

Fun group, and great family... 

At left Rob "fake" falls into the Canyon. Pictured right, Patricia and Poppa just finished a relaxing first class ride on the "Vista Car" from Williams to the Village... a nostalgic train journey for a big train enthusiast like Poppa Binnion.