Happy New Year 2012!

May this year be safe, happy and healthy! Here's to 2012!

{ Oatman at Last }

Our friends visited Oatman a couple of years ago, and it's always been on my to do list. Well, we finally did it, and we are going through there whenever we go down I40 from now on. It added maybe 30 minutes of drive time to our trip, but was so much fun that it was worth it.

We stopped on our way home from the Grand Canyon. As soon as we set foot into town, a nice local woman was handing out carrots to the kids to feed the wild burros. Note to self, always bring carrots, don't feed the babies, though. It was fun until DD was cornered and got nervous. We also managed to get DS a cap gun, finally, as the south rim does not carry such items. He was in seventh heaven and the inevitable shoot-out ensued. My former self would have been revolted at this, but now I'm resigned to the fact that kids love to play wild west. This was a great stop and I recommend it to anyone who loves a quirky little side trip when on a road trip!

This also reminded me of stories my mother, aunt and uncles told me about growing up in Superior. There were wild burros then, and they would try to jump on and ride them. I don't believe they ever succeeded, but I'm not quite sure about that. And if they did, would they admit it?

{ The Grand Canyon Tour of 2011 }

We went on a little jaunt over to the Grand Canyon before Christmas this year. The first stop was Seligman.

After Seligman, we only had a couple of more hours driving to our first glimpse of the Grand Canyon.

We looked in the Kolb studio, and later had a tour of the house beneath the gift shop. { Sorry, but the new uploader and google reader formats are making it impossible for me to put these photos in the correct order :-( } This is one of the photos taken by the Kolb brothers back at the turn of the 20th century.

The second day, we drove out to Hermits rest, enjoying the many view points on the way. Here's a picture of El Tovar hotel on the south rim.

Ok, I guess we are jumping back to the village, here's the inside of Hopi House, which was designed by Mary Colter who designed many of the buildings on the south rim including Bright Angel Lodge.

Next up, El Tovar, not designed by Mary Colter, but impressive nonetheless.

Back to Hopi House. This was a cute display of Native-American nativites for sale.

I always think this little guy is very cute.

Now, back to the Hermit's rest loop. So confusing, I know! This is Powell Point.

In the Hermit's rest gift shop, also designed by Mary Colter, there is a beautiful fireplace niche where cold travellers can sit and warm up, and where we enjoyed hot cocoa and coffee. This Christmas tree was decorated in a raven theme. You can barely make out the raven on the top of the tree.

On the patio at Hermit's rest.

As we drove back to the village from Hermit's rest, we watched it storming and snowing on the north rim.

At no time were my children in peril during the taking of these photographs. The were well in from the rim. Thank you for your concern.

We stopped at the main visitor center and watched a wonderful 20 minute film, Grand Canyon a Journey of Wonder, and then over to the big gift shop searching for a cap gun for DS since he lost the one he got at the north rim over the summer. I got very excited when DS and I were looking out the windows and saw that it was snowing! It was short lived, and the next day was very clear and cold. I was really hoping for the snow as the low temperatures wouldn't have been so low!

El Tovar in the late afternoon.

The third morning, we were heading out and saw these mule deer in the mule pen. No, you are not mules! Boy, but they're smart. New this year we saw signs all over the place reminding us that it's illegal to feed or approach the wildlife. Lol!

We headed next to the Desert Watchtower, also designed by Mary Colter. I love this place, but it was very cold. We warmed up by the fire before going up into the tower.

We then headed back to the village, making one stop at the Tusiyan museum, to eat lunch at El Tovar. It was very enjoyable, and the dining room was beautiful. I tried the lamb soup, yum, and Navajo taco which was pretty good, too.

The El Tovar Christmas tree is real and huge.

From the lookout patio near the Kolb studio.

This is the tour of the Kolb studio. I frankly could have done with less criticism of the Kolb brothers, they were entrepreneurs and trying to make a living. They were early pioneers of the Grand Canyon south rim,they have their place in history. This table is apparently the only original from the Kolb brothers' house. Or not. The ranger wasn't really sure.

Here's the view from the window in the work room. A great spot for taking photos of people going down the Bright Angel Trail, and also fun to watch this guy in his pajamas sliding down the icy path.

After the NPS inherited the Kolb studio, they strapped the back of the house to the rock behind it to keep it from sliding down the cliffside.

The kids got their Junior Ranger badges in Vercamp's visitor center.

Ok, imagine this shot in the early morning with the tree full of frost and sparkling white in the sun while the rest was in full shade. It was an amazing sight, I'm sorry I didn't get to photograph it.

The third evening, we went out to watch the sunset. Unfortunately, there was not a cloud in the sky which did not make for the most dramatic sunset, but we did get a family photo.

We drove all the way out to Hermit's rest again and were rewarded by a small herd of elk grazing by the trailhead at dusk.

This photo belongs at the beginning in Seligman. I give up!