After breakfast we saw a "Wild West Shootout" before boarding the Grand Canyon Railway and beginning our slow climb to the South Rim.
Once at the rim we boarded a coach bus that took us to several wonderful look-out points along the South Rim Trail.
This is my first visit to this amazing National Park. The first visit for Miles and Emery as well. Everyone I've ever talked to about the Grand Canyon typically ends up saying something like "you just can't describe it." And now I finally understand at a personal level. I'm literally awestruck.
Of course, everyone also says "pictures don't do it justice." And now I understand that too. But that won't stop me from posting some of my favorites from today. If for no other reason as pictorial reminders of what I experienced in person.
After our coach bus tour we made our way to the Bright Angel Lodge to check in. I still can hardly believe that - on the day I called last September to inquire about rooms in the lodge - they had just had a cancellation in the historic Buckey O'Neil Cabin. Nine paces from the rim. Really? I booked it without even understanding what I was booking. I could always cancel later, right? Well, I'm sure glad we didn't. Staying in the oldest standing structure original to the rim's modern development (circa 1890) is something I'm sure our family will never forget.
In the photo above you can see how close the cabin is to the rim. The picture below I took 9 steps from the cabin's front door. Wow.
And how much fun that Terri and Allison Williams' trip to AZ for Allison's volleyball tournament this past week has allowed us to share the cabin with them.
Tomorrow ... we take on the Bright Angel Trail, and plan to be up at 5:10 AM for the sunrise.
