After our hike we got back to the hotel at 2:45pm and had just enough time to catch our breath before meeting up with everyone at 3:00pm. We then drove 1/2 mile over to the Grand Canyon Airport for a flight over and around the Grand Canyon in a Cessna Caravan single engine plane. This was another idea of Mom's, and it was a great one - definitely a highlight of the trip! She made the arrangements that morning before we split off for our hike.
We arrived at the airport, checked in for our flight with Grand Canyon Airlines, paid, and had a short wait before our pilot came to walk us out onto the tarmac. We put on our headphones, had a quick safety lecture, then we were off. Music and narration was piped in over the headphones, and the pilot periodically cut in with his own observations.
Shirley and Walt in the airport terminal
All aboard
The view from my seat, complete with propeller through the windshield
Todd was a little trepidatious about the small plane - he was on high alert as we rolled down the runway
And we're up
Looking out after takeoff. The area around the Grand Canyon is forested - the North Rim more so.
Leaving the plateau
A look back
The Colorado River...
...which is barely if at all visible from the South Rim
The canyon is 277 miles long and a mile deep (slightly over a mile actually)
Reaching another plateau
The Little Colorado River. This tributary's milky/turquoise color is due to the dissolved minerals it carries.
The North Rim. At a higher elevation than the South it is much more green. It's only open to the public for the summer season due to heavy snows in the winter season. Fun fact: according to the NPS, only 10% of visitors to the Grand Canyon tour the North Rim.
Canyon in blue...
...with river
Coming in for a landing
Our motley crew with the pilot
Airport sky
Tusayan rain
We were hungry after our excellent aerial tour so we decided to cross the street and go to Canyon Star, the steakhouse at The Grand hotel. It was 5:10pm and we arrived to find that they don't open for dinner until 6. Strike 2 for steak, as we weren't waiting that long. Instead we walked back across the street and went to Plaza Bonita again (which was totally worth it). I had Enchiladas de Mole, guacamole and another flan with Monte Cristo coffee. Too good!
We had a different server this time (Daniel, who was great), but Eliana stopped by our table to say hello and chat for a bit. When we told her we planned to go to Sedona the following day she said she had recently been and if we liked she'd be happy to forward an email with information about tours, restaurants, shops, etc. that someone had put together for her. Todd gave her his email address and sure enough, later back at the hotel he received an extensive list of all things Sedona with descriptions, prices, hours and tips. It was fantastic - thank you Eliana!
Todd's tired but happy
So there you have it. Sedona is next up on the agenda. See you soon.
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