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There has been so much to do - sights to see and otherwise no wifi - so I I sometimes don't have time to write the blog.
For our last few days is Sedona we had wonderful sunny blue skies with early morning views of Balloon rides going over our resort ...Sedona really is a lovely town , and some great restaurants including The Cowboy Club where went twice and tried rattlesnake, fried cactus as well as buffalo meat loaf, buffalo pot roast and steak...and the pork ribs were to die for. ..they also did pretty good cocktails - I blame the girls for introducing me to Dark and Stormy!! We had booked up 2 tours before we set off for the Grand Canyon trip - so one day it was 2 hours in a Safari Jeep being bumped around on UNPAVED roads up into the hills around Sedona - with great views - which we enjoyed very much...I am sure that all that bumping and jerking does wonders for your spine - saves having to go to a chiropractor!!
Next day was Tracie's suggestion -a 4 hour train ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad ...and boy did we
enjoy that - NO DRIVING and we went first class ( for a few dollars more it was well worth it) - these carriages were equipped with lounge furniture - sofas, coffee tables - there was a bar and we were served champagne when we got on and then part way on the trip we had a light buffet..and icecreams. Fabulous scenery - this railroad was originally built because of mining - and what a way to travel. There was an open caboose we could step out into and a wildlife rescue centre had visiting bald eagle on the train - so you could see it up real close.
So our time there in Sedona was over and we had our longest drive ahead - back in the direction of Ls Vegas and beyond. There had always been a question of how we would get to Yosemite as the road across the high Sierra Mountians is closed in winter - we kept checking and were very lucky as it was planned to be open Saturday 11th May and we would be going over the Tioga Pass on the 13th. So plan A was on. We drove about 400 miles
that day - Suz and I taking 100 mile stints - we avoided the main highway again and took Route 66 for part of the way ....we stopped agn at the Info Centre at KIngamn and spoke to the VERY HELPFUL lady there who gave us a Nevada map and told to stay on Highway 95 all the way. So I got the drive through Las Vegas - about 5 lanes of traffic and everyone driving like maniacs.....but good old Billybob just stuck in the middle lane and plodded along and in the end we were through and on the North of LV..... desert and desert and desert - long lomg straight roads ( fortunately we had filled up just as we were leaving LV - cos after that there was no signs of life for quite a long way )- we were driving most of this stretch just to the north of Death Valley and to a place in the middle of nowhere - Beatty - pluked at random from the map cos there was an RV park. So there we were in an RV park at the side of the highway in the desert with a very starry
sky above us....eating our delicious corn on the cob and bbq pork chops. Bedtime has been quite early for us but then we were up with the larks again...and on the road. And again this wonderful lady at Kingman Tourist Info had given us a wonderful route to follow as we drove the second day through the foothills and forests and up in to HIgh Sierras ( we were getting up to 10000 ft.) to arrive at our destination Yosemite National Park.
to be continued...
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Sunny skies
The train looks like fun...and no driving.