Grand Everything

September was a big month for us.

From summer into fall, from vacation into school, from less freedom (for the kids) to more freedom (for me!), turning 12 for the twins, there were more than a few transitions for our family this month.  Mornings of sleeping in, afternoons at the pool, days at the beach and lots of face time with our dad slowly has given way to a strict morning regimen to get the kids out the door and to school on time (Middle School starts at 8:00 a.m.!), busy afternoons of homework, soccer practice, scouts and activities that lead into early evening dinners on the fly.  But it's all good, of course. We had a fun summer and spent time with friends and family, enjoyed our leisure time, and looked forward to the changes that were coming.

Our family also took a trip backwards in time, traveling to a place that echoed of a simpler time. A journey with many reminders of my own childhood to a land where time is marked all over its deep, astounding surface.

Starting at the very beginning...

The first weekend in September is Labor Day weekend, one that usually marks the last hurrah of summer, and this year for us it was no exception. Friday morning we load up the car early (shades of driving to Utah) but this time at the Barstow split we peel off and head east on the 40, instead of continuing on north up 1-15. Four or so hours later we are climbing slowly in elevation, feeling a slightly cooler climate, and noticing more and more trees crowding up the landscape. Mid-afternoon we roll into Williams, Arizona, a small town west of Flagstaff, population 3,000, stop on the old highway Route 66, gateway to the Grand Canyon (and, unfortunate for us, not a Redbox in sight). Within literally minutes of our arrival the rest of our group shows up too; Grandma and Grandpa coming from Salt Lake via St. George, Carol Diane coming from Salt Lake via Las Vegas, Spencer and Sarah coming from Salt Lake via Moab, and Bob and Kim and family coming from Colorado with many stops along the way. The cousins and the adults all happily greet each other, and the Evans Family Reunion '10 is officially underway!

Williams is a fun little town, one main street with some side roads, all containing an overshare of hotels, restaurants, honky tonks and souvenir shops. Definitely a tourist town, but one with a quaint, small town vibe. More than once on our stroll through town did we compare it to Radiator Springs from the movie "Cars" - fitting in a way as well in that it was the last town on Route 66 to ultimately be bypassed by an interstate.

It is also the southern terminus for the Grand Canyon Railway, which, along with most everyone else in town, is why we are really here. Our hotel is the "official" railway hotel, and is practically attached to the depot from where the train departs each day and returns each evening from the south rim of The Grand Canyon.

In the lobby of our hotel - Williams, AZ

Grandma reading up on historic Williams during our downtown stroll

Richardson and Evans cousins 

Starting with a shoot-out on the streets of Williams, we have many encounters

with the Wild West on this trip. Perhaps the "No Firearms Allowed" signs posted
at the entrance to every establishment we come across should have been our first clue.

kids and cowboy after the shoot-out

we are ambushed by one the next morning at breakfast -

I'm pretty sure Henry is asking him if he's ever seen The Diary of A Wimpy kid...

  We are in train heaven here. Steam engines, red cabooses, crossing the tracks every time

we walk from our hotel to downtown. The silver train cars, especially the domed viewing 

seats are reminiscent of the many, many train trips my family took when I was young. 

Spence on the platform at Williams, taking pictures

Saturday morning we are scheduled to depart for the Grand Canyon.

Breakfast is finished and the whistle is blowing!  

All Aboard! 

Our gang of 18 (and 1/2) in our seats, ready for adventure. 

For our safety, there is a U.S. marshal on the train. 

He comes by to warn us to keep our eyes open for train robbers,

and shows us his silver star badge.  He also interrupts our UNO game. 

2 hours later we arrive at the Grand Canyon Railway station, in

the heart of Grand Canyon Village, right on the southern rim of the canyon

We are on a tour package which takes us straight off the train and

right onto a coach bus for a 1 1/2 hour tour along the rim of the 

canyon while our hotel rooms are prepared and our luggage is transferred.

This is a perfect introduction to the canyon - our bus driver/tour guide is

knowledgeable and tells us about the canyon and its surroundings -
and we make several stops at various viewing platforms for photo ops.
At the first stop we are able to see a long stretch of the Colorado river,
which is not visible from the angle back at Grand Canyon village.

During our time here in Grand Canyon village we do some
exploring and find there are many fun things to discover

ice cream from the soda fountain  

Wildlife lacking a healthy fear of humans

Not long after I took this picture of a deer outside
our hotel room a mother elk and her baby wandered past 

But the number one past time is taking pictures of the canyon

The sunset in the canyon is beautiful - looking down at Bright Angel Trail

I have to say that nighttime at the Grand Canyon is every bit as amazing as the daytime.  The Milky Way is a white, milky smear across the sky which my kids (and I) find quite fascinating.  We take a walk to the rim in the near pitch blackness. There is a strong wind blowing up and out of the canyon, it is impressive to hear the roar and to feel the force of it.  Across the canyon there is a small cluster of twinkling lights from the civilization on the north rim.  So close, yet so far away.

The next morning we take a hike down Bright Angel Trail 

Pete and Henry

Make way for the mules!  

Now that's a real cowboy, you can tell by his left shirt pocket.

Earlier in the morning the mules take riders down deep into the canyon.
By mid-morning they are on the way back up, hauling out the trash and recyclables.  

Spencer

Sarah - taking baby on an adventure before she's born!

Our family at the turn around spot on the trail

ice cream after the hike 

But the best thing about being here is spending time with our family.
Richardson kids with Grandma Carol and Grandpa Bob 

Sunday afternoon we board the train back to Williams 

Harriet enjoying a nice quiet ride until - 

A couple of miles outside of town we see this out of our window...

After the train stops to let them aboard, we are robbed by a couple of masked bandits - 

They empty our pockets of loose change,

then pose for a picture. 

(Henry was done with cowboys by this point...)

Back in Williams for one last night before hitting
the road home early the next morning.
Thanks Grandpa, Grandma, and Grand Canyon
for such a wonderful reunion trip!