Plane, car, boat, train and lots of walking

We decided to try our first post-semi-retirement vacation which took us to Las Vegas, then by car to the Grand Canyon, from there through Flagstaff and Sedona to a little mountaintop mining town (hippie enclave, artists community) called Jerome where the former residents of the 100 year old plus Grand Hotel where crazy and the restaurant is called the Asylum. Then to the ode to cowboy culture town, Wickenberg, and finally to Coronado Island, San Diego where we caught a cruise ship to Vancouver, B.C. and returned by Amtrak train. That pretty much covers all of the modes of transportation -- Oh yes, we took an overhead tram, taxis, buses too.

The mission was for me to see the Grand Canyon -- my first time. We missed Kelly, who was guiding on the river, by barely a week. We hiked the rim, trekked to a lookout deep in the Canyon, had a wonderful dinner at the grand old inn on the rim where we had one of three tables that were situated to witness the color changes in the canyon as the sun set. When dinner was over, we walked along the rim under a full moon that lit up the canyon and cast moon shadows as if it were the sun. We were the only ones walking that trail, that night and it was really a mystical experience. We also flew in a helicopter through the canyon one morning and that too was spectacular. We spent four days at the canyon before heading south through Arizona. We planned (okay, I planned) to do a little rock hounding, but a book that showed the prime areas also reviewed the poisonous spiders (tarantulas, black widows), poisonous snakes (suffice it to say -- lots), poisonous lizards -- well, I was happy to purchase my "finds" in Quartzite, otherwise known as snowbird novice-gemologists heaven, where I purchased some beautiful stones.

We purchased a newly-crafted flute from a native Indian who walked into a shop when we were in Flagstaff. I guess I'll have to learn to play the flute to accompany Tom's almost finished guitar.

Jerome was our next stop. Besides have a commanding view of the valley all the way to Sedona from our balcony, we had delicious food at the Asylum and the Haunted Hamburger, plus we had the promise of ghostly spirits visiting us. A ghost hunt was scheduled for the following night. We opted to continue our journey.

Next most interesting sites -- Yuma, a booming agricultural oasis in the desert, the sand dunes on Hwy 8 to San Diego, the numerous custom agent check posts along the way (did anyone say "police state"), the desert mountains before San Diego, the blooming cacti, the huge red boulders -- an amazing landscape.

The cruise was unlike anything I've ever experienced. It's impossible to be bored as there are so many activities, so many things to do. And you certainly can't go hungry as all food is free and its everywhere, 24/7. If you want freshly baked chocolate chip cookies brought to your room at midnight - you've got it! We had a room with a large balcony and great weather. Movies, shows, dancing every night. It was a Washington Wine cruise, so Salumi's Armadino and Chateau Ste. Michelle's John Sarich were there cooking food, matching wines.... We had a wonderful time.

Finally, we pulled into to Vancouver, B.C. early morning. Vancouver is so beautiful, especially viewed from the water. What a spectacular city. We spent the day in B.C. before boarding the Amtrak at 6:00 p.m. for the ride home, exhausted but happy.