Today we went to the Grand Canyon. Before we left we decided it was either going to be a bit of a let down or it was going to defy all expectations. The latter feels like an understatement. It was the most amazing place. I actually felt quite overwhelmed when we arrived. It was just so vast and so beautiful. It is really impossible to try to describe.

We had booked to travel to the Grand Canyon by train, as we felt like it would be a welcome break from driving. Our day started early, again, eating breakfast in the hotel before leaving for Williams, 35 miles away, at 7.30. First stop was fuel - we were almost on red after rushing to the hotel yesterday and had no fuel to spare. Typically, we ended up on a wild goose chase looking for a gas station, as they are called over here, going on and off the interstate and using precious fuel. Luckily we found somewhere to fill up and continued on to Williams and the train depot.

We picked up our tickets and had a look around the depot before going to watch the Wild West show at 9am. This was really entertaining - and ended with three cowboys promising to later raid the train to steal money from rich tourists. A quick photo stop (Claire wanted a photo with the cowboys) and we boarded the train. We had opted to sit in the observatory deck and had front row seats, which was awesome. We probably had the best view on the train! We got free snacks on the way to the Grand Canyon - water, soda, pasties, muffins and fruit - and a singer came to entertain us for a while. It takes just over 2 hours to get to the Grand Canyon on the train, at a maximum speed on 40mph, giving us plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. We saw prairie dogs, elks and cows - unfortunately no mountain lions.

We arrived at the Grand Canyon at 11.45, and had just under 4 hours before the train departed again. There are many different trails and free shuttle buses but we had decided to walk east for an hour and a half and then turn and walk back as we had been warned the train waits for no one!

We walked up the steps and over to the canyon edge and just stood and took it all in for a while. It literally took your breath away and I felt quite emotional. We tried to take photos but they just don't do the view justice. We gradually walked round the path, stopping to take photos. I was so nervous of going near the edge at first but Claire was brave and sat on the edge straight away. Gradually I got a bit braver and sat on the edge twice. I also managed to stand on a ledge for a photo but my legs were shaking so much I thought I was going to fall over. Some people were crazy and were climbing down to the ledges. People fall and die there all the time so we were cautious (although Claire did lie down on a ledge for a photo - I went crazy, although admittedly it's a great photo). We stood and watched a Californian Condor, a small eagle, swoop around for a while. If you were a bird the Grand Canyon would be the place to live!

We managed to make it all the way to the visitor centre, our aim, and back again with half an hour to spare so we sat and had something to eat in the sun. I was surprised how peaceful it was up there. At times it was completely silent. I thought it would be super busy and touristy, and at the visitor centres it was, but we avoided these and stuck to the paths in between and it was so tranquil.

The weather was perfect today. Sunny and hot but plenty of clouds to provide some welcome shade. It has been cloudy and raining at the Grand Canyon for about 3 weeks so we picked a perfect day.

We boarded the train back at 3.15 and departed at 3.30. Our carriage on the way home was much more lively. We had crackers and cheese on arrival, and crudités and hummus. We were just getting sleepy when the entertainment started - firstly a highly entertaining singer and then we had complimentary champagne. After that, the cowboys from the wildwest show rode up alongside the train on their horses, held it up and entered, taking money and candy from guests. Finally, the sherif arrived to arrest them. All highly entertaining and after the glass of champagne and a day in the sun I wondered if I had started hallucinating.

Finally, we were back in Williams. We headed to Doc Holliday's steakhouse for dinner and then back to our hotel in time for a spectacular sunset. We just sat by the fire pit for a while (during which time the fire alarm went off) and now we're back in our room, coated in aftersun and watching The Hunger Games on our new favourite TV channel - ABC family. All in all an amazing day!

Day: 11

Total miles driven: 2280

States crossed: 6.5

Licence plates checked: 40

Road kill: 1