Met up at 7.30am and munched some breakfast in the van, heading for the Grand Canyon. Some of the team wanted to do a helicopter ride but there had been BLIZZARDS so the flights weren't running which was a shame. Rhona and I couldn't afford to do it anyway so..didn't effect us but were quite shocked to hear the weather was so rough.

This meant we had a bit of time to kill though so we travelled some of route 66. We drove from Kingman to Hackberry where there wasn't much except for this classsic old, kind of abandoned looking, general store. Covered in route 66 memorabilia inside, badges and maps and signs. It was a pretty cool place. Route 66 was originally a continuous road from Chicago to Santa Monica but now it's been broken into numerous stretches by interstates. We were driving along the longest remaining stretch. Drove further along to Seligman where the scenery changed. Still surrounded by desert land but it was all covered in snow! Casey said he'd never seen it like that before, it was very strange.

Continued on to the Grand Canyon. Snow was pretty bad. Because we had to abort the helicopter ride we went to see a movie about the Grand Canyon in the imax cinema near the Canyon. I've never been in an imax before, pretty dizzying buisness when you're flying about the Canyon. Travelled to the South Rim, snowing a bit and pretty windy. Some points the snow was almost at our knees! Rhona was a bit disappointed as she was looking forward to the intense orange sight she associated with the place. But I thought it was pretty special. The enormity of it is unfathomable, even when you're standing looking right at it. There was a trail to walk to the next viewpoint. Some of the group wimped out because of the weather but Rhona and I trooped on for the experience. The views were brilliant. Walked for about forty minutes before arriving at a lodge with a big log fire and hot chocolate on the go. Superb. Stood and looked over the canyon as the sun was going down, creating pretty sun spots on the rock faces. A band played in the lodge called Silver Shoes. Country style. Very much enjoyed listening to them, the guy whipped out a harmonica. Brilliant. Sat for a bit enjoying them before hoping back in the van about 7pm and heading down to Williams. This is another town on route 66 where we were staying in a motel. Ate in a classic country diner. Mette stole all the jam because she hated her raviolli...revenge. After that episode it was off to bed to recharge for another day of adventure.

Kate x