Wow, That's Amazing.....I'm Hungry!

We left the Pheonix with a sigh of relief and found a little desert campsite to spend the night before Francesca's 7th birthday. The flowers there, and elsewhere in Arizona, are in full bloom now.

After early morning present opening ceremonies, we drove to Sedona and found a campsite in Oak Creek Canyon, where there were still pockets of snow.  The highlight of the day was a specially imported Mexican pinata, which was duly bashed to pieces until the sweets fell out, and then ceremoniously burned on the campfire.

After a resupply stop in Flagstaff, we made our way up to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where we have spent the last few days.  The weather has been marvellous and we have spent a lot of time gawping at the views.  Francesca was particularly taken by one Park Ranger's explanation of a typical visitor's reaction "Wow, that's amazing....I'm hungry" - which has now become a household catchphrase! 

We would have loved to take the girls down to the bottom, but the lodge on the river was full, and it was a little too far for one day. Instead, we settled for a shorter walk down the Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge. As we turned for home and wondered how to persuade the girls to climb back up, we met a mule train also heading for the rim.  Both girls took up the challenge to 'beat it to the top' but Liberty's little legs eventually gave up, whilst Francesca, never one to be beaten, gave Ellen a good run for her money to emerge at the top just before the pack train.

Since the girls wouldn't manage a trip down the Bright Angel Trail, and the bottom of the canyon is such an obvious destination, Tony, who was champing at the bit, hiked down and back alone the next day.

We are now in Page, AZ planning a visit to the Vermillion Cliffs and Grand Escalante on the way to Zion National Park over the next week.