Grand Canyon to Las Vegas

Monday October 15

Waking up and with a quick breakfast we were on the bus leaving the Grand Canyon behind us.

Round everyone up and let's hit the road!

Leaving the wooded country behind.

After leaving the wooded area around the canyon it was then out onto the more open country headed for Williams about an hours drive from Grand Canyon. Here was a block of old Route 66 memorabilia and more trains. This time the town also had a Grand Canyon steam train. It was in Williams that panic set in because boarding the bus but where was the little guy!! Ted had decided to stay longer talking to Elvis and forgot what time to get back to the bus. Luckily he did what he had been taught and when lost to stay in the one place. There was a happy ending when the bus drove around the block and picked him up.

First Stop! Williams Arizona

Ted with Smokey the Bear.

Ted with Elvis and where he was nearly left.

 

On the road again and the country changing again

The countryside becoming drier.

About half an hour out of Williams we turned off of the highway and travelled true Route 66 visiting Seligman. The main street lined with buildings smothered with Route 66 signs and more memorabilia. The street was lined with other tourist buses and a pity that not all drivers were considerate as ours. Dennis our driver had parked at the end of the street allowing everyone the opportunity to walk the street and to pick us up at the end.

Another stop at Seligman

The whole main street of Seligman is Route 66!

Graham and Shirley looking for a bargin.

Lloyd and Ted with Friends

More of Seligman

Leaving Seligman and the country becoming drier and vegetation lower.

The desert plains reach to the mountains.

Moving on it was a lunch stop at Kingman before pressing on to Las Vegas.

All of the sudden we started to climb and the landscape changing once again.

More rocky outcrops and a change at every bend.

Temperatures are wamer and the vegetation getting less!

However first we were to stop to view the Colorado River before driving past Hoover Dam. Years ago you could drive across the dam but these days for security reasons a new highway by-passes this massive structure. There were also glances of Lake Mead, the man made volume of water created by the dam.

Is that the Colorado River?

Getting closer to Hoover Dam.

Hoover Dam

Lake Mead

It was not too long before we were passing through Boulder City. This was a company city created while the Hoover Dam was being built where there wasn’t allowed any drinking or gambling. Even today it is the only place in Nevada where gambling does not take place.

Boulder City... once a non drinking town company town and still with no gambling.

It was not too long after leaving Boulder City that we were on the outer limits of Las Vegas. Before getting off of the bus we did a bit of a drive down the Strip passing the Graceland Chapel and the pawn shop made famous by TV. It was incredible the number of people lined up outside waiting to go inside.

After checking into Harrah’s, which is centrally located on the Strip, next door to the Flamingo and across the road from The Mirage and Treasure Island? Arriving in the late afternoon after a day of travelling the crowds, noise and action was a little over powering. We managed to venture from Harrah’s following our bus driver to find somewhere to eat. Many of the Casino’s have several entrances and it could have been very easy to become disoriented until becoming familiar with finding your way around. Especially with everywhere having “slot” machines and all looking the same.

After grabbing a bit to eat it was a matter of getting changed for our “wedding” at Graceland Chapel.

Anne and Jeff made their way to the chapel and were waiting for the rest of us when we arrived by the limo which had picked us up. With the formality of photos out of the way Elvis arrived and commenced with the ceremony. The whole experience was a hoot and the photographer setting a fun scene prior to the Elvis arriving.

Getting ready to go to the Graceland Chapel - Judy, Lloyd, Glen and Teri

A limo ride to the chapel.

Our wedding guests - Anne, Jeff, Ted, Shirley and Graham

With the formalities out of the way we all made our way back to Harrah’s where we found a bar and had celebration drinks. There was even an opportunity to get in a bit of dancing and boot scooting.  It was bit of a late night but at least there was no pressure to get up early next morning as there are two nights in Las Vegas.