Day 7 Grand Canyon to Hoover dam and Vegas
Wednesday Morning found us at the Best western in Grand Canyon City?, AZ.
I’d seen the grand canyon 10 years before and although its still impressive I knew this trip once again won’t afford me the opportunity to see the canyon from the bottom nor hike the walls or see the waterfall. Still we couldn’t help feel excited at the thoughts that Rachel hadn’t seen the canyon before and her excitement helped excite me. Free breakfast in our bellies we loaded up the bike. Snapped a few photos of the hotel statue in the front awning.
Pictures were taken with a kind couple traveling such as we were and Rachel and made our way north. Sadly we didn’t have passes so we had to wait in a forever line to get into the canyon. (26 dollars later for a 7 day pass (wish I had seven days to see this place) we drove on.Parked at the first parking lot by the lower lip and made our way to the canyon’s edge. Walking around at the canyon with riding boots and riding pants again wasn’t too out of the ordinary. A few harley’s and bmw touring bikes and goldwings we felt in good company.
We visited the canyon and were lucky enough to meet up a squirrel that was rather domiscated. He literally captured Rachel’s attention and the canyon in the background was all but a blurr to her animal encounter. (Funny how she could have stayed home and played with local squirrels but again this seemed to make her sore legs and tired body all but forget we still had hours left to travel and miles to go).
I spotted a good spot to take photos of the bike in the foreground with the canyon behind and we started off again. Canyon was pretty, but must take on a whole new feel once you’ve ventured into from the lip to the valley below. Pictures of the bike seemed to come out well enough. We ran into the couple whom took our picture at the hotel and were lucky enough to have another photo of both of us at the canyon.
We settled on lunch at the local cafeteria. It was tolerable, a bit pricey and dull but did its job to keep us going. A long visit to the souvenir stand and we took back to the road. Driving out of the grand canyon was sad but required to keep on schedule. Highlight of lunch was the ranger whom stopped to examine the bike. I sent Rachel out to see what the problem might be. Again part of the reason I bought this bike was for the color scheme of the 25th anniversary Red White and Blue colors. They apparently caught the rangers eye too because he dad had owned an 83 and it remembered the colors well and wanted to take a few cell phone pictures to share. Funny how the bike that started it all for me was a family friends interceptor and now 25 years later I own one. (I was 4 in 83)
About 40 miles south of grand canyon a few minutes before catching up the I-40 we noticed a sign for “Bearizona”- a drive though wildlife park. And off course bears. (Rachel had wanted to see a bear since the trip began). Almost missing the second sing we ventured past the highway and found the entrance. I was half expecting them to laugh us off arriving on the bike but was awestruck when they offered us their car to use for the driving. (It Felt a little outta place in a car after the last 6 days traveling on bike). However the car proved rather important since the exhibit displayed bears, wolves, donkeys and bison and goats. And yes you literally have to drive around the donkeys on the road, are warned to move along if the bears come at the car and are face to face with bisons. We stopped at the walk through area and caught a few more pictures of the bears. (bearizona was actually amazing and I’d recommend this detour to anybody visiting the canyon with kids or girlfriends whom adore animals)
Sad to be rushed again to leave bearizona and all but frightened of the sear awesomeness of the hawks during the raptor show we saddled back onto the bike getting a late start to our day with only 50 miles covered. We had a quick problem with the gps knowing that I-40 held highway speeds and wind noise thought we had found a go around. Sadly it turned to dirt and we shuttled back to the highway.
Thankfully at this point of the trip we had been traveling west for days on end and staring at the setting sun was nice but the hours of riding into it had taken its toll and I was happy to be moving north up 93 to vegas. The hoover dam and honestly some of the prettiest landscape views with the setting sun, mountain peaks and full moon surrounding us. Again traffic wasn’t thick and the drive was easy at 75mph.
Ensuring Rachel hadn’t fallen asleep she buzzed in the “slow down there are turns ahead”. (motorcycles and turns means fun to all but Rachel whom doesn’t really care for turns on the bike). You have to give her credit though since we had toured 3000 miles by this point and she really wasn’t difficult at all to ride with and the company was definitely appreciated.
Back to the 93 and the ride to the hoover dam. I had seen the dam 10 years prior but was curious to how it looked at night. Rachel agreed to let me go see the lights and we toured off the highway. Again blessed with warm weather, clean roads a nice winding vista we moved forward. Road that beg you to drag a knee or at least lay the bike slightly over were corrected to Rachel reminding me to slow down the speed limit at 40 was about 35 mph over her taste. We settled into a slow 35mph pace and ventured forward with caution. (Jackalup signs in the area convince you to keep a sharp eye and mild pace.) Jackalups signs are actually elk signs but jackalup was too much fun to say then elk so we stuck with it.
Hoover dam pictures. Again my photography skills ruined some rather spectacular views but seeing it person was worth the detour. Rachel doesn’t like heights either so riding across the hoover dam was not on her bucket list. Again she agreed and we found ourselves at one massive dam. Seeing it at day is okay but at night is really how it’s meant to be seen.
At this time we ran into a few east coasters again. (really it was just us and them there that night) A group of friends or family whom had Harleys (actually women slightly over my age that talked of wanting to ride to strugous and never making the details work out. . I can’t help but feel how lucky we are to have the opportunity for our trip seeing how most spend time thinking of these wonderful adventures and never get the chance to take the journey or to tell the tale
From the dam we headed north west to the city. Which from rachel’s quiet responses on the chatterbox intercom was as picturesque as a city at night can be. You drive in from higher elevation so you really get to see the lights and most of the limits of the city on the way in. Traffic again with night road work but tolerable. Weather was comfortable at 73 degrees so we pushed forward. Me wanting photos of the bike in the foreground of the strip and Rachel rather clueless to why anybody would want to go to vegas in the first place.
We found the exit the gps has laid out and found ourselves in old vegas. Heading to new vegas and hoping to find a place to spend the night. Surronded by traffic and getting that we’re not from here feel familiar to me when presented in a big city with lots of traffic.
Struggling with directions and settling on the Treasure Island casinio we found our accommodations for the night. I pulled the bike under the awning and was scared for my life. People, cabs and valey’s flying about giving you the why that bike is wide look and that small feeling that you really don’t get on the car but can feel on the bike. Rachel waited to book the room and I clinched my teeth and prayed nobody hit the bike as I tried to locate just out of harm’s way.
Rachel emerged from the revolving door frowning and a touch frustrated about a credit card/transfer of money mix-up and we had a room. We tried to get parked but found ourselves lost again in the city. Finally after a few minutes of hectic frustration we found the Self Park and put the bike in for the night. Rather exposed, a parking garage with a few other bikes uncovered nearby I didn’t like leaving the bike there but really had no other choice. Fitted the cover and we started to lug our gear to the room.
At this point its important to remember that bike luggage in hard bags is not light. From a parking area to hotel is easy enough. But around a casino is not as easy as I would have liked. I got frustrated and asked a bell hop for a rolling cart. The response. Those aren’t for the guests they are for the bell hops only. So we pushed on me in a rather cold loud bitter tone.
Finally we had our gear in our room freed ourselves of our riding attire and headed down to see this place called las vegas. Our intent was to get dinner at the faux efille tower which is about as far from our hotel as we cared to walk. Of course the tower was closed and we settled on a dinner place at the base. Themed food places and casinos and such are their so French food it was. I settled the cheapest steak on the menu at 19.99 but was happy with the fresh crisp French bread and to be sitting in vegas. The steak was fantastic and I wonder what the rest of the food might have offered but we needed to get some walking in. We could just a minute of the TI show and I was hoping to get back to see the Sirens in action again. Unfortunately we didn’t make the time cut off and the TI show was finished for the night, the mirage volcano was finished and luckily the belligo foundations were still going. We walked there ceasers palace and found ourselves lost in the hallway of closed shopping places. We continued on and discovered the Mirage still had the tigers and the dolphins so we decided we’d try back the next time to get some dolphin viewing in. (they open at 11am)
I was completely cashed but Rachel wanted to try out this crazy gambling thing. So I gave her 20 dollars and said good luck.
I’m proud to say we bet the house and took home not only my 20 dollars but one whole dollar and fifteen cents from the TI slot machines. Pretty good seeing how normally you leave penniless or spend any winnings you have happened upon.
Exhausted we returned to the hotel and Rachel was finally starting to realize why Vegas is always running joke between my good friend Nick and I. Rachel and I decided next time we’d be bringing nick and Ashley along. Sadly we didn’t get a see any shows and only got a 12 taste of Sin City but enough to know that returning is bound to happen. A little nervous about bike but too tired to really stay awake I feel asleep.
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