Day 17 - 18/10/2017

October 18th

We were up at about 08:30 - we had to get things together and go down to Flagstaff to collect the motorbike
The motorbike was picked up at 10:30
It was a Harley Davidson sportster it was matt black and sounded like it was on fire

I was a little... well, not worried but unsure about driving the bike as I haven’t drove a bike for at least 10 years and I have only had sports bikes before and this was not a sports bike - this was a Harley

From the first minute on the bike I felt comfortable - no worries at all... of course there is a huge difference between a Harley and the Kawasaki's that I’m used to... the engine in this Harley was huge and the riding position is a lot different. I had to get used to having my legs wide apart so not to touch the motor as the motor and the exhaust was very hot and I’ve still got the burn marks to prove it (still now nearly 2 months later)

Our first stop was Williams - only a short ride from Flagstaff... from here we could stop and get our things together and make a plan for the day. Driving to Williams and parking up felt great as we were now on Route 66 at the start of a very long day.

I took a few photos of the bike and also a video and then we planned our trip down the i40 to exit 139

In the first hour of driving the bike it started to have some faults... to start with I didn’t know if it was me as I was not used to this bike or if it was the bike itself.

The bike will be fine driving at 70 mph but when I would come to stop the engine would just cut out - I thought it was me but after a couple of times doing the same thing I found it was the bike.

Also when driving and dropping the revs on the bike it felt like it was dumping fuel into the exhaust it sounded like fire was spitting out the back. It wasn’t the most comfortable bike to ride and it felt like it was going to rip my legs off

When driving comfortably at 70 mph the Speedometer would fall down to 0 and then rise again without any explanation of what was going on and at this point my heart skipped a beat to see if the motor would cut out at this speed...

Once we got to exit 139 on the i40 the bike again for the third or fourth time cut out and this time it would not start again and the error came on the dash that it was an "intern V Error"

It was Game Over for the Bike...

I called the bike shop and they said they will get a new bike out to me and this will take two hours.
I said to Maj-Britt and the kids to drive on in the car to the next stop on Route 66 - here they can get something to eat and drink and maybe slowly start the trip... I said I’ll catch up once I had the new bike.

While waiting for the new bike I had at least 8 to 10 cars that stopped and ask if I was okay or if I need a water or if I needed to call someone...
Everyone seems very friendly and you wouldn’t get this anywhere else - this really surprised me a lot and even two state trooper police cars pulled up to make sure I was okay.

There were motorbikes, couples and even two rednecks with a hillbilly pick up and a girl in the back... I could not understand all that was said as most of their teeth were missing... they had motors and car parts in the back of the truck and said something about they had a place down the road if I wanted to go with them...

My new bike arrived and it was an Indian and it was a great ride and I fell in love with it straight away

We drove Route 66

We saw a beautiful sunset

We drove under the stars
We drove on an empty dark road
We were seconds from running out of petrol and the bike actually stopped at the pump unbelievable... not even a joke to make the story funny... it actually cut out at the pump...

After a very long day we got to see the bright lights of the city and this was coming to the end of a very long day.

we checked into the villa at 23:30 and now the kids are sleeping and getting ready for tomorrow which will be mostly at the swimming Pools in the complex.

Even now after being in the room only a few minutes it is by far the best hotel and room that we stayed in on the whole of the trip.

It is a gated community with a golf course, private houses and spa places...

Our room was upgraded and we had wonderful, beautiful, amazing views of the golf course and the mountains.

DAY 16 - 17/10/2017

October 17th

Our day at the Grand Canyon

I was up to see the sunrise at 06:37 it was my first view of the canyon and it did proved to be a great memory.

From the hotel it was a very short, maybe three minute drive to the edge of the canyon where I found a place to park up.
I parked only a few metres from the edge.
From getting out of the car and walking to the edge it was a feeling that I don't get very often - looking into the canyon for the first time my stomach stinks and you get a funny feeling to take a step back as it is a very long way down...

I walked only 100 meters along the paths edge until I found a spot to sit and wait...
While waiting and looking around I could see a small forest fire in the distance - this could be one of the controlled burns that they normally make to clear the "fuel" from the ground.

I set up the camera and video to take a few films and photos. The place was very still with a few walkers taking their morning walk and other people waking up to see the sunrise like myself. It was a very calm and beautiful place to be.

As the sun rose it lit up the canyon and it was a beautiful site... the sun streaming through the canyon over the rocks and onto the many faces of the canyon was so different and nothing like I had seen before...

I went back to the room and got the rest of them up and the day was planned with a drive along the ridge of the Grand Canyon to see what wonders we could find...

Our drive took us east from the Grand Canyon Village to Desert Point view

We started at the same point where I was for the sunrise and we took a walk for half an hour or so along this path... from here we took the car and drove down all the way to desert point view which also has a lookout tower.

This was a really nice place to stop... with the views over the canyon and also looking down to the Colorado river (only just)

Here we got an ice cream and went up the tower to have a look...

On the drive back to the hotel we stopped at the market to get some food where we sat outside and took a rest on the benches.

The sunset was planned for 17:49 and I went out back to the canyon to see this. I found a great spot to set up the camera and take some timelapse shots, while this was being made I could sit back relax and just watch the sun go down...

It was only after - when I saw the video back in the timelapse shots that I could see the different colours through the canyon.

It was so beautiful

I went back to the others so we could go out and get something to eat.
We ate at the pizza bar at the restaurant close to the hotel but after we got our order Isabella was so tired to eat or even be out so Maj-Britt took her back to the room and Emil and I stayed and ate pizza and watch the basketball on the TV.

I think Emil enjoy this time with just the two of us and when we were finished (after the game had ended) we headed back to the room with Maj-Britts food.