April 23rd. Decided to make a fast trip to Arizona to see Jon, Kendra & Aubrey as well as call on the Grand Canyon Hotel & RV Park and the Grand Canyon Railway. I worked on the Santa Fe Train during the day of the 23rd and we left as soon as I got off the train. Pulled the RV into a rest area a little more than half way there and caught some sleep. The next morning one mile East of Holbrook I blew a tire. First time that has ever happened to me. Wow, that is exciting; not just the rock & roll of the RV, but the noise and stuff flying everywhere. The tire blew completely off the rim taking out a sewer line, gas tank neck and a mud flap.
Holbrook being only a mile away we were able to boost their economy by buying four new tires. Even though all the tires looked new the RV came from AZ where the sun does a great job of baking rubber. The salesman convinced me that if one blew they all might go.
Once there we had a great time. I'm always pleased to see the town of Williams doing so well. Thirty years ago the only Williams business that appeared to be surviving was the lumberyard. Selling plywood to board up the doors and windows in the commercial district seemed to be the best business in town. Now a combination of the Grand Canyon Railway and the town's historic committee have pulled the small town from the jaws of decay and turned it into a beautiful family destination for sightseeing and train excursions.
The train is one of the better restorations I've seen. The employees are all professionally dressed and educated in what it takes to make a day-ride fun and entertaining. They offer different classes in their coaches and allow passengers to change their class at the half-way point. The train stops right at the edge of the Grand Canyon. I always get a chuckle watching first time tourist walk from the train to the edge of the canyon. Their mouths usually form an oval and they get a slight bend in their knees. I still remember my own first experience of having my pulse jump rabidly and a slight tear form in my eyes.
As you know, I'm out promoting trains this year as family entertainment and this trip is one I highly recommend.
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