Williams

It was up and in the car early this morning as we had a long drive back around the Eastern edge of the Grand Canyon to head back to where we needed to be.
After making a quick stop on the way out of the North Rim, I took over driving for the day. The boys thought it was great, Craig apparently not so much. (I honestly think my first effort of driving in America wasn't too bad - I didn't hit anyone or anything, I only put the wipers on by mistake once and I didn't turn on to the wrong side of the road at all!)
We visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon today. It was a short visit because we had promised the boys we'd try to get to a drive through wildlife sanctuary at Williams.
We made a couple of short stops along the way so that boys could do a little rock climbing and then to walk across the pedestrian bridge spanning the Colorado River. There was actually a condor sitting on the beams of the road bridge and a group of people were there with the aerial tracking it. Apparently around 12 or so years ago a group of them were released in the area in the hope they would breed and start to rebuild the natural numbers.
Lunch was at the first view over the edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. From there into the edge of the South Rim Village where Kaine spotted a female elk laying under the trees just off the edge of the car park entry. Craig (in charge of the camera for the day - oh deary, not a photographer in the making I'm afraid) jumped out of the car while the boys and I tried to find a car park. Blake and Kaine start telling me "Mum! He's getting really close! Oh man, he's gonna get kicked isn't he?" Me as responsible adult "Don't be silly boys, Dad wouldn't get that close to it." Craig's return "I touched it!" (Apparently he actually didn't, but he got close enough that he probably could have - I think being called Mick Dundee in Florida has gone to his head).
Anyway a very brisk stroll out to the edge, some wowing, gawking, picture taking and determining of where we'd stayed the night before across the canyon and then it was back in the car and on the road again.
We made it down into Williams at about 4.30 in the afternoon and as it turns out the sanctuary's last admission wasn't till 6. We had a nice drive around and got to see a range of animals up close including big horn sheep, two different types of wolves, bison, white bison and black bears. Wow did they have some bears! There were different sections for the bears, split by age and in the juvenile section it was funny to watch them climbing the trees and fighting with each other. In the adult section they were mostly asleep but we were driving right next to them. Very cool.
At the end of the driving section they had a small walk through area as well with some other animals - bob cats, porcupines, beaver and their bear cubs. Ohhhhh they are SO cute! The littlest ones were just adorable - problem is that little and so cute they look like little toys that you want to cuddle.
From there it was

into town to our hotel, Grand Canyon Hotel. It is apparently the oldest still running hotel in Arizona. Very cool spot. The boys loved having their own beds up above us in their loft.
Owners were great! So helpful with advice and making sure everyone was comfortable. She told us that if we were quick enough there would be a cowboy gun fight in the main street just a block up in about 3/4 of an hour so we quickly got our stuff away and went to watch.
A horse and wagon was sitting out front of the hotel and yes, we got suckered in and took a half hour tour of Williams and got to watch the show from the wagon. Poor old Mike was pulling us a long, a beautiful big grey/white English Shire (? hope I remember that right!).
Dropped off back at our hotel and then we wandered down the street again to the Cruisers Cafe where Craig was desperate to have dinner. Yummy food and a great atmosphere.
This town has been rebuilt on tourism. Apparently in 1984 a couple sunk their money into fixing up the town and making it a tourist spot on Old Route 66. They've done really well. This was another town Craig and I wished we had a few nights in. So much to see and do. Live music at quite a few of the restaurants, shops open late along the main strip and just a generally really relaxed, fun vibe about the place. (Thanks to Julie McKay for advising us to check this place out!)