Grand Canyon with Mom Day #3

Monday, April 26, 2009

Today we got and early start. We were packed up and pulling out of the motel around 6:00 am. Heading for breakfast. We decided to eat in Van Horn at the Sands Restaurant. This is another restaurant I have eaten at before. It was a good breakfast and better yet had some excellent prices es. After we finished breakfast we headed west for El Paso.

While driving Mom decided to read a Texas Tour Book she picked up in Langtry. The book mentioned something about some cactus with flowers on FM 1111 that heads north out of Sierra Blanca. A quick decision was made to go and check out these cactus with flowers. Well we found the cactus, but we were a bit late for the flowers. Didn't matter, the drive was a lot more scenic than running down I-10. FM 1111 dead ended at US Hwy. 180 so we turned left and headed to El Paso.

We made it through El Paso without incident and made a quick stop at the New Mexico Information Center. Mom picked up another tour book for New Mexico. From there we stayed on the interstate to Demmings, where we turned north to Silver City. After arriving at Silver City a WalMart was spotted and of course we had to stop. We picked up some essentials and then went to the local Pizza Hut for lunch. After lunch we continued on US 180 to NM 78 where we headed for Mule Creek and Clifton, AZ.

We stopped at a scenic overlook on NM 78, and of course we took a couple of pictures.

We then hooked up with US 191 and headed up the Devils Highway. We stopped at an open pit strip mine so Mom could take a look, and then into the twisties we went. On the first climb, the drop off was on Mom's side and I don't think she was at first impressed. She just kept saying that it was a long ways down there, and it would be all right for me to stay on the other side of the yellow line as much as possible. The farther we went she started getting used to it, so she was able to take a look a some of the scenery. To say the least she was impressed. We arrived at the Mountain Hi Lodge in Alpine, AZ around 4:00 pm local time. We checked in and called it a day.

Tomorrow we head to Williams to check out the train schedule for the Grand Canyon. We plan on getting there early so we will have plenty of time to make arrangements.