Trip to Flagstaff...

DAY 3 - TRIP TO FLAGSTAFF - ARIZONA

Hello again, we hope you are enjoying the peek into the ongoings over here.  

The day was started with yet another scrumptious breakfast - fresh fruit followed by a full cooked breakfast.  We were still recovering from the hike from yesterday, so a day chilling in the coach on our way to Flagstaff was quite welcome.

We waved goodbye to our new friends from Cirencester - whom we had met again at dinner the previous night.  They were very impressed that Whitchurch students were given at a chance at coming away on such a trip of a lifetime.

Miss Flanagan and myself had made some plans for the entertainment on the longer coach journeys, whilst doing the bag-packing in Tesco.  So we started to put our little plans into action as soon as we left Ruby's Inn....

The theme for the day was 'music', so we set the teams a 'name that tune' challenge - with the aid of the coach microphone and my laptop!  Despite the poor quality of sound - they were able to name a few.  We then set them a 'drill sergent' challenge (american spelling for the context of the blog!) - with a few interesting renditions of  'I don't know, but it's been said....' from the groups later in the afternoon. 

We stopped off a few times to admire yet more stunning scenery - and it seemed perhaps a bit blase to concentrate on things inside the coach, when we were being driven through the most amazing of terrain.

We lunched in Page - home of the Glen Canyon Dam, for which we visited the Visitor Centre.  The teams were seen to be taking in all the details just in case they were needed for the next trip quiz. It is true since beginning the quiz, the teams are much more interested in dates and names than ever before!!

We also had a brief stop for fuel, in which we had to disembarque - so the nearby gift-shop was frequented.  It was also a chance for 'dress-up', as can be seen from Will's costume above.

The final sing-a-long was the most musically challenging - with one and all taking part in the intense competition.  Will Claydon certainly came out as a fantastic X-Factor 'one to watch', with other groups doing their 'parents' proud!!

The Team standings after the bonuses had been added up are as below - with Bryce having the lead at lunch and Zion lagging at the back; but by our arrival in Flagstaff, it was all-change!

The results so far are as follows:-

When we pulled up at the 'Little America' Hotel, we were greeted with a special welcome for us emblazoned on their hotel billing!

The entrance was resplendent, with the tour to the rooms showing great promise - we quickly puts names to rooms - with a shreik of delight from

 some in the Zion camp - soon to be turned to despair when the female staff realised that they had mistakenly given their room away, so had to reclaim it.  As I type - I believe their is a small doll having pins inserted by a small group of rather angry young girls!!! (the images below may tell you why!)

Anyway - we are dolling ourselves up for dinner later in the rather gorgeous dining area - with a few drying off from their spree in the hot-tub.  To say we are staying in luxury is an understatement - sorry Rhiannon!

We have an early start in the morning as we head for the IMAX cinema outside Tusayan (outside the Grand Canyon National Park), then onto the South Rim of the outstanding Grand Canyon itself, followed by a trip to our next stop-over in Kingman.

It is hard to believe that this trip is already nearing the middle, considering the staggering things we have already seen and done.  With still a lot more to be accomplished, we look forward to seeing what the group will say when they take those last few steps towards the rim of the canyon - many find the whole experience quite humbling - I will fill you in with the details tomorrow.