This year’s Grand Adventure began in Las Vegas on April 17. After a long day of flying we all gathered at the hotel and exchanged stories of airline hassles and reroutes. The group has seven members: Natelle, Lisa, Sherry, Marie, Greg, Lucy, and Karen…all of whom live in or have connections to Newfoundland. The trips leaders are TA Loeffler and Norm Fair.

After not enough sleep, a quick grocery shop, and breakfast on the run, we drove to Grand Canyon National Park. Highlights of the drive included driving over the Hoover Dam, lunch at Delgadios, and our first glimpse of the big ditch. Mouths dropped open wide at we looked into the giant maw at Mather Point. “We’re going where?” was a common refrain. Off to the Mather Campground for food packing, backpack packing, stove and cooking lessons and the long awaited “creepy crawly” talk. After a fine dinner, ranger talk, and vehicle shuttle, the group fell into a nervous sleep.