Delightful & Memorable Arizona Trip

24 Sep

Each time I visit “Elsie’s” Arizona I become a little more in love with the grandeur of The Grand Canyon and the quaintness in Cornville, Cottonwood and Williams. Curt and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary by riding the steam train from Williams to the Grand Canyon on Sept. 15th. It was a delightful trip.  We stopped on Friday to deliver books to several locations along the way. It was so fun to have lunch with Randall and Dixie Stone.  They live in Cottonwood, not far from where the family ranch was when Elsie lived with Randall’s Grandparents in 1913-1914.  Randall’s mother was Eva Girdner Stone and Elsie’s student in 1913. In 1988 I had a special visit with Eva in her home there in Cornville. She and I continued to write to each other for a number of years. We had an amazing surprise when we realized her grandson was roommate (over one summer) with our son Dan while they were in college in South Carolina in 1988. Hard to imagine that 75 years after Elsie taught Eva, Elsie’s great grandson and Eva’s grandson would end up roommates thousands of miles away from Cornville, AZ. Then to think I could connect with Randall (Eva’s son) via Facebook and have lunch with them. It is certainly a delightfully small world. We spent Friday night in Williams at a really nice bed and Breakfast called “Grand Living.”  It is a large, delightful log cabin type home with exacting detail given to exotic décor and gracious hospitality. We left early Saturday to ride the train to the Grand Canyon. They had fun entertainment for the 2 ½ hour ride and once we arrived at the Grand Canyon a shuttle delivered us to the El Tovar hotel. What a memorable thing it was to eat lunch in the same dining room where Elsie had had lunched nearly 100 years ago. (Reservations to stay at El Tovar need to be made nearly a year in advance.) I could almost feel the history of the place surrounding me. There are memorabilia from the past everywhere. I highly recommend the train trip, lunch in the El Tovar dining room and the delightful “Grand Living” Bed and Breakfast. We gained two new locations that now carry “Elsie.”  I have connected with readers in faraway places and I am enjoying this beyond what I can describe. I love hearing from readers, so please drop me a note.

6 Responses to “Delightful & Memorable Arizona Trip”

  1. ritaroberts September 24, 2012 at 8:34 am #

    What a delightful way to spend your Anniversary Barbara.CONGRATULATIONS. Thanks for this update on your lovely book.Have always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon. Ah well! Maybe one day.

  2. hanna-lea finkbeiner September 24, 2012 at 10:49 am #

    I live in a little island of Antigua in the Caribbean, but originally I am from Finland.
    I enjoy so much reading about Elsie and her adventures almost 100 years ago.
    What a coinsidence that the grandsons met in collage and now the author could visit him as well.
    Beautiful pictures included.

    Hanna-lea

  3. Rita Covalt September 24, 2012 at 11:56 am #

    Barb, so delighted to read of your fascinating 45th wedding anniversary celebration. Curt still takes great pics. Meeting so many people with connections to Elsie has to be a highlight of your life.

  4. Ellen September 24, 2012 at 6:10 pm #

    I am amazed when I read of your contacts with people who knew your grandmother- even more the grandsons/greatgrandsons rooming together! Your book is timely and I think when we are all gone it will be part of our history. It’s not over yet, is it? You will keep on linking with the folks in that area and leave a legacy forever. I spent some time looking at all the pictures again. Well done!

  5. Leon Girdner September 25, 2012 at 1:02 am #

    This is a great story. I love reading your updates and about people and places that I know so well.

  6. Dale Fisher September 25, 2012 at 5:34 pm #

    Barbara,
    It was such a pleasure meeting you and your husband at the Palomar Honey festival . We were the couple that lives in Palm Springs but have the privlidge of having a place to escape to on the mountain. The book is amazing, I love the posts and so enjoyed going through your phots albums and having you tell the stories behind them!
    Congradulations on the Annniversey, sounds like you two had the best time with so many more to come!
    Cliff and DaleAnn Fisher

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