Mission accomplished

This morning, we got up and wandered a little.  We found a coffee shop on Route 66 called Brewed Awakening.  It was a good stop with some interesting people watching and some good scenery.  We were biding our time.  The restaurant where our prepaid breakfast would be served was about to empty out entirely when the next train to the Grand Canyon took off.  We walked in just as the boarding process started, and we had a lot of breathing room in the dining area.  

After that, we picked up a few souvenirs, then headed back to the room for one last pass.  Cas calls it a “stupid check” when he walks through and looks for any items we may be leaving behind.  There are some items that did’t make the cut, though.  His umbrella was beyond saving.  It’s okay- he has other rain protection options at home, and the one that came with us on this trip really worked hard until its last moments.  There’s a photo of the bent-up metal pieces somewhere in Wednesday’s photos.  We were sure to bring with all the stuff that needs to make it back home, though.  After our stupid check, we went down to the lobby and finally got the opportunity to take the fireplace selfie we’d wanted since we first saw it on Monday.  There always seems to be a crowd, and true to form, we had to wait for a few folks to disperse.  Nevertheless, we got it.  Fireplace selfie accomplished!  

Cas scheduled our shuttle travel to give us a window of time mid-day in Flagstaff.  We did have to lug our bags wherever we went, but the bonus was that the place we went was across the street from the Amtrak station.  It was a Mead Hall.  There was honest-to-goodness mead, horns to drink out of, if you wish, and a bearded fellow serving drinks who claimed he would answer to the name Bjorn.  

I had to take a series of photos in front of decidedly viking-ish things to show my older brother, whose summer travels will take him to Norway.  I was trying to remember all of the characters and plot points of Beowulf, but if I’m being honest, it was never a favorite.  

From the Mead Hall, we hopped into another shuttle and made our way back to the Phoenix airport.  We’re waiting to board, now, with suitcases full of dirty clothes and mud still caked on our boots (which are bagged up inside the luggage).  It’s time to pack it in and head back.  We actually have some work to get done before school starts back on Monday, but while we were at the Mead Hall, we booked the flights for this summer.  Be sure to tune back in somewhere in late June for our journey to Washington DC!

In the meantime, check out all the photos from this week’s adventures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4BZaPckogdVf4gtX7