Grand Canyon & Arkansas

Family vacation at the Collins home is not a real vacation without a road trip east. This summer (09) Bob yielded to popular demand and planned a road trip to Little Rock Arkansas. Despite leaving our eldest son, Andrew, at home it was another great family adventure.

We started with a drive to the Grand Canyon and arrived after dark. Setting up camp in the black of night is always a challenge but it allowed us to rise early the next morning and enjoy some breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon. We've often heard that the Grand Canyon is one of the most visited National Parks and we now understand why. The awesomeness of it is unbelievable. Only a great God could create such wonder! We were amazed at the depth and attribute it's making to the worldwide flood of the Bible.

We not only had the opportunity to walk along the edge for some distance absorbed in it's view, but then we traveled by bus to see more breath-taking views of the Colorado River below and the beautiful redrock below. It definitely is a view everyone should take in at some point in their lives.

We had a slight slow down when passing through Hollbrook, Arizona, and finding a putrid odor to the town. To our amazement, the odor was our own van--oil burning on the engine and when we saw smoke bellowing out of our van, we took to the shoulder and had an emergency exit. God was gracious in having us break down just a short mile out of a town that had a KOA campround and restaurants within walking distance. We spent the night in hurricane winds and rain and with the van back running the next morning, heading on to our destination of Little Rock, Arkansas.

We arrived Sunday night at the Scheideman's and enjoyed a wonderful welcome from our friends. We had the opportunity during our week visit to hike up Pinnacle Mountain and enjoy a beautiful view of the Arkansas River and the Little Rock area--it was gorgeous! We also enjoy a stroll over the world's longest pedistrian bridge, Big Dam Bridge, viewing a beautiful summer sunset.

A visit to downtown Little Rock included a ride on the city trolley car pointing out city sites and viewing the Peabody ducks as they splashed into their hotel pond. Along with trips to swim meets, swimming pools, a water park, and church activities, we most enjoyed visiting with our friends and catching up on each other's lives from the past year.

We will try not to mention the heat--but yes it was hot in Little Rock. High 90's and then add the humidity--fun at the water park and swimming pool was enjoyed by all.

The children all enjoyed a week of playtime with their best friend from years past. Practical jokes were the hit of the week with the boys silly-stringing the girls at breakfast to the girls stringing the boys bedroom to look like a spider web. Orange milk was disguised to be orange juice, sour spray to wake up others at night. The fun never ended!

The guys played some pool in the game room and Bob showed off his skills from many years at the fire station. We ladies just enjoyed chatting with Kelly's new friends and a lunch out together.

Our week ended with a trip to Kelly's parents in Bellevista and a weekend on the lake. Amy enjoyed taking a try at water skiing and Sarah and Cade enjoyed kyaking. The beauty and green of Arkansas is awesome--a creation of our maker we'll all enjoy in the new earth.

There's nothing better than a comfortable chair and a visit with old friends. The Scheideman's are doing well and enjoying their new life in Little Rock and were wonderful hosts for our family visiting the new town.