Day 21 to Day 26: Glendale, AZ to Grand Canyon, AZ to Vegas, NV

TO GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE WE GO…!

San Diego – check! Next stop – Glendale, AZ! “What’s in Glendale, AZ??” I asked assuming there was some other national attraction, but instead something far better…NANNY!! Our three days in Glendale were probably the most uneventful in comparison to spelunking or polar bears, but it was like a glass of ice-cold lemonade on a hot summer day. After staying at hotels and campgrounds for a few weeks, it was so nice to be in a ‘home’ setting. Aunt Cathy was an all-star hostess making sure our bellies were full & sending us on our way with clean laundry and a couple air fresheners since the Durango was beginning to smell like five people had been living in it for three weeks. WEIRD. We also got to spend time with Aunt Peggy and Uncle Bill when they invited us over for a BBQ and surprised Tric and Kris with a little birthday celebration (June 1^st and 14^th respectively).

That following day (Kris’s actual birthday), Tric & I thought we’d celebrate by diving from the sky. We drove an hour and a half to Skydive Arizona, paid, signed our lives away, and watched one jump…just to find out that there was too much turbulence and they wouldn’t take us up. Faaaail. If that wasn’t bad enough, the A/C was blowing heat for the hour and a half drive home. Windows don’t work too well when its 104 degrees outside.

Otherwise most of our time was spent at the basketball courts BALLIIIIN’! We may have beat the boys in our campsite challenge, but they swept us in b-ball…even despite the fact that it was 3v2. I swear we would’ve won if we didn’t have Kristina ‘Kidd’ who cockily kissed the sky every time she put one up and probably ended up going 1 for 46 in the entire series.

We went out with a bang our last night in Glendale. No, not at the local bar…at BINGO! We had the honors of taking Nanny for her last hoorah before she goes in for surgery. I felt like VIP rolling in with “Tessie” as everyone smiled and greeted us warmly. We even got a shout out on the mic during intermission! No one won big, and no one really cared…except for Kris who blurted out profanities as little old ladies shouted “BINGO!” This, combined with a glazed eyes and stern countenance, was the first indication of her gambling addiction. Uh-oh Vegaaas.

GRAND CANYON…AT LAAAAST!

We rolled into Grand Canyon National Park without a reservation and almost relived the Huntington Beach/Hermosa episode. Campgrounds were booked for the night so Kris immediately got on the phone with hotels. Tric and I refused to stay in a hotel at the Grand Canyon, so after a good hour of controlled bickering, I heard Billy mention something about potentially hiking to the bottom of the canyon to camp. I snatched the number from him and got on the phone with Dean (the park ranger) to find out if it was possible to still get a permit. He said even if we could make it there in 6 minutes before they close, they didn’t even have any permits left. I asked him if there were any other options and he told me about Kabaib National Park that was just minutes from the south rim of the canyon where anyone could camp for free……..FREE!? I like free. Only catch was it was just woods. No hook-ups or bathrooms or neighbors, really…just us and the rattlesnakes. Kris didn’t like that idea. I thought she’d be excited since she was the one who bought a snake venom emergency kit. Did she plan to use that in the Best Western? She sat in the Durango as we all set up, but eventually emerged later to do what she does best – snap photos cause “she’s got an eye for that.”

Everyone slept well that night, and woke up around 8:30 to head to the canyon. We were contemplating getting that permit so we could hike down to the Colorado River, camp out and head back up that following morning, but Kris was pretty hesitant so we decided we’d do a smaller hike that day, and if we still wanted to, we could tack on an extra day. Well after a 6-miler into the canyon, it was pretty much assumed that we weren’t gonna get her to comply. So it’s official. My newest addition to the bucket list: hike the canyon rim to rim. I guess it’ll be nice to have something to look forward to. Gosh, after this trip I’m gonna have to go out of the country. They’ll be nothing left to see!

There was an open spot for that evening at Mather Campground within Grand Canyon National Park. We didn’t have hook-ups but we DID have neighbors which comforted Kris...apparently not enough though cause she refused to walk the 50 yards to the bathroom in broad daylight. That night, Kristina was the first to call it a night and Billy and Kyle followed suit shortly after leaving Tric and I to admire the fire aaaand the group of UNC Alum camping out next door. Nooo, just kiddiiiin’. We didn’t speak to them all night…whistling isn’t speaking, right? I’m not gonna say who whistled…I’m only gonna say it wasn’t me. Feel free to use the process of elimination. The whistle was unsuccessful…maybe because Kyle and Billy were screaming, “WHY ARE YOU WHISPERING AND STARING AT THOSE BOYS?? THEY’RE RIGHT THERE. DON’T BE SHY!” AND “TWO SINGLE LADIIIIES!” That probably didn’t help our cause.

SIN CITY IS NO UNDERSTATEMENT.

En route to the Vegas we took a baby detour to see the Hoover Dam. There really isn’t much to say about it other than its’ traffic held us up for an extra hour and we met a lady who was from Denville, NJ…just miles from where most of my family lives and where I was born...Small world.

We arrived at The PALMS Casino and Resort in Vegas yesterday afternoon. Talk about extremes…We went from sleeping on the hard ground with no electricity or running water to a resort with a rooftop pool, a casino, 6 restaurants, 5 clubs, and a food court. It’s really nice and I’m actually surprised with how much I like it here. At the same time, it’s a heavy place. I now understand why they call it “Sin City:”

-I saw at least five people being CARRIED out of the resort last night because they were obliterated.

-I went into the bathroom last night to brush my teeth only to hear some chick screaming…and not because she was scared.

-People were blowing thousands of dollars without even blinking.

-Tric and I went for a walk to the packy yesterday, and a pamphlet blew up against my leg. I picked it up only to find out that it was selling sex. My heart dropped…I feel horrible that any girl feels like they have to resort to that L

There was a pool party today with special guest PAULIE D from Jersey Shore (first pump inserted here). Tric, Kris and I headed down early to snatch a lounge chair. Kris only lasted an hour in the hot Nevada sun, while Tric and I camped out from 9:08am to 5:46pm. That didn’t mix well with Tricia’s Irish skin. She’s scorched…but it was worth it! We danced our little hearts out, so don’t be surprised if you see us on the next episode of Jersey Shore. Don’t worry, Momma. I kept it PG J

So, remember that gambling addiction we suspected with Kris? Well, she was out till 4am gambling…but not with her money. She has quite the tactic: seek out a dude with a high stack of chips and a loooot of alcohol on his breath. Last nights’ victim: KIRK. He handed her a hundred dollar bill to play with and she cashed out with $60 bucks. I lost $30 on Craps and Tric, $20. I’m done gambling…unless I find me a Kirk. On that note, I’m gonna head down to the casino. Night! Sleep sweet J

MISS YOU MOMMA, DADDY & SISSY!!!!!!!

Random Snippets:

-“Hey, I thought I ordered you for later.” –Cobra as Tric shakes her booty around in our Vegas hotel room

-“2 dollar showers? I’d rather have a Starbucks” as I opt out of a shower at the Grand Canyon

Much love,

a.hendricks