Day 8, Tues. Apr. 29, Tuweep, AZ to Valle, AZ.



Sunrise.  We started hiking out about 7:30 am.  Since there weren't many people around, we mentally prepared that we weren't going to get a ride out, but our packs were lighter after using a couple gallons of water so we were optimistic that it wouldn't be too hard.  We had walked about 2 miles when 2 guys passed us on the road and offered to take our packs to the plane.  Their car was totally full but they tied the packs on the roof.  They had hiked down the Lava Falls trail the day before and were still hurting.  It is a hike for masochists that goes down to the river.   They said there were several areas where they were just sliding down on their rears.  See, there are people who are crazier than we are.   Anyway, there's nothing like losing a 35 lb pack to perk you up.  We were happy as could be walking the rest of the way to the plane.  




A snake going into it's hole.  That's only the last quarter of it.  It was in the middle of the road and Marilyn almost stepped on it.  It didn't move too quickly maybe because of the cool morning air.  I think it was a harmless gopher snake, ummm, I think.



almost there!  (plane at right)



And there are the packs right by the plane.  Ahhh,  so nice we didn't have to carry them.  

We dumped some of our extra water to lighten the load.   It was really windy so we turned the plane into the wind after untying it.   We wondered if it would fly away.  Taxiing up the runway, we were surrounded by dust being blown around us, yikes.   On takeoff, we had strong headwinds and downhill slope so it was a piece of cake.  



We flew over the Grand Canyon on the way to Valle airport, which is 25 miles south of Grand Canyon south rim.  It was the most windy landing yet.  There were updrafts and downdrafts.  I landed fine which was probably part luck and part skill (I won't speculate how much of each).  Taxiing was as hard or harder than landing.  After we'd stopped, when we let go of the brakes, the plane moved---that's with us in it!  Marilyn and I hung onto the struts of plane while two guys tied it town.   We had checked the weather at a nearby airport on the way to Valle and the winds were reasonable there so either they suddenly came up, or Valle just gets stronger winds.  

We landed at a lot of great airports with great service but I think Valle wins the award for friendliest airport.  They let us have their courtesy car to visit the Grand Canyon.  There's a "Planes of Fame" museum at the airport but we were too tired to go to it.  Next time!