Ramona flew to Las Vegas from Messel, Germany Monday evening and spent the week riding roller coasters and jumping off of the Stratosphere. By the time I got there after driving up work Friday evening she had seen and done enough in Vegas and was ready for the trip to Phoenix. She had heard about the SkyWalk at Grand Canyon West so we decided to make a pit stop there on the way home Saturday morning. Unlike the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon West is not part of the National Park Service but is on tribal land and privately operated by the Hualapai Nation. The sign on the side of the highway between the Hoover Dam and Kingman, Arizona simply points east and states that the Skywalk is 49 miles away. After driving 32 miles we found out that the asphalt ends and the dirt begins. After another 17 miles of dirt road we arrived at the Reservation and staging area for the Skywalk. There is a very large tent structure that serves as the gift shop and tour sales office. We already knew that the Skywalk fee was around $30 per person but we were not aware that there is also a mandatory $40 shuttle bus fee as private vehicles are not allowed. So buyer beware; if you want to go to the Skywalk you will be driving 34 miles (out and back) on a dirt road and the Skywalk fee is $75 per person. That being said, had we known that going in it would have softened the blow. Once we boarded the bus it was a mere five minute ride to Eagle Point where the Skywalk is located. The view from the rim is stunning as it is everywhere along the Grand Canyon. We looked over the edge for a while then got in line to do the walk.
The location gets it's name, Eagle Point, from a rock formation that looks like an eagle with it's wings spread and head down.
The Skywalk looks out over Eagle Point and has a glass floor so that you can see down to the bottom of the canyon.
After our turn on the Skywalk we boarded the bus and headed to the second stop for a few more photos then back to the truck and down the dirt road again. By this time we had worked up an appetite and were not about to give the Hualapi any more of our money (they also wanted $30 per picture on the Skywalk and prohibit taking your own camera out there). I was thinking BBQ. I have driven past Eat AT Joe's dozens of times while driving back and forth between Phoenix and Las Vegas and between Phoenix and Laughlin. Everytime I passed through the tiny village of Wikieup I noticed the BBQ sign but never stopped. This time I'm glad I finally did. Ramona had the Boudin sausage (sausage made with pork, rice and spicy herbs then grilled) while I tried their Heaven on a Bun. The sandwich was a combination of brisket and pulled pork with bacon mashed potatoes and coleslaw on the side. Yes, it was deserving of it's name. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the fantastic service. In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger "I'll be back".
Two hours later we arrived in Phoenix and Ramona is happily enjoying the triple digit heat of August in the summer. Now we are off to find ingredients for dinner!
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