Day 19.

Well after the coldest night EVER last night! I woke up with socks, shorts, 2 vests and a hoodie on while wrapped in my sleeping bag! I literally ran to the showers in order to heat up, forgetting we had to bloody pay for these ones! $2 for 8 minutes and they are the worst showers I've ever used, I also had to share the damn thing with 2 moths! Hello? Are you putting in for this!? 

We had a free day today to do whatever we wanted around the Grand Canyon. I'd gotten the bug for water activities but the only place to do that was at Page which was 140 miles away up stream so that was out of the questions! But no problem, because I also really wanted to hire bikes as we didn't do it in Central Park. So me, Fliss and Jo got dropped off at the Visitors Centre while the rest of the group went to Bright Angel Lodge because the majority of them were doing a helicopter ride at 2 so hiring bikes would of been a bit of a push. We went to the bike rental... And what the hell was on the desk? 'CLOSED. Reservations only.'

OH YOUR HAVING A LAUGH!? I asked one of the guys if anyone was on the desk to speak to, surely they can't have just reservations only!? Well it paid off to ask, they only had 5 left! 'I'll take 3 please ma'am!' We met her round back, she gave us our LIME GREEN helmuts (which firstly didn't go with my outfit what so ever and secondly, really not a helmut person) and we set off! Not before Jo faffed around asking if her bike was 19inches or not, sweetie if you need ask if it's 19 inches... It's not 19 inches! 

We were making tracks for Hermits Rest. We passed through thick woods covered with shade (I would later take this for granted!!), passing walkers, bikers and professional hikers! So the park has a simple layout of following coloured trails... Well we got lost, how can you not follow colours and arrows!? We ended up at the Grand Canyon train station!? Well I knew something wasn't right and of course I'd picked up a map (kids, don't leave home without one!) and eventually figured out where we were and just had to turn left! AFTER this we got used to the secret system and didn't get lost again!

It took us about 30-40 minutes to get to the bottom of Hermit Road, which was the start of the Hermit's Rest Trail, and the heat was already starting to pick up! We snapped some pictures and selfies in front of the huge opening showcasing the Canyon. We hopped back on our bikes, threw on our fabulous helmuts and headed up the hill.

The girl on the desk had told us the first part of the trail was a 6% gradient, but in the heat, damn that bitch felt like a mountain! Luckily the rest of the trail was 95% downhill so there was plenty of breeze! (Yeah, didn't remember that it would be 95% uphill back up though!!) we stopped off at the various points along the way which provided different and equally amazing view point from each one.

The trail was 22 miles from start to finish. For me it was the perfect way to see the Canyon, as beautiful as it would be from the helicopter I loved the fact we were experiencing it first hand and being right in amongst it.

When we made it to the top, we were met with Hermit's Rest. Thankfully there were picnic benches, a shop and toilets. After a celebratory photo in front of the sign, we stayed here for lunch and revelled in just walking around for a while (biking really tests your thighs!?).

The trip back was just torturous! One because it was a uphill but two because it was now mid day the sun was just unbearable, so mix that with cycling and it doesn't equal a very happy James! There were a group of young lads who we seemed to keep seeing in passing during the trip back and it was always on hills because they would get off and walk their bikes. I don't think they knew how to work their gears on the bike because the looked like they were struggling bad everywhere else. Jo, the pro cycling enthusiast, pulled over to give them a tutorial while I powered on (I ain't stopping on no hill!! I'd never set off again!). Well that was it! They were off! No stopping them after that! We later caught up with them just before the final hill, which made the whole struggle of the heat and hills worth while! It was a long downhill road which we all just flew down, embracing the cool wind and ringing our bike bells like crazy in celebration as we crossed the end line! People must of thought we were odd, but we couldn't help but cheer because it was a bloody hard trail!! Fliss finally passed the line about 5 minutes after us when she finally caught up, I think she was out for the leisurely stroll today!

Considering it was the easiest and flatted part of the trial, the last bit was utter hell! Knowing we were close to the finish line (and an ice coffee!!!) made it seem that much further. We couldn't help but scream 'MY THIGHS!?!?' The sign for the 0.5 mile marker was a gift from heaven and we just had a 5 minute blast to make it back... Well we made it!! As tiring as it was, I was so thankful for the exercise, being on a bus for hours and hours builds up a lot of energy so it was a great to burn it off. We treated ourselves to iced coffees and I got a delicious chilli cheese bagel (not as good as my Central Park one, but still good!). Jo was ready for another trail but I was absolutely spent! I could barely eat my bagel let alone ride that bike again (ok that was a lie, I wolfed that bagel down...)  so we checked our bikes back in and decided to go back to camp early.

We spent the rest of the night just relaxing in camp, we were having Becca's grandma recipe for pasta with meatballs, yum! And yum it was! Even thought it ended up more along the lines of spaghetti bolognese after they got stuck to the pan, it was still super delicious, a damn sight better than the mess of a fry up we made!!

I was sick of being cold on the night, so whether she liked it or not, me and fliss were making a double bed and sharing!! I put our mats together, laid a sleeping bag underneath and TWO sleeping bags on top. I was finally warm! I slept so good, except I did keep stealing the covers off fliss through the night so she was freezing! She was pissed but it was WORTH ITTTT!

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