NOTE: This page will be routinely updated as the trip planning progresses. ***************************** Grand Canyon 2009 'Round-trip Corvette cruise from Blairsville, GA to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park' Gene Clopton – Events Coordinator   We have started the planning phase for a Corvette Cruise to the South Rim in Grand Canyon, AZ. The cruiser’s will leave Blairsville, GA around 9:00 AM on July 11th and return to Blairsville the evening of July 25th. The idea for this trip came from Mike & Angela Allen – CGBRM members that live in Milledgeville, GA. During lunch of the July ’08 meeting, Mile Allen mentioned that driving his Corvette to the Grand Canyon would be a dream trip for him. I then said "Why don't we go next summer”?  His response – “okay, lets go”! The dates selected are the only dates that both Mike and Angela Allen can take a vacation at the same time in 2009. *************** The following schedule is an example of a possible travel plan. We can build sight-seeing stops anywhere in the drive to-and-from the Grand Canyon. Another option is that we can take two 1/2 days of driving and pick two places for sight-seeing. I have ordered travel guides for each state that we will visit during the cruise. We can use these during our planning meetings.    Links: Optional Route plan: http://www.mapquest.com/mq/3-IkHhUS3d Grand Canyon National Park: http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/fees-reservations.htm Bright Angel Lodge (GCNP): http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g143028-d73442-Reviews-Bright_Angel_Lodge_and_Cabins-Grand_Canyon_National_Park_Arizona.html   A typical travel day: breakfast at 8 AM - leave at 9 AM - cruise to noon - lunch to 1PM - cruise 1 PM to 5 PM w/ pit stops as needed. This gives us time for dinner and relaxing each evening. Each Corvette should have a walkie-talkie radio to communicate while cruising. Day 1 – July 11th:  Leave at 9 AM and travel about 400 miles - check-in at hotel around 5 PM Day 2:  Travel about 400 miles - check into hotel around 5 PM Day 3:  Travel about 400 miles - check into hotel around 5 PM Day 4:  Travel about 400 miles - check into hotel around 5 PM   Day 5:  Travel to the South Rim -  Grand Canyon, AZ                         (Total driving time so far is estimated to be about 28.5 hours for 1,875 miles.) Day 6:  Grand Canyon - Cruiser’s decide the day’s activities   Day 7:  Grand Canyon - Cruiser’s decide the day’s activities   Day 8:  Travel to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and back. This will be an all-day trip because you have to go around the east end of the Grand Canyon to get to the North Rim. Day 9:  Grand Canyon - Cruiser’s decide the day’s activities   Day 10:  Grand Canyon- Cruiser’s decide the day’s activities   Day 11:  Travel about 400 miles - check into hotel around 5 PM Day 12:  Travel about 400 miles - check into hotel around 5 PM Day 13:  Travel about 400 miles - check into hotel around 5 PM Day 14:  Travel about 400 miles - check into hotel around 5 PM Day 15 – July 25th:  Travel to Blairsville, Georgia   Estimated trip costs include 14 Nights of Lodging: Gas -- Estimated 4,200 miles for the full trip at $4 per gallon averaging 25 mpg = $675 Lodging to average $100 per night - five days to the Grand Canyon = $500 Lodging to average $120 per night - five days at the Grand Canyon = $600 Lodging to average $100 per night - five days back to Georgia = $ 500 Food to average $50 per day for 15 days = $750 * Estimated base cost per Corvette = $3,025 * Add-in visiting sites as we travel and at the Grand Canyon for an estimated total of $4,000 per Corvette to make the trip.   Group reservations for lodging in Grand Canyon National Park -- on the rim -- must be made months in advance. Eight (8) cabins at the Bright Angel Lodge in the Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) have been booked at a cost of $118.48 per night ( 5 night stay will cost $592.40 and that includes taxes). Each cabin has a queen bed and bath for a maximum of two people. Four CGBRM Corvettes are already committed to this cruise with four more showing interest. To reserve your spot on the cruise list please send a check in the amount of one night's reservation - $118.48 to Gene Clopton, 1423 Garland lane, Young Harris, GA 30582 and write Grand Canyon Road Trip in the FOR line on you check. The one night's advance lodging fee will be required to reserve your position on the trip and include you in the detailed trip planning. Please - be committed to this trip if you sign-up. More rooms at the Bright Angel Lodge can be added -- if available -- other lodging near the park is at a higher nightly rate.     The most direct route will be to leave North Georgia and travel to Chattanooga, TN ---- then I-24 to Memphis, TN -- merge onto I-40 West and travel through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico, then crossing into Arizona and north to the South Rim inside the Grand Canyon National Park.   July temperatures at the South Rim average 54 degrees at night with a maximum high of 84 degrees. July will be a good time of the year to visit the Grand Canyon. The average rainfall at the South rim is only 1.81" for the month of July.   Not bad for a 15 day trip! Contact Gene Clopton at CGBRM@alltel.net if you are interested in attending this cruise.