Two nights in Flagstaff. One day to explore. Our trusty NatGeo Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways book has only two short scenic drives near here. But what a way to spend the day!
We started south on 89A for the Oak Creek Canyon Dr. The areas closest to Flagstaff, a former lumber town, are thick with Ponderosa pine.
It was hard to find any place to stop on the twisty road, but eventually we did.
On our return in the afternoon (the road was too gorgeous to only see heading south) a bride and groom were doing a photo shoot in this same field. An accident on the road had drawn police cars, fire engines, etc. By the look of it, someone was trying to oggle either the mountains or the photo shoot and rear ended a little red convertible. Both vehicles were pretty smashed, but the first responders didn't look like there had been serious injury.
On our morning stop Steve and I took a short hike while Mom read her book in the car.
Steve stepped over this critter without ever noticing him.
The views got more and more spectacular.
We stopped at a place called Indian Garden where the natives used to plant corn, etc...until a white man claimed it for his farm. I scrambled down to the creek.
When I returned Steve and Mom were eating scones from the bakery across the road. I joined them. Delicious. And you couldn't beat the view from the rock where I ate it.
We continued south through the very touristy town of Sedona. Lots of New Age shops made me wonder how the local churches viewed the people who ran them. Hopefully they share Jesus with respect and compassion.
We turned off on Hwy 179 for the Red Rock Scenic Byway. After gaping at the scenery for a few miles, we pulled off at a major trailhead across from this formation and more in every direction. Photos can't begin to portray it.
We are not in a hurry tomorrow, so my plan is to return here to hike and explore further in the early morning. What a place for breakfast and devotions!
We turned around in the village of Oak Creek, still touristy, but not as overwhelming as Sedona, which could easily bring on panic attacks if we had been looking for a parking space.
Stopped briefly at the Grasshopper Swimming area on our way back up the canyon. It was deserted despite the heat of the sun by that time.
To the left are wonderful rapids coming into the pool. To get here, I crossed two dry washes, which says there is lots more water in rain.
We enjoyed the scones and the Indian Garden location so much that we returned for lunch in the back patio. Delicious sandwiches on fresh bread.
We missed the overlook at the top of the canyon on the way down. It's hard to know you are about to come to a drop before you actually get to it. We stopped on the way back.
And here is a glimpse of the road we had just come up. One woman commented that it looked like a matchbox car track.
Native vendors had tables at the overlook. I bought a necklace/bracelet/earring set that I will have to model later.
The weather is cool in the shade or breeze of the overlook, but toasty warm in the sun. Steve and I enjoyed the outdoor hot tub at the hotel. Tonight it will be early to bed for me so I can make the most of the morning and be back to Flagstaff by 10:30 AM.
No comments:
Post a Comment