Oak Creek Canyon, AZ

 

View from Airport Mesa hiking trail

 

Lunch in Oak Creek Canyon

 

We drove the road between Sedona and Flagstaff so Sam could enjoy the switchbacks. It was a beautiful drive and not scary like some switchbacks.

Sunset from Airport Mesa, Sedona

 

What a perfect mesa for Sam. Even when we don't fly in the Quickie, we somehow end up at an airport. He hiked all the way around Airport Mesa, which took him around the edge of the Sedona airport. I'm a little disappointed in myself, because I felt vertigo looking down at the steep drop-offs next to the trail and ended up waiting on the mesa for him to return. An Indian lady selling jewelry told me he'd be gone for quite a while. There was nothing there to say how long the trail was, so I was glad that our cell phones worked and he kept he posted on his progress. While I waited, I had a wonderful view of Sedona below me to the west, north, and east, and I could walk around and climb the areas that weren't next to the drop-offs. A tour group came up, and I got to listen to the tour guide talk about how to experience a vortex and find your inner serenity. So I worked on that while I waited. I'm not sure if it was that or the dry weather, but I did feel better out there. When Sam returned, we drove on up to the airport restaurant and sat outside for dinner and then enjoyed this beautiful sunset.

Prickly Pear on Airport Mesa

 

Aren't the colors beautiful? Sam took this on his hike.

Prickly Pear

 

I have seen paintings of the blooming Prickly Pear cactus, but this is the first time I've actually seem them in bloom. This one was outside the Mexican restaurant in Camp Verde where we had some extra good margaritas.

My shirt matches the rock

 

Now that is a beautiful rock!

 

View towards Sedona and Red Rocks from Jerome

 

Jerome, Arizona

 

We spent the afternoon visiting Jerome, which was a copper mining boom town until the 1920s, then by the 1960s was a ghost town with 50 residents. Hippies and artist types moved in, and it is now an interesting town with art galleries and restaurants, but you still have a sense of the original town and it isn't touristy like Sedona. We really enjoyed our visit there.

Montezuma Castle

 

These ruins were built by Indians known as "Sinagua," who farmed near what is now Camp Verde, Arizona. They began building this five-story, 20-room dwelling early in the 1100s and abandoned it 300 years later. It stands 100 feet above the valley. Early settlers mistakenly assumed that it was Aztec in origin, hence the name Montezuma Castle. The guide we talked to said about 35 people lived in the castle. He has been up in the ruins, and he said that the walls are smoke covered. Can you even imagine climbing up 100 feet to get to your dwelling? Or worrying that your toddler would wander out the wrong door?