Arizona
August 2008

One again I returned to Sedona in August. This time my friend Marie joined the adventure. Together we hiked in the quiet desert and enjoyed the red-rock views.  The only thing we would do differently - is spend more time. Here are a few snapshot and comments. You can find notes and snaps from my first trip here.

 

 Red rock vistas - and they ain't kidding! Soaring monoliths, and sculpted cliffs every where. Reds and Browns swirled together then layered into formations that catch the eye and invade the mind. An inviting place to walk into the past and out of reality.
 

  
 

  
Far from being a wasteland, the southwest desert is alive with energy. The hot-thin air swirls with dusty smells and whirls with rustling sounds. It's a warm pie crust, hiding the sweet filling from tourists who are in too much of a hurry. If you let them, the junipers, crickets, rabbits, Manzanita, birds and a multitude of other desert dwellers seep into your senses.  
 

  
 

  

 
 

  
 

  
 

  
 

  
 

  
 

  
 

  
 

  
 

 Climbing Cathedral Rock

Yes, we made it to the top of the trail. It ends in the little space between the rock pillars on the left. Awesome view made all the more interesting considering the scramble up the rocks needed to get there. Surprisingly quite a few people on this 'moderate' hike.
 


Notice the 'little' houses hidden in the hills across the canyon.

  
 


At the top

  
 

  
O.K. so you can't see the black nose looking out from the brush - but it's a deer anyhow. We came across two of them just near sunset. It's the second time we have spotted deer while wandering in the southwest desert. Kind of amazing, considering there aren't that many of them in those areas.
Yes, we took a jeep sunset tour. Again I avoid the nasty "pink jeep" tours and used the local one with guides who are a little more knowledgeable and appreciate of the land and the environment. Here,  our guide Kevin (who was great!) poses with blue-bunny. [ One of our fellow tourists was taking pictures of her son's bunny to document the trip]

In the background is Cathedral rock from the back side.

  

 
 

  
 

  

Red Rock Park and Oak Creek
 


Cathedral Rock from the other side

 
 

  
   
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 Honanki Cliff Dwelling ruins and rock art

 


Yep! That's the cliff above.

 

 
 

  
 

  
 

  
   
 

  
 

  
 

  
 

  

 
 

  
 

  
 

 The nearby mining town of Jerome. About a mile up on the side of the mountain
 


A nice place for lunch
Lunch with Pat and June looking out to the valley below
 
Of course we found time to do some tasting at a few local wineries. Here winemaker and his wife at Javelina Leap Winery in Page Springs. We enjoyed hi Zinfandel. Yes, this pictures show just about his whole winery operation - about the size of my kitchen.
 

 While on our way back to the workshop in Las Vegas, we stopped for a few brief hours to join thousands of other people marveling at the Grand Canyon. It's an awesome view and someday we'd like to visit the North rim where we can enjoy it with a few less distractions.

 
 

  
 

  
 

  

I spent my day
in a simple way
enjoying a sensual salsa
of the southwest. mt

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