Sedona - Part 2

Okay, we must confess, we are actually on our way back to California...and sadly had to leave Sedona, but we'll update you on the second part of our week there. It was just as wonderful as the first part...and yes, we took many more photos of the amazing sights we saw!

Sunday we awoke to a bit of clouds, but not bad...and decided to drive to Montezuma Castle which has prehistoric Sinaguan cliff dwellings and pueblo ruins - which was very interesting! To see the "homes" on the cliff was just amazing...wondering how they got from room to room, survived and just got into it! A sight we were glad we got to see...and are now interested in seeing some more ruins like that of the Southwest...definitely will have to return again someday! We also ventured to Montezuma's Well, a sinkhole, a collapsed underground limestone cavern filled with water. More than a million gallons of water a day flow continuously, providing a lush, verdant oasis in the midst of surrounding desert grassland. Montezuma's Well is 368 feet across and 55 feet deep; it sits at an elevation of 3,618 feet. Very interesting and another interesting sight! After that, with half the day left, we decided to drive to Flagstaff, about an hour away...to see what it was like. On our way there, we actually saw snow...on the roadside, in the shade...and it was certainly cooler there. Our shorts were a bit chilly, but we survived. Not really sure what was there, we decided just to get a late lunch (at Cracker Barrel - a favorite of ours, that we don't have near us!) before heading back to Sedona...a different route back and some more beautiful scenery...it just never ends!



This is a replica of what the cliff dwellings were like during the days they were occupied.
Montezuma Well

Oak Creek Canyon...drive back from Flagstaff
Incredible cliffs above Slide Rock State Park
This is what lured us to return here a few days later!












Monday found us on the road...a two hour drive to the Grand Canyon...a first for Terri, Rick had been there before, but WOW...our eyes were treated to a spectacular sight and could hardly believe just how GRAND it really is!! It was almost too much...everywhere we looked, an incredible view! Yes, we took MANY photos...and knew right away that we would return again someday...to explore more. We were on the South Rim, and basically drove and walked along the west part of it. We would love to return and hike down the Bright Angel trail...and take a donkey ride back up (yes, that sounds better thank hiking back up since it's a LONG ways down!!). And, to explore the North Rim...so much to see...and maybe a sunrise and sunset as well... If you've not been there before, we'd HIGHLY recommend putting that on your travel plans someday! The temperatures were cool (45) but clear skies and lots of sun...so we were bundled up more than we'd been in Sedona (no shorts...drats!!!). It actually wasn't too bad in the sun when you weren't in the wind, but when out on a viewpoint with the wind, it was rather chilly (and that was bundled up!). We saw some people who had shorts and a t-shirt...brrrrrrrrrr!!!! The trip back to Sedona was uneventful and that evening we enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner which was celebrating Rick's mom's (Jeanette) birthday - a great day and what a way to spend a special day!



These people were out on this jetting rock that was narrow and they had to do some climbing to get out there...and as you can see, there was NO protection! My stomach turns thinking about it...NO WAY would we ever think about going out there...not even for a photo of a life time!!




YES, you do see snow on the trails that the donkeys have walked on...we did see snow in the shaded areas while there!
























Tuesday...our last full day there, was a bit more relaxed that the others. We slept in a bit and then after a relaxed breakfast, we headed into the downtown for a bit of browsing in the shops (okay, we bought a couple of things!) and then back to the condo. After lunch and some organizing, we headed out to explore a new area...Slide Rock. We had driven past it on our way back from Flagstaff on Sunday afternoon...and decided we would return to check it out further. There a creek that runs through there and the red rocks are sort of like a water slide...where on the warm days, evidently is packed with people in the water and sliding down the rocks. This day there were a few (mostly younger!!) in the water...it was a clear sunny day, but the water was cool! Terri took her shoes off and ventured into the cold water, just to test it out. It felt nice, but wouldn't want to get the whole body in it! The trails there were short, not much hiking, but we enjoyed being outdoors in the sunshine - since back at home it had been snowing and raining! We left the state park, just about 5, the time it closed...so our time was over...last photograph taken and time to think about packing and returning home!


Prickly Pear Cactus
You can see someone "sliding" down the rocks in the water...and it's an adult...not even a kid who doesn't know better!!

















Wednesday morning...we were up early, packed and loaded our rental vehicle (a Kia Sedona...how appropriate!!) and headed back to California. We're on the road and have just entered back into California...and hope to be at Terri's mom's place by 4-5 pm so we can get the car unloaded and cleaned out...and get Rick's luggage packed. We're having dinner out tonight and tomorrow morning, Rick heads back home. Terri will stay until Monday before returning home...enjoying a bit more sunshine and warmer temperatures than at home. Friday her sisters, Krissy and Sarah, are flying down for a girls weekend...should be fun and hopefully, we can stay out of trouble! hehehe...I think they are just looking forward to NOT seeing snow!

Hope you've all enjoyed the photos from our trip...it's been incredible and the two weeks have passed far to fast! Rick was really ready for this after a long year of work and this has been refreshing for both of us! We're hopeful that some real spring like weather will return to the Northwest sometime soon...we haven't missed any spectacular weather since we've been gone...and are going to find it hard to return home to cold and wet! Ugh!!