Arizona
Leaving the Santa Fe, New Mexico area around noonish, which is a late start for us, we were not sure where we would end up for the night. We had our sights on some public (BLM) camping areas in the Flagstaff area but not before a stop in Winslow and some obligatory photos "Standing on the Corner". You don't have to spend long there but you have to stop and take photos. We got there just before dark and still 50 or so miles to Flagstaff.
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| ♫ It's a girl my lord in a flatbed Ford ♫ |
When we reached Flagstaff it was dark and setting up in the dark breaks one of our travel/camping rules, especially staying in a dispersed camping area where we were not familiar with the area. Instead we decided to enjoy a nice dinner at Cracker Barrel in Flagstaff and join what looked like 20 or 30 other campers overnighting it there. This way we could also enjoy a good breakfast before going into the BLM land to set up early the next morning (turned out to be a very good decision). We pulled into Flagstaff with plans for two nights there - a bit of maintenance (laundry & shopping) along with one full day allotted for a visit to Sedona. In Flagstaff at the end of May you could still see some snow on the surrounding mountain tops.
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| Flagstaff, Arizona |
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| Naval Observatory dispersed camping in Flagstaff |
Sedona - Donald's 61st birthday we headed out for a day trip to Sedona. We'd researched some of the highlights and one was a drive through the Oak Creek Canyon and it just happened that the route taking us from Flagstaff to Sedona was through that Canyon - it was a beautiful ride and only about 30 miles.
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| Sedona, Arizona |
After spending some time in town enjoying the views of surrounding red rock mountains, shopping and enjoying some lunch we headed out to a couple more of the featured attractions. One was the airport mesa where we had nice views of the city and a hiking trail that we all agreed was mislabeled at .6 of a mile. It was downhill for a good bit and at least two miles <smile> back up.
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| Break Time |
We also drove out to the Chapel of the Holy Cross which is an interesting looking church built right into the mountainside. It was very crowded there so just a photo or two before we headed back to town and the Canyon Breeze Restaurant/Bar for a patio drink with an amazing view to round out the visit.
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| Sedona Chapel |
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| Hiking Trail View |
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| Canyon Breeze Patio View - This made the drinks taste better! |
Don's choice for his birthday dinner was a highly rated (in TripAdvisor) Thai restaurant in Flagstaff......great way to end the day and a Happy Birthday to him!
Grand Canyon - We left Flagstaff for the short drive up to the Grand Canyon area and another boondocking area close to the canyon called Coconino Rim Road. It is actually a dirt road you enter from within the park....but it was pretty muddy. We chose this site over some others because it is close to the park and because it has good cell reception and we can keep in touch. When we took the dirt road we entered it from within the National Park (no dispersed camping permitted) but a short distance later we left the National Park and entered the Kaibab National Forest where camping is permitted.
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| Campfire Talks at Coconino Rim Camp |
Chevy -vs- Ford argument....as you know Don has a 4WD Chevy and we have a 2WD Ford truck. While investigating places to camp in the area Don got his truck stuck in a soft area - yep, all four wheels were spinning. So you guessed it, I had to pull him out with our 2WD Ford truck. It made for an exciting first impression of the area but we eventually found a fantastic place to camp on solid ground. He's still a Chevy man :-)
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| Chevy -vs- Ford |
Click this link (below) to witness the power of a 2WD Ford as narrated (by Kathy) with her best country slang (she was worried I'd get bogged down and we'd have two to pull out)
First impressions of the Grand Canyon were amazing....what a beautiful sight to see. Kathy and I had been to the North Rim a couple years ago and the views are just stunning at both areas. The only drawback to this park is the number of people here...it is very crowded. This makes our camping decision (basically alone but close to the park) seem even more right/special. Our campsite is also right next to the Arizona Trail which is another bonus.
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| Grand Canyon - South Rim |
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| Roadside Bull Elk |
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| Spectacular Views |
We spent one full day and a couple partial days in the park but the best hiking day was on the Coconino Rim Trail which is part of the Arizona Trail that goes from Mexico to Utah. We did a ten mile hike (5 out and back) and it was great although we all complained of sore muscles afterwards but no problems sleeping that night.
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| Coconino Rim section of Arizona Trail |
Page, Arizona - Kathy and I had been to Page a couple of years ago and had fond memories of our visit so we decided to take a day trip there. It was alot of driving through scenic countryside for full day there. While there we visited the Glen Canyon Dam Visitors center, Lake Powell Resort (including a boat ride) and finished the day there with a short hike to the sun setting over Horseshoe Bend.
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| Lake Powell & the Glen Canyon Dam |
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| Horseshoe Bend at Sunset |
Weather - we have been in some amazing weather since leaving home with low humidity and temps ranging mostly in the 70's during the day and overnight cool temps. We are expecting more of the same (mostly) as we continue to move towards the west coast but not before a hot layover stop in Barstow, California (triple digits)
After a few more looks at the Grand Canyon and getting things ready for departure we are headed out to Sequoia National Park in California next.
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