Tuesday - Flagstaff to Grand Canyon

We were off pretty early in an attempt to beat the crowds. I've been told it's not too bad this time of year, because of school, graduations and stuff, but in the summer, there can be a two-hour wait just to get into the park! We had a nice drive and only got stuck behind a few slow-pokes along the way. Before we got to the park, we passed a Flintstone Campground, just like the ones I remember from the 60s! Didn't know they were still around.

We managed to park in a lot right next to the rim. The canyon is huge and beautiful, just like all the photos I've seen. The rim trail is flat and paved and handicap accessible in many areas. We walked around for a couple of hours then we tried to figure out how to get to a "real" trail. But it was lunchtime and we didn't want to lose our parking spot (folks now parking on the side of the road). We were going to go eat and try to figure out our plan. Then we found that the Info Center area we parked near had no food. We would have to take a shuttle bus. Which just left. Things were too complicated. We ended up leaving the park in hopes of driving to the Arizona Snowbowl and taking the ski lift to the top of Humphrey's Peak, the highest point in AZ.

On the return trip, we stopped at a spot which had been badly burned by forest fires. We thought they were fairly recent, but they happened in 1996 because of lightning strikes. We got to the Snowbowl and discovered that the lifts were out of service. Bummer. We still walked around there for a bit and that was still nice.

We got back to Flagstaff and I realized I hadn't taken a single photo in the Grand Canyon (the others did) and never even stopped to look at souvenirs there. I would have liked a book about the wildflowers there. They were beautiful and in full bloom all over. In fact, my eyes watered and my nose was stuffed up the entire time I was there. I must have been allergic to something blooming.

All in all, I'm glad we made it to the Grand Canyon. But, I think I would have got a lot more out of it if we were able to stay there for a day so. It took a while to get our bearings and now that we are familiar with the layout we may have done it a little differently. I think it would be best to stay the first night right by the park, then enter early and hike while it's still cool. (The Disney World theory of visiting busy tourist traps-Stay close, get there early, work fast.)

Memorial Day - Flagstaff to Sedona

We took a scenic drive from Flagstaff to Sedona. It followed the Oak Creek Canyon and was gorgeous! Lots of trees and mountains and breathtaking views. We took our time and stopped along the way. The first scenic overlook had an outdoor market with American Indian vendors selling pottery, jewelry, and other stuff. Kayla and I enjoyed that. We picked up a few trinkets here. Later, we stopped and played in the creek with clear water and lots of rocks. As we neared Sedona, the red rocks appeared; they were stunning. We drove up to one called Cathedral Rock and hiked for a while. Kayla and I went part way until it got too steep, Jay and Matt went much higher. Since we can’t seem to upload photos right now, here’s a link to some great photos: http://www.wildnatureimages.com/Sedona%204.htm

We ate lunch at a two-story Burger King in Sedona. Sedona is a charming tourist area with lots of shops lining the main street. We weren't planning on stopping, but we spotted a shop selling "authentic" Mackinac Island Fudge. So, of course, we had to stop. And yes, it tasted just like the original recipe.

The weather has been perfect and the wildflowers abundant. It's been a real joy to view the scenery here. Even with the holiday traffic, it was still bearable. Back to Flagstaff. Even though I was tired and wanted a nap, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was enjoying the scenery too much and didn't want to miss the return trip.

Flagstaff is a neat town. It has about 53,000 residents and has a "college-town" feel. Probably because Northern Arizona University is located here. Despite its size, there is a Wal-Mart and Kohl’s within walking distance and Target and Joann’s are down the street. What more do I need?

Sunday - NM to AZ

Yesterday we drove though the desert from New Mexico to Arizona. We stopped at a kitschy toursit trap at the Continental Divide. Tumbleweeds, dust devils, Route 66, long trains, endless views. It was greener than I expected, probably because of spring rains. While I appreciate the beauty, I can't understand why anyone would choose to live here. Guess I'll always be a beach person. I like my sand accompanied by water.

We stopped at the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert in Arizona. That's where we found out the time was different (again). While AZ is on Mountain Time, the ornery folks here don't like Daylight Savings Time. They stay on Mountain Standard Time year-round, which right now is the same as Pacific Time.

The Petrified Forest isn't a forest in the traditional sense. It's a bunch of old broken petrified logs laying in the desert. Really neat to look at. The prehistoric trees were covered with soil and sand to the extent that oxygen could not reach them to start the decay process. Water carrying silica flowed through the area and the silica replaced the carbon (and other elements that I don't remember) in the trees and eventually turned to quartz. At least that's how I remember it. The area surrounding Mt. St. Helens after the volcanic eruption is a prime area to form petrified wood.

My favorite spot was the Painted Desert. All different colors of sand-- it was really beautiful.

From the National Park, we drove on to Flagstaff. Before we got back on the Interstate, we passed though the town of Holbrook on "Historic Route 66". It still looked a lot like it would have back in the 60s. Except the Roxy Theater was showing "Star Wars". Lots of old motels, some still in operation. Even an old Wigwam Motel, with buildings shaped like teepees.

http://www.galerie-kokopelli.com/wigwam/ There was a row of motel rooms in the back, then the front rooms were in individual teepees. It was still open, and there were a bunch of antique cars parked in front of the rooms. Maybe there was a Memorial Day rally or something.

Holbrook to Flagstaff was much the same as the earlier drive, but then the topography changed. Flagstaff is in a pinewood forest with a 12,000+ foot snow-capped mountain overlooking it. This I could handle.

Computer Stuff

This wireless internet is great - just turn on the computer and it's connected; no setup required! Except for times like this, when it's intermittent and slow. Maybe that's why I can't post any pictures since the last one, or maybe I'm just doing something wrong. Will try later.

Cool morning at the Continental Divide 

In Arizona

We left Albuquerque at 9 this morning, and drove through beautiful, wide-open desert to Arizona. Made a stop at the continental divide - at least, that's what the signs said; looked pretty flat to me. Beautiful place, though, like the rest of the drive.

We decided to visit Petrified Forest nat'l park, and drove about 25 miles from one end to the other, stopping at several spots: overlooks of the Painted Desert, the "agate bridge" (a fallen petrified tree), and the "crystal forest" (an area with lots of petrified logs scattered around).

After that it was 100 miles to Flagstaff. As we passed a sign saying 68 miles to go, we were able to see snow-capped mountains just north of town. Took a while to convince ourselves that we were actually seeing mountains that were over 60 miles away.

Wish driving east from our house was like it is out here - 75 mph limits and no big-city traffic jams.

Matt attempted to copy video from our camcorder into the computer, but had some trouble. He got some, though, so we'll have some clips to send out soon (can't post them here, as far as I know). Should have some pictures later this evening, too.

Snow in May! 

On the Sandia Crest, overlooking Albuquerque at 10,000 feet 

Saturday

10:31 am --- First slug. Definitely not the last.

Our First Stop

Day One- After a week filled with one swim meet, one birthday party,
two class parties and endless cleaning, laundry and packing, we're
finally on our way to the Grand Canyon! Ahh, now I can relax. Thefirst
stop on our tour is in Wichita Falls (Which no longer has any natural
falls. They were washed away in a flood years ago and a man-made
tribute was built in 1987 But I digress...) We only stopped to gas up
the car, because we didn't fill up before we left (aside-gas is
$1.93/gal here). So, we of course take the required pit stop while we
were here. I exit the car and look up to see a trail of blue-haired
ladies snaking around the corner like ants headed to a picnic. That
could only mean one thing...TOUR BUS!! Realizing what that means, I
start sprinting to the building, weaving and dodging and nearly
blocking my way to the restrooms. Everyone who entered headed straight
to the back and in an effort to bypass them I headed left, which was
lucky because that was the direction of the restroom. I left the kids
to fend for themselves, figuring they could catch up with me. By the
time I hit the door, there were only four ladies in front of me.
Fortunately for Jay's timetable, we didn't have to wait too long, but
by the time Kayla and I left the loo, the line looked like a bathroom
line at a Tom Jones concert. Back on the road, on to Amarillo for the
night.

Highlight of the trip so far! It took me a good 15 minutes to get this picture on here, though; have to find an easier way... 

First Day

Relaxing in Amarillo now, after overeating at a Chinese buffet restaurant. Trying to work out a simple system for handling pictures, so Matt can take and post them easily.

Here's our other pilot 

Our youngest pilot