Saturday, August 24, 2013

Sedona

We wanted to go someplace special for our 30th wedding anniversary in 2004. We'd been to San Francisco, Seattle, and L.A., as well as many places on the east coast.
Jilda began doing online research and was intrigued by Sedona, Arizona. We checked our frequent flyer miles and had enough for two tickets. We booked the trip so that we'd be in Sedona for our anniversary on Cinco De Mayo.
We touched down in Phoenix just after noon, and the temps were over a hundred. While it was hot enough to scramble eggs on the hood of the rental, the air was dry which was a huge change for us.
Jilda, who struggles to breathe air heavy with humidity, smiled when she breathed the hot dry air.
We headed out of town up Interstate 17 north toward Sedona. The terrain was the color of Alabama clay. The landscape in places was as stark as a moonscape with cactus.
Like all of our vacations, we didn't take any tours but headed the rental in directions that interested us.
The rock formations in Sedona were stunning. We found ourselves standing for long periods of time without talking, trying to wrap our minds around the forces of nature that help form that part of the country.
Some of the tourist handouts said that "in every direction is a picture postcard view."
Most tourist flyers stretch the truth, but this one was on the money.
Toward the end of our visit, we drove north through Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon. We pulled to the side of the road and shot this photograph of a snow capped mountain west of Flagstaff.
We've seen the Grand Canyon from the sky as we flew out west, but standing on the rim was an experience I will never forget.
Our blog buddy Granpappy Miller lives in Arizona, and we'd love to visit he and his wife Shirley in the future.
When Jilda retires, we plan to keep the roads hot. Who knows where we'll end up.
I hope you all have a blessed Saturday night and Sunday.

11 comments:

  1. The trip sounds amazing. I have never really left the southeast, so there are many places I still want to see.

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  2. Like you, when I took a look at the Grand Canyon from its rim, I was speechless; it was breathtaking and a view I will never be able to describe. Awesome...
    Your trip sounds like a wonderful one. I'm so happy that you and your wife enjoyed seeing the beautiful country that God created.
    Smiles,
    Jackie

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  3. Anonymous12:16 AM

    My Grand Canyon experiences--from an old post:

    In 1971, while we were still poor, we borrowed my sister-in-law’s station wagon & loaded my other sister-in-law’s 3 kids & our 3 kids (all aged 5-11) & drove to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Bryce & Zion National Parks. People would ask the kids if they were all one family. They’d tell them yes, but that we had left the little ones at home. They were also asked if their parents had no TV. They assigned imaginary horses to each of us. Bud’s horse’s name was Dammit. My niece once told him, “Uncle Buddy, that man’s calling your horse!” I had been to the Grand Canyon once before, when I was about 10. My brother, who was 12, wanted to spit into the canyon because that was the only place he could spit over a mile. My mother panicked. I laughed. When our brood got there, I turned into my mother. They could be 50’ from the rim & I was terrified. I told Bud to watch them & I waited in the car so as not to spoil their trip.

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  4. WOW Rick, the picture certainly does look like a painting or postcard... so beautiful :)

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  5. Beautiful landscape...

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  6. I'd love to visit Arizona but I think I need a bit of ocean first lol - my soul is craving it right now.
    Have a great Sunday Rick!
    XOX

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  7. Hey Rick. The air wasn't quite as dry yesterday - it rained. We aren't travelling as much these days, so don't plan to go east this year, but next time you're heading west let's get together. Hey to Jilda.
    Granpappy

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  8. Sounds like a great trip. Years ago I bought this beautiful T-shirt at a yard sale that had "Sedona" written across it. I got it because it was a nice looking shirt, but when I wore it, some people responded with enthusiasm, "You've been to Sedona?!" I would have to explain that I didn't go there, I just got the T shirt -- but it has made me want to actually get out there some day.

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  9. Arizona is great for old people. Great for the lungs and arthritis . I think we should change things Bring all the retired people where they can enjoy the heat and all the young people where they can work in the cold
    Would be good for both since young people like to ski and skate and keep warm at night ;)

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  10. I've never visited the southwest but have always been intrigued by the prospect. I have especially been intrigued by what the "dry heat" will feel like.

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  11. My brother lived in Flagstaff. I remember he and his wife complained about the weather changing constantly. When they came to Kansas for my dad's funeral at the end of May, they flew home to snow.

    Love,
    Janie

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