Sedona, Arizona

March 1 - 8, 2009

Thousand Trails - Verde Valley

Cottonwood, Arizona

We arrived at Thousand Trails and miraculously got the site next to Marilyn and Greg Gundy! It's that divine intervention working again.

Second night here I was trying a new crockpot recipe for corned beef and cabbage and asked Marilyn and Greg to join us for dinner. End time for cooking came and none of the veggies were cooked. Well, let's give it another few minutes ... we'll have another drink. Next check got the same result. Solution: let's nuke the buggers (they weren't really looking that appetizing either). Okay, now it's time for Ken to carve the meat. While I'm working in our tiny kitchen, Ken's working on the dining table when all of a sudden the plate flips and the meat lands on the floor! That was my final sign...this meal was not meant to be. We're taking Marilyn and Greg out to eat! Following their protests that we can put something together and there's no need to go out, we piled them in the car and went to a "steakhouse" down the street in Cottonwood. Turned out to be one of those "cafeteria-style" steakhouses with lousy food, but we had our chuckles and will have a "remember when" story that should last a long while.

We took a day to check out a couple of the nearby "attractions". We visited Montezuma Castle, a five-story, 20-room cave dwelling built in the early 1100s in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley. Early settlers marveled at the structure and assumed it was of Aztec origin, hence the name Montezuma Castle, although Montezuma was never known to have come this far north.

We also visited Montezuma Well which was formed long ago by the collapse of an immense underground cavern. There were cliff dwellings around the Well too. It was surprising to see this water in the middle of very dry, desert land. However, the Well itself wasn't all that beautiful (we have definitely been spoiled by Crater Lake).

After leaving the Well, following the GPS directions, we headed out and got on another unpaved Arizona road that winded its way through the desert. Almost felt like we were off-roading with the dust clouds we left behind us. We finally reached paved Route 179 and entered the Coconino National Forest.

Scenery was the desert we had become used to. I'm talking to Ken and all of a sudden he gasps as we go around a corner. We have hit the Red Rock Scenic Highway...what a sight. We've all seen pictures of these magnificent rock formations, but to see them up close and personal is truly breathtaking.

We followed the Scenic Highway through Oak Creek and on into Sedona where we stopped at the Chapel of the Holy Cross, built on twin spurs about 250 feet high, jutting out of a 1,000 foot rock wall.

A new house is under construction across the street from the Chapel. A woman who seemed to know said it was being built for a doctor who invented surgical instruments at a cost of $25 million. It is absolutely beautiful and fits into the area, but we're jealous and agree you can tax this doctor 80% and we won't mind!!!

We ended the day with a stop at Tuzigoot (Apache for "crooked water) which is the remnant of a village built between 1125 and 1400. The original pueblo was two stories high in places, with 77 ground-floor rooms. Entry was by way of ladders through openings in the roofs.

At the suggestion of Sandra Farrer, we played golf at Sedona Golf Resort. We didn't get a picture of the sign coming in, but thought this picture of the signature par 3, hole 10 would make up for it. The views were extraordinary and the course was beautiful. Unfortunately the greens were very very fast. If our putting were better, I'm sure it would have cut at least 8 strokes from Ken's game and 12 from mine...and no, Peter, that does not mean I would have shot an 82!!!

We played later in the day to take advantage of the "cheaper" $70 greens fees, and finished just in time before it became too dark to see the ball. Other than saving $25 each on greens fees, we also saw some stunning views of the red rocks being hit by the setting sun.

As I said, we are here this week with Ken's cousin Marilyn and her husband Greg, fellow full-timers. We don't travel together but we do "run into" each other from time to time and make sure we get together. One of Marilyn and Greg's loves is quad riding in the deserts of Arizona (as well as the gold mines of Alaska), so this trip we decided to rent an ATV and take a guided tour of the Red Rock area just southwest of Sedona.

The tour guides offered some instruction before we began, but Greg had taken Ken out the day before on their ATV for a quickie course on desert riding. Ken was a quick study and I felt almost confident climbing on the back of that ATV with him in the driver's position.

We rode a little over 30 miles in just under 3 hours. Our group consisted of the guide (Sher from New Hampshire) in the lead, novices Ken and I in the middle and Greg and Marilyn watching us from behind to make sure we were always okay. Quad riding in the desert kicks up quite a bit of dust and even with helmet, goggles and bandana covering our nose and mouth, we all got pretty "dusty". The guide's vehicle was specially equipped as was Greg and Marilyn's. Our "rental" left a lot to be desired when it came to shock absorbers and cushioned seats!! I "bounced" out of my seat more than once and sometimes the downward bounce could be quite jarring. But, we saw some beautiful scenery, Ken got his chance to ride, and I got a chance to passenge (?)...overall it was a great experience!

While on our ride looking at the amazing Arizona scenery, I again marveled at our lot in life. Traveling around this awesome country is not just a lifestyle...it is a learning experience as well as a vacation. We're having a ball!! Let's hope this economy picks up so we can continue to do so!

Again at Sandra's suggestion, we spent an afternoon exploring Tlaquepaque (meaning "the best of everything") Arts & Crafts Village in Sedona. Authentically fashioned after a traditional Mexican village, Tlaquepaque has nestled beneath the shade of the sycamores on the banks of beautiful Oak Creek in Sedona since 1970.

We followed our little excursion with dinner at the Oak Creek Brewery and Grill. Again Sandra, thanks for this recommendation...this was the best meal we've had "out" in a long time. We sat next to the window and watched the sun set on the red rocks. Sitting there at the corner table, we wondered where Sandra, Michael, Regina and Mark sat when they were here??

We took another day to travel north on Route 89A...we were wondering why they don't recommend this route for RV's. There were some switchbacks near 7000 feet, but we certainly had handled steeper and tighter switchbacks in northern California near Yosemite. Maybe they meant not recommended for "amateur" RV drivers.

We stopped at Slide Rock State Park. You will see a couple of pictures in the slide show below that show the creek where, in the summer, people "tube" down the river. Really think that would be fun! Much too cold to try it now.

On the return trip we stopped for lunch at Oaxaca Rooftoop Cantina where we had delicious Taco Salads and watched all the activity going on down in the street. Also out the window we could see the Snoopy Rock (the little one on the right). Note Woodstock sitting on Snoopy's nose! (You may have to click on the picture and then return by hitting the back button!)

We had a great (and fast) week here in Cottonwod/Sedona with Marilyn and Greg. We're going to miss them but know we will again hook up somewhere in our travels. And thanks for the ATV lesson, the "goodbye" chocolate chip cookies (we ate them all) and all the good info about our upcoming train trip to the Grand Canyon.

Looking forward to being there!