Sedona, Arizona – June, 2007

Friday, June 15 (Ron)

We had packed the night before so all we had to do was get up, try to wake up, load up the van, and head out. Getting up was relatively easy, waking up at 3am was a little tough but knowing our destination and the beautiful clear blue skies and warm temperatures helped get us charged. It was raining as we drove to the airport but we left all that behind as we climbed up to 30,000 feet.

Great flight, got our bags and the rental car, a little Dodge Caliber, and got on the North-bound freeway. Lots of traffic but everybody moved along pretty good. We took the Hiway 179 exit to Sedona. Still a fair amount of traffic, Hiway 179 is a 4-lane hiway like a freeway, but everything went well until about twenty miles south of our exit. Traffic came to a stand-still. We inched along for about ten miles, huge backup. When we finally got to the site of the accident, we saw debris all over the road and a flat-bed tow truck off to the side. On the bed of the truck was what appeared to be a car, possibly a 4-door sedan, make impossible to tell. The back half was flattened and the front half was not much better. Don’t know what happened but it couldn’t have been good.

We came into Sedona from the east with towering red rock formations guiding our way. It’s pretty desolate country, but beautiful. Sedona is a small town, just one main road, running east and west. Our resort is on the west side, just outside the city limits so we saw most of the town on our way to the resort.

Sedona Pines Resort has about 125 individual units. The resort is sorta like a trailer park, similar layout, each unit separated from the next. Don’t think trailer-trash resort, this place is nothing like that. The landscaping is beautiful, large trees, immaculate grounds, adobe/stucco buildings. Each unit is similar to the rest but the resort does not have a cookie-cutter appearance. The units are about 400 square feet, living room/dining area, full kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Outside is a deck with a table and two chairs. Just off the deck is a grill for cooking. Separating the rows of houses, opposite the street side is a man-made stream with a water feature at each end. Large trees and shrubs between each home. Very peaceful and relaxing.

We got settled in, went over to the resort restaurant for an early supper, relaxed a bit and went to bed.

Saturday, June 16 (Pat)

We woke up to the morning light about 6am. Showered and enjoyed some coffee and juice sitting on our deck. Due to the angle of the cottage the deck is shaded in the morning and a large pine next to it shades it for most of the afternoon. About 8:15 we walked a short ways to the restaurant for the introductory breakfast. Juice, cereal, and some breads and pastries. Various vendors talked about their tours and in between Peggy – the concierge and Jake the RCI rep had raffle drawings for various gifts. Our number came up for a Sedona calendar so we are off to a good start! After breakfast we go over to the “big” building for our “update” talk. Jake is our sales person. Turns out he is a retired banker, owns a nearby cattle ranch and does timeshare sales for fun. He chatted with us for a while before going into the sales room. He was non-pressure, looking to see if there was something to enhance our timeshare situation and we found a fit. No starting high and wearing us down with new deals. We decided the time was right and the opportunity right to trade in the Oak Plantation week towards 33,000 RCI points every other year based on the Sedona Pines Resort and the sister resort soon to be completed. We also were enrolled in the points program so we can choose to get points for the Mayan Palace week and the Marina del Rey week. We should have more flexibility now and some bonus time in Sedona!

It was about 1pm when we wound up the paperwork. We headed into town and had lunch at Picazzo’s. We sat outside in the shade and enjoyed a salad and lunch combo (pizza and salad). A stop at the UPS store and Safeway for a cooler and off to Tlaquelpaque! We checked out a few galleries I knew about, got some ice cream and headed for the Oak Creek Brewery for a couple of beers. Back to the cottage to relax and read for a while, catch up on e-mail – the resort has WiFi.

After 7pm we got out to check out the Red Rock loop and Red Rocks Crossing – the picturesque view of Cathedral Rock from Oak Creek. The sun was going down faster than we anticipated so we stopped at a couple of view point stops off the upper Red Rock loop and took some photos. Cathedral Rock was glowing red in the setting sunlight and the rising shadow of the hills we were on moved up the base. Very scenic. Also some nice views across the way as well. It was almost 8pm when we got to the Red Rock Crossing Park so we decided not to stop and continued around the loop. I noticed a nice view of Cathedral Rock showing each rock spire separately at a new house-lot location. We stopped and got out to enjoy the view in the fading sunlight. It was a nice lot with big pine trees framing the rocks. Every few minutes the appearance would change subtly as the light faded. It was quiet and peaceful. A few bats flitted around for insects. We opened our champagne bottles from the morning congratulations to new members and toasted Sedona. As the light faded we completed the loop and headed into town for some dinner. We thought we would have a beer and dinner at the West Sedona Oak Creek Brewery. We found the place and went in and sat outside in the beer garden. The ‘live’ music was some cross between ‘new age’ and jazz – not very entertaining. No food either! We had a beer each and decided to call it a night. We stopped at McDonald’s and I got a salad and back to the cottage. We had our light dinner and off to bed.

Sunday, June 17 (Ron)

Got up early again, just after sunrise. It is so cool to be able to get up in the morning and have a beautiful, clear, blue sky; very comfortable temperature; and a quiet, peaceful setting. I sat out on the deck and read for a bit after taking a quick walk. Pat joined me on the deck and we enjoyed the wonderful morning together.

After breakfast on the deck we got loaded up and drove north of town for a hike before it got too hot. A few miles up Dry Creek Road was a park in Boynton Canyon. Looks like an easy hike with beautiful scenery. We took the Boynton Canyon Trail and after hiking a ways along the bottom of the canyon we came to a ‘Y’. We could follow along Boynton Canyon Trail or turn off onto Vista Trail. Vista Trail – I imagined beautiful vistas, looking across the valley for miles. We could stay on the nice level trail or take the one going uphill with promises of spectacular views at the end. I convinced Pat that we should take the scenic route and we started climbing. It was a little strenuous, not bad, but we worked up a pretty good sweat.

We made it to the top and had a pretty good view across the canyon. Took some pictures and just sat on a rock and enjoyed the moment. Along the trail were century plants, lots of prickly pear cactus, juniper trees, yucca, agave, and others. Very cool.

Back to the resort for a little R & R at the pool. Some friends that live in the area met us for dinner. We went to the Javelina Cantina and had a great meal with wonderful conversation. A very enjoyable evening to end another beautiful day in Sedona.

Monday, June 18 (Pat)

We were up by 6am to get ready for our Grand Canyon tour today. At 7:30 we walked over to the office and met our other five members of the group from Utah, a brother, sister, and mother, plus spouses. A small bus/van pulled up with big side windows – our tour guide for the day was Dave. With only seven of us we could all sit on the scenic left side to start out. A quick stop at ‘Starbucks with a view’ and up Oak Creek Canyon. Dave enlightened us on history tidbits about the area while driving up the scenic, narrow canyon. In an hour we were in Flagstaff. Heading past the tallest peaks in Arizona (San Francisco Peaks), an old volcano on Interstate 80, we drove through ponderosa forests on the Colorado plateau to more sage, juniper, and pinion pine forests the closer we got to the National Park. The first stop was the IMAX theater outside the park. A close up, spectacular view of the canyon, the Indian history, and explorer history. Rafting the river rapids with Powell was amazing to watch. You expected to get wet. Got to see a lot of smaller canyons and other areas in the movie that you wouldn’t see otherwise. In the van we also watched a movie about the mules in Grand Canyon – everything tat is in to bottom was hauled in by a mule. Some great shots of what it must be like riding the mules down the Bright Angel Trail.

Next stop was lunch at the Village Cafeteria. You could pick your entrée, soup or salad, a drink, and dessert. It was a good feed. Dave joined us and we headed over to the El Tovar Lodge/Hopi House stop. It was blue sky, good visibility, and comfortable warm to enjoy the awe-inspiring views. The canyon is ten miles wide – rim to rim. From this vantage point you can’t see the river – just the gorge where it runs. You can look down on the lower plateau and Indian Gardens where the main trail down is. Then it is just appreciating the various striated rock masses, caused by time, layered between the rims. All shades of rust to cream. Overhead ravens and turkey vultures cruise the updrafts. Ron and I walk north along the rim, viewing and taking photos, then turn around and walk south past our starting point and continue on the rim trail. Near the Bright Angel lodge is a view point out on the white rock point. Below this was another white, flat, rocky outcrop. This is where some of the released California Condors were hanging out. Several times we got to see them fly around with their huge wing-span and red heads – pretty cool. Unfortunately it was time to head back to the van so we said good-by to the condors and joined the others.

We went a little further south along the rim to the Yavapai outlook/museum. More awesome views. Now you could see the green water of the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. More photos, checking out the museum exhibits, and back to the van to head to Desert View on the east side of the loop. Here they have constructed a 70 foot tower with a viewing platform outside and then you can climb to the top to look out the enclosed upper level. Along the walls were replica cave/rock paintings to give an idea what they would be like as seen in the canyon. This view also looked onto the Painted Desert to the east – all shades of pink, mauve, and red. We could also see more of the river at the bottom as well.

We said good-by to the canyon views and headed east to Cameron on Hiway 64. The Little Colorado River/Canyon runs along here through the Navajo reservation. We leave the pine and juniper and pretty much just have sage and cactus at the lower level. At Cameron is a huge trading post. Lots of stuff/people. A woman was weaving a rug inside to watch. We got our souvenir turtle then homeward bound – snacks and water, and watched The Princess Bride on the DVD on the way back. We were dropped off right in front of our cottage.

A long and very enjoyable day. We had cereal and yogurt for dinner, downloaded our photos onto the laptop, and went to bed early to be ready for our next Sedona adventure!

Tuesday, June 19 (Ron)

This is the day for our new adventure. Today we will float above Sedona with spectacular views of the Red Rocks, Verde Valley, Boynton Canyon, and other natural landmarks. All good things come at a price and the price we paid (other than monetary) was getting up at 3:45am.

The anticipation helped energize us and we walked to the resort’s office to be picked up at 4:50. It’s another beautiful day – comfortable temperature, wonderful clear blue skies that allow you to see forever, quiet and peaceful as a monastery.

After a five minute ride we were at the launch site. There were four or five other groups there in various stages of preparation so it was interesting to watch the whole process. We chatted, took pictures, and just watched as a wicker basket and large nylon bag became an instrument to allow man to float thru the air like dust in the wind.

Soon our balloon was ready, raised high above us, tugging at the basket as if to say “C’mon, let’s go.” We all climbed into the basket, Pat and I, two other couples, and the pilot, Scott. The ground crew released the tethers and with a blast of hot air we rose into the morning sky. There was almost no sense of movement other than the ground falling away from us.

We rose up, not into the stratosphere, but just high enough to be able to view the entire area and still pick out details below us. We went higher or lower as Scott caught just the right air current to take us where he wanted. We dropped down into a dry creek bed, below the tree tops (and trees don’t grow very tall in this climate!) Then we rose up catching a different current, just brushing the top of a tree with the bottom of the basket.

Scott pointed out landmarks and various areas, talked about what he was doing and what effect that would have on our flight, and what the air currents were doing, but much of the time he just kept quiet, allowing each of us to experience the flight in our own way.

We touched down with a bump and a bounce. The balloon was aloft for an hour and twenty minutes and traveled seven miles. After all balloons, passengers, and crew were back on solid ground we had a champagne toast with strawberries and a pastry. It was a great flight and a wonderful experience for both Pat and me.

We were back at the resort by 8 or 8:30. Pat took a nap and I was on the computer for a while. Around 11am we went to the pool to get some sun before it got too hot. We didn’t make it – not the pool, we made it to the pool OK. But it was hot! I checked the temp at 12:30 and it was 104 degrees and 8% humidity. We stayed out till a little after 1pm, then came in to cool down.

Mid-afternoon we drove out to Cottonwood to meet some friends. They drove us up to Jerome – an old mining town built on the side of a mountain. There are a lot of old homes and businesses, some restored, some pretty run down, but a very interesting place.

We got back to their house at 6pm and said our good-bys. Pat and I then drove back to Sedona, thru town, and out to a hiking trail northeast of town called Margs Draw Trail. It was a nice, easy hike in a neat area. Great scenery as always, plus lots of plant life. Lots of small pine trees, prickly pear and other cactus, century plants, and many other (unknown) desert flora. We watched the sun go down then back to the resort to chill out for a while before going to bed. A very enjoyable day!

Wednesday, June 20 (Pat)

Originally today was going to be taking a tour to the Hopi Indian Reservation. The tour ended up being cancelled when one couple backed out. Before we went to Jerome we stopped in at the concierge to look at another option – since the Hopi tour had been our gift for attending the RCI presentation.

They offered a helicopter tour. Having just experienced one form of air travel (balloon) we thought it would be fun. So at 8:30am we were getting weighed-in for our flight. One other couple, Ron and I, and the pilot, Steve. Maverik Helicopter tours had a new two million dollar fancy helicopter. The Sedona airport is up on a flat mesa so you can look around and see the surrounding red rocks. We drove out to the helipad, took photos with the pilot in front of the helicopter and loaded up. Ron and I next to the pilot in front, the other woman beside me and the husband had the back to himself. The front of the helicopter was all window, even down low by our feet. Once the rotor was going we put on our headphones and it was surprisingly quiet. We hovered above the ground for a few minutes then took off to the east off the mesa. With the huge visibility in front it was like the IMAX movie watching the ground, canyons, rocks come below us. The tour flew by Cathedral Rock – level with its big rock spires, then past Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock, and headed north. It was awesome! The birds-eye view of the red rock formations up close!! There was so much to take in! We flew along the formations while Steve talked about what we were seeing. We would fly right over notches in the rock walls – up past where we hiked last night and across Oak Creek. We flew over the burn area from last summer and a flat plateau area before entering into more high walled canyon terrain – Secret Canyon. It was gorgeous. Narrow, lots of pines, sheer red rock walls. After coming out the west end of the canyon we banked south with a good view of the mesa lands, back towards Cottonwood and Jerome. Turning east it was behind some more rock walls into Boynton Canyon. Tall red rock walls, logs of rock spires in the distance, hardly treed – it was beautiful. As we flew along the canyon walls Steve pointed out the ancient Indian ruins in the crevices of the rock. In the helicopter you are close, looking straight on at them and getting a sense of the panoramic view at the same time. An exceptional way to experience this area. Coming out the canyon we flew over West Sedona, the Sedona Pines Resort and angled back to the mesa and helipad. WOW! I would take another tour in a minute. It is difficult to take it all in – there is so much to see. Ron felt the same way – the ride was very smooth and comfortable. They also do tours up to Grand Canyon as well – two and a half to three hour trips. Maybe someday. Afterwards we decided to purchase a photo on a plaque and DVD of our flight with narration and our voices. Very cool!

After the helicopter ride we stopped and took pictures from the mesa lookout point viewing Sedona and the colorful backdrops. Back at the resort we relaxed, read, sunned, sat at the pool, and worked on the computer for a leisurely afternoon. We decided to head off for an early evening hike and initially started out for the Soldier Pass trailhead. Turns out the trailhead is closed at 6pm and we were just that. So we headed back. On the way a quail with four tiny chicks ran across the road in front of us. So cute! We headed up Coffee Pot Road to Sugar Loaf trail head. We wanted an easy trail and the Thunder Mountain trail was listed as easy. As we headed up the canyon taking photos of the rock spires making up the Coffee Pot Ridge we decided to head east so we could see the spires better and see where the sun was still hitting the rocks. Pretty soon there was a branch-off trail that headed up this large mound. Intrigued by the opportunity for a grand vista we opted for the climb. It was well worth it. On top was a 360 degree view. Down into Sedona, we could see our parked car just below us. Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte peaked above the airport mesa glowing in the setting-sun rays. The rock ridges around uptown Sedona were lit up and gradually darkened as the sun set. We stayed on top, soaking in the view as long as we dared, still allowing time to descend before the dusk became too dark. We met up with a couple walking their little dog and chatted with them a bit about the local coyotes. We enjoyed a beer at the car in the twilight and headed for the resort and a light dinner. A spectacular day start to finish!

Thursday, June 21 (Ron)

It was a day like any other day. Sunny, beautiful clear blue sky, comfortable temperature. I got up first, made coffee, and did some stuff on the computer, then went out on the deck to read and enjoy the day. Before long Pat came out and we talked and planned our last full day in Sedona.

We decided to go out to Slide Rock. That’s a park outside of Sedona where Oak Creek flows over some rocks and makes a water slide and some pools for diving, swimming, and splashing around. It’s a beautiful area. There are rock formations to dive off, lay out, or run around and play.

There were a lot of people there – lots of kids and families, couples, old, and young. Kids of all ages were enjoying the water slide. It didn’t have much of a vertical drop, but t he water had cut a channel in the rock about thirty feet long and a couple of feet wide so it created enough water pressure to push you through the channel into a wide, deeper pool. Lots of fun. We stayed there for four or five hours, had lunch, played in the water, sat on the rocks to warm up, watched the fun, and had a great time.

We left about 4:30 and drove back to the resort. Went to the restaurant for a free margarita and chips/salsa. Pat and I sat at our table and talked about what a fun week we had. At the table next to us the activity director was teaching a group of five kids aged 4 -9 how to play poker.

We were starting to get hungry so we went back to our unit, got cleaned up, and walked back to the restaurant for supper. Pat had nopalitos (fried Prickly Pear cactus) and a shrimp salad. I had rattlesnake bites and a chicken quesadilla. Very good. A nice finish to another very enjoyable day.

Friday, June 22 (Pat)

Our last morning in Sedona. We enjoyed our routine of coffee and breakfast on the deck while reading. It was another beautiful blue-sky day. We eventually packed, gathered all our stuff, left the food and drinks we didn’t want to take, and loaded up the car. We were off by 10:30am. We headed south to Phoenix and had an uneventful drive. We munched our lunch at a stop along the way. We found the car rental place, then remembered we needed to get gas so had to circle around until we found a station. At the airport we finished off our lunch stuff and drinks before heading through security.

I had a window seat and enjoyed the scenery as the flight path went past Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks passed below. It was a beautiful completion to our trip.

A smooth flight home and we joined the four-legged family in a perfect Northwest evening.