11/30 Montezuma's Castle and Tonto Natural bridge

Cottonwood: Wall mart! I've learned (again) that I don't like the Wall mart experience- I stopped in to see if they had butane cannisters for the stove- nope, and a bike pump for the missing one. I did find that at least.

Safeway- groceries, a much better experience.

Montezuma's Castle National Monument.

Total misnomer- no Montezuma, and no castle, but there are some very cool cliff dwellings and artifacts from how the native people lived in the area long ago, and Ginger could walk this with us. We were lucky and got a parking spot right away.

We headed south and found a nice brewery in Pine, called THAT brewery. Pine is a happenin' town, and THAT is also the place to be. Then we found a forest camp and I enjoyed a fire with wood someone left behind. It was good, but we didn't return there because it felt a bit trashy/ unmaintained.

So tomorrow (11/30) we return to Pine for a hike.

We went to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park kind of early, and got some good area information from the guy at the booth- I asked if he had a favorite hike in the area, he replied Deer Creek, so we'll look for that one.

The state parks are pretty strict on the dog thing- Dogs on paved trails only and cannot be left in a vehicle unattended.

Travertine formations make the rock look like sand castles, it's really like calcium deposits

We saw some Cardinals in the meadow, and identified the females, which have just a hint of red.

Afterwards we went back to Pine and hiked a section of the Arizona trail (6 miles out and back), it felt good to have a decent hike in for exercise.

No javelinas, but some cool textures on the Oneseed junipers. Ginger had a great time and is tired this evening.

Most of the hike was in the mid 60's, and the sun felt great.

Angry Plantlife!

Bark patterns, Oneseed Juniper

Thanksgiving!

So, today we enjoyed a bit of Sedona, maybe I’m getting used to it?

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast at “the Vault” then went for a hike in Yavapai, hmm, canyon, not really. I think it’s just Yavapai. great network of trails for hiking or Mt biking- though those trails would be tough on a Mt Bike!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Blue Agave on the Yavapai trail

Agave and Cactus

11/27 Sedona

I've struggled with Sedona a bit, mostly around access. There are so many limitations, no parking, no dogs, no, no no.

 I think that there are a lot of folks who spend a lot on property in the red rock country- which is stunningly beautiful, and are working hard to keep people out of their backyard.

Finding somewhere to fill water tanks- not here.

How about empty the grey water? Nope

How about some cool wild forest camping- nope- only in designated spots, and there are just a few- over crowded spots. People staking claim to a spot with tents made it feel even more restricted.

It all takes the fun out of the place.

The trailheads are packed by 8:30 and there are cars lining the road nearby. How can that be? There are tons of trails! Are they really all like this? The hikers seem to have a different mindset, like it's 100 percent about the Instagram photo rather than the experience of seeing a place. The community seems to have a different mindset. We were hiking in the "wilderness" with golf courses and condos built right up to the fence line, and the noise of the maintenance machines was constant for hours. It's like there's no regard for the incredible scenery aside from having the prized property at its doorstep.

So, it's beautiful, but really a poor experience.

That said, here are some photos from our beautiful hike in Boynton canyon. We were just going to the canyon when we met someone that was going to the Subway, to get "the photo" of the Subway cave, ok, let's check that out. It was an amazing place, up on a cliff face where ancient peoples had shelters above the valley floor. What they were interested was next to that, and a cool photo- but that was all they had eyes for, not the ancients.

Weird

We retreated to the dispersed site closer to Flagstaff, and it was refreshing to have some space again.

I wonder if there are some dogs down there!?

There’s a cool pertoglyph behind Susan, maybe a spiral, maybe a turtle?

Yes, it’s a long way down!

11/24 Grand Canyon

Yesterday we explored Lees Ferry on the way to the Grand Canyon area. That's where the rafting trips put in the Colorado river. Lee is a historic figure that owned and operated a ferry at this part of the Colorado. Like so many, the story is about the hardship and ultimate bust of a business. It's very interesting how many ventures were iconic to an area, but for a very short time period. (thinking of the Bodie mining claim, Borax works and this area of the Colorado river).

We got up early to enjoy the (freezing wind) sunrise overlooking the Grand Canyon. It's an inspiring scene, and starting so early there were very few people- until later :) Enjoyed a late breakfast skillet at the Bright Angel lodge and the artist studios that were nearby.

Topped off the day with a hike to Red Mountain, so Ginger could hike with us- she managed to climb a  six foot ladder with 2x4 rungs without a second thought. On the way down, I held her harness, but she found it just as easy as going up- crazy dog.

The Colorado River below Desert View, Grand Canyon National Park

Susan and Ginger exploring erosion patterns on the Red Mountain hike

Red Mountain

Red Mountain with Susan and Ginger

Sunset near Red Mountain

would you rather watch that sunset, or play with me?

Just Magical! looks like dinner will be late again.

Red Canyon Utah, 11/22

Wow! This felt like a hidden gem of a park!. The campground was closed, but that would be an ideal place to explore. The park is just outside of Bryce canyon, but is much smaller, bit in our half day hiking there, we saw 2 people with 2 dogs.

Our trail was a combination of the Golden wall trail and the Buckhorn trail, and hair raising overlook. Just under five miles, but a lot of up and down through the red rock hoodoos, and forest. Just magical! The best part is that dogs are allowed, which we find fantastic.

Ginger has to look over the edge!