Sedona and Other Stuff

Our last two days in Arizona we spent some time hiking and then we drove to Sedona to see what it is all about.

First, we decided to hike Camel Back Mountain. It was just minutes from our hotel.

We made it to the top! The mountain is 2664 feet tall and it was a climb! There are two trails you can choose and we took the "easy" one.  There were some really narrow and tricky parts. I was relieved to make it and the view was amazing.  Coming back down was hard! It took a lot of concentration.

                              Segauro cactus! They grow really tall and the birds make houses in them.

Later in the day we went to a workshop where they make these wind chimes and bells. The area was started by a man Paolo Soleri.  It was interesting to look at and he was a head of the times when he started.

Friday morning we were up at 3:45 to get ready to go on a hot air balloon ride. Neither of us had ever done that and I thought it would be fun to do.

     The van came and picked us up. We drove to other hotels to get more people and on the way,
the owners called and said the flight was cancelled.  It was too windy. It was a bummer.

This was the sunrise we saw as we got back to our room. Should have been watching it from the balloon. So we went back to sleep for awhile and then got ready to go to Sedona.

We drove to a little town of Jerome first and walked around. It is very artsy and crafty. Lots of little shops for gifts and places to eat. The town used to be a mining town and they built it into the side of the mountain, so it winds back and forth.

The Grand Hotel! It was not very grand. We walked up to look at it. The hotel is the very top of the town. In the olden days with the mining business, it was the hospital. We did eat lunch in Jerome and then onto Sedona.

                      We took some time to go see The Church of the Holy Cross.

We didn't do any major hiking in Sedona. We drove around and looked at all the rock formations and landscapes. We did walk for awhile and then it was time to go back and pack up to go home.

It was a fun trip! So different without the girls. Raphael and I had a nice time together and I was thankful we were able to visit with old friends and have some time in a new place.  Arizona was beautiful and I know we will go back again some day.