Sedona's Vortexes and Red Rocks

Sedona, AZ 4-4-2009

Recently, I said I wanted to settle somewhere that was beautiful. Arizona is beautiful. Especially our current location, Sedona. This is RED ROCK country, and the scenery surrounding this village is magnificent. I have never seen anything like it.

The village is full of artists and quaint shops. The full time residents have built adobe houses in colors that reflect the surrounding cliffs. These are my kindred spirits.

I was reading some blogs by other people who are just like us - full timers, wandering around the country - and one couple mentioned a camp ground they had stayed at in Sedona called Rancho Sedona. I called and made reservations and it turned out to be wonderful.

We are staying in a canyon that runs right along the village, yet there is a steam running past and it is quiet and full of trees.

Today we took two hiking trips. The first was to Fay's Canyon, a 2.5 mile hike into a canyon. The picture above is taken from the bottom of that canyon. Then we ventured out to Chapel Rock Trail.

The local story is that 64% of tourists that come to the area (according to C of C statistics) come for spiritual reasons. What they mean by that is that people come to visit the vortexes where they believe creative energy is centered.

One of our hikes was to Chapel Rock which is where a vortex is supposed to be located. We hiked about 1.2 miles out to the vortex zone.

At the vista there were medicine wheels and other shrines that people had built. I do not know enough about New Age religion to explain the significance. But, to Christians, the area reminded us to worship the creator, not the creation. And, HIS creation is magnificent.

Tonight, though we had hiked about five miles up and down rocks and in and out of canyons, Bill said he felt refreshed. The vortexes are supposed to impart rejuvenation, so maybe they did work some magic on us.

At the end of the day we drove into Oak Canyon to see spectacular bluffs and magnificent vistas as the sun set on the red cliffs. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

Tomorrow, we are headed north.

Sabino Canyon, Arizona

April 2, 2009
Sabino Canyon lies on the north side of Tucson, at the very edge of the residential area. Since today was Bill's birthday, he was in charge of the itinerary.

We were amazed to find Sabino Canyon full of visitors. It is a very popular place for hiking, mountain biking and birdwatching. We had stopped by Beyond Bread, our favorite lunch spot, and picked up sandwiches to go and packed our backpack with food and water for the hike up into the Canyon. As you can see by this picture, the desert paths were clearly marked, so easy to follow.

The more popular area in Sabino Canyon is Seven Falls, which must be reached by tram, so most of the visitors were headed there. We took the road less traveled.

Even though the temperature was in the moderate 70's and a gentle breeze was blowing, the sun was shining so intensely here that it felt hot. Our final destination was a nice cool oasis, a spring fed river flowing out of the mountains, which was about a mile up the canyon.

Once again I am amazed at finding water in the desert. This picture is of the river bed, taken from the top of the dam where we sat and ate our lunch.

This is a view looking up the canyon. It is hard to imagine that this river runs right next to the desert landscape that is pictured above.

Bill did spot a large bird's nest next to the river. After making some distressed mouse calls, a beautiful, golden colored hawk peer over the side of the nest at him.

Later, we stopped a park ranger who identified the bird as a Cooper's Hawk and said this had been the first sighting of the bird, since the park service had thought they would not come back this year. Apparently, they build their nests on top of another and generally come back until the nest becomes uninhabitable because of mites.

We came home and had ice cream to finish off the celebration. I think Bill had a nice birthday, doing the things he loves to do - spending time in the great outdoors and birdwatching. Happy Birthday, Bill. I love you.

Southern Arizona

" It was a long life, and during it she inhabited many different selves." Someone please remember to put this quote on my tombstone one day.

I can think of nothing I love to do more than to travel. To see the interesting way other people live and to contemplate what it must be like to live as they do. One thing I know for sure, I will never live like my neighbors in the campground, who stay shut up in their giant motor coaches day and night, the television blaring, yelling at their yapping dogs and at each other. It is not the life for me.

Today, we drove through the Sonoran Desert, to a place called Arivaca Lake. The desert road wound around the tops of the foothills, and at each dip in the road a yellow sign warned not to enter if flooded.

It is hard to imagine this dry, barren place with enough water to be a danger to vehicles. I am always surprised to find lakes in the midst of the desert.

Lake Arivaca is located off of Ruby Ranch Road, 2 1/2 miles down a gravel path. Lake Arivaca's existence seems incongruous, set in the midst of dry parched sand dunes.

Though it was clear and blue, it was also tainted with Mercury, according to another government warning. You cannot eat the fish caught from the lake. The loons didn't seem to mind, diving and paddling in a pool they had all to themselves, except for a few vermillion flycatchers and swallows.

It seemed as if we would be all alone, so far were we from civilization, but at the top of a hill we spotted a camera focused on the hills that butted up against Mexico. And on top of the camera, a radar. Bill surmised that the radar was to track movement.


We only stayed for a short time, since there were signs all along the road of illegal traffic. Empty water bottles in the arroyos, abandoned camp fires, a handprint on the back of road signs, which is supposed to indicate that a member of the Mexican Mafia had been there.

The hand sign is supposed to mean eternal war, and since we were only armed with Dorito Chips and Fig Newtons, we decided not to engage in battle and turned the car around.

Since we don't start work for another week or so, we are going to take an extended trip to Sedona and the Grand Canyon, leaving on Friday morning. There is a famcamp close to Flagstaff called Camp Tuthill where we will try to get a campsite for a few days.