Sedona and the Grand Canyon
Dec. 8th, 2005 10:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tenayaWe're back from a five day trip to Arizona and we had a great time. We stayed for two nights at Sedona. We drove in after sundown and were quite amazed to find in the morning, that our hotel in the village of Oak Creek was between Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock. It was cold and clear for the duration of our trip, and the blue sky was brilliant against the red and yellow buttes and cliff faces. For two days, we wandered about taking short walks along the trails, driving off road and of course, shopping. It was very relaxing and fun. The altitude there is over 4,000 feet, so Mom got winded VERY fast. While we were on the Bell Rock trail, we went very slow, and to kept Mom from trying to push herself too hard, I started pointing out the tracks all about us in the fine, pink sand. There were raccoon (I wonder how I knew that?), some sort of large lizard, and I think a javelina or a smallish deer. A herd of mountain bike riders rushed by at full speed, doing their aggressive, competitive "enjoyment" of the Great Outdoors. I'm just glad Mom was already over on the edge of the trail because they were moving too fast to allow her to get out of the way, otherwise.
Towards the end of Day Two, we drove up through Oak Creak Canyon which is quite lovely, even through the trees were either bare or in fall foliage. It didn't take long at all to get to Flagstaff (which is a different town from what I remember just 13 years ago!), then to Williams where we checked into the Railway Hotel for our package train trip to the Grand Canyon. Our train left in the morning, but the enormous hotel was awash in children wearing their jammies. Dinosour slippers, knitted jester hats and I can't tell you the amazing variety of things parents dress their children in! The thing was that while the train takes 135 minutes to travel 65 miles to the South Rim, this same train will go all the way to the North Pole in 20 minutes where Santa gets on the train and gives all the kids a bell. Yes, the Polar Express is a going concern, and they do two trips a night. The kids were so excited it was like they had been mainlining sugar all day.
Our train trip was very relaxing, more so after the alcohol was served. We saw pronghorn antelopes and deer. Immediately after we arrived, we got on a tour bus that went out towards Hermit's Rest which is west of the village. Our guide/bus driver was a wealth of information about geology, history, politics, ethnology. He spoke very highly of John Wesley Powell's entire career and how he admired the Native Americans and was an advocate for them. One interesting fact, if it's true, is that the Navajo speak the same language as the Innuit, and genetically are closer to them than other tribes. He said the Navajo appeared in the Southwest suddenly about 1350, only about 100 years before the Spaniards arrived. I wonder if it's true?
We stayed at the Maswik, which was adequate. It was rustic but clean and quiet and worked out well for us. After we came back from dinner, and paused as to stare at the Milky Way (which we haven't seen where I live for at least 30 years!) as long as we could tolerate. It was in the low 20s, and down about 18 or so the next morning when we trudged to breakfast. It was so cold because of the altitude (about 7,000 feet) and it was easy for everyone to get winded. I turned on the tv to see if we got Boston Legal (which we did!) and found they were also running the Western channel and I happened across an ep of Alias Smith and Jones. My little fannish heart was totally delighted, it was perfect.
The next morning we took another tour that went east to The Watch Tower. The views were spectacular as the air was crisp and clear, and the winter lighting was at a low angle and gave the canyon many defining shadows. Apparently winter is a best time to see the canyon...who knew? Anyway, this tour guide knew a lot (or memerized a lot) about human history (if a tree falls and there's no one to hear it, it doesn't exist; same thing for the Grand Canyon--our experiencing it makes it exist. Uh huh.) He talked like Festus from Gunsmoke and really was full of BS for the most part. I did learn a lot about Fred Harvey, the Harvey girls and how they tamed the Wild West. Harvey was English born, came to American, learned the restaurant business and realised there was money to made in food service along the train routes. He teamed up with the Santa Fe line and they built Harvey Houses every 100 miles where you could get a decent meal. All the waiters were men and when he found one place manned by drunks, he fired them all and eventually advertised for women in the East to come out to work. First, he had them go to finishing school where they became ladies. As these ladies married the locals, they demanded schools, churches and law and order. Thus, Harvey tamed the Wild West.
Anyway, it was delightful, even if Mom developed a fear of heights and couldn't be proded to get closer to the edge. *g* I like the cold and the visbility was nearly limitless so it was wonderful. In fact, conditions were so perfect that at one point, if everyone was vewy, vewy qwuit, we could hear the sounds of the rapids, one mile below us.
During the train ride back, everyone was into naps, but we had to look lively when the train was boarded by bank robbers. The train had to come to a stop because "you can't get good quality bank robbers anymore that can jump from a galloping horse to a moving train." We had been warned that this could happen so we had a couple of bucks handy. I have to say it was bit of thrill to look out the window and see masked men galloping by. I watched lots of westerns as a child....
The drive home was uneventful. The lady at the Auto Club had worried about us leaving so late as there would be moose laying down on the roadways due to the warmth. Moose? Are you sure you mean moose, I asked. Not elk or deer? She was sure it would be moose (apparently drawn to the marshiness of the high desert?) About the only unusual thing was we could see the light pollution from Las Vegas from 90 miles away. 405 miles in 6.5 hours (with a 45min break.) Oh, note to self, never buy gas again in Needles, Ca. While most communities in CA and AZ were at $2.30-2.40, and Blythe was $2.65, Needles was $3.00/gal. In Kingman, 60 miles away, I saw a sign for $2.20. I just laughed at the boldness of the robbery, because, at that point, you have no choice, but Mom was asking how far back Kingman was. I think she wanted to go back to get the cheaper gas!
Today was a lazy day. I went shopping and revittled the house, and bought Brindle a kitty bed with a secret catnip panel for the bathtub. Have I mentioned that Brindle has been living 24/7 in the bathtub, except for brief trips to the kitchen and litter box? He has NO desire to go outside anymore. When I was packing for the trip, he did come outside, but he watched the front yard with intense focus. My theory is that a coyote may have surprised him there. Anyway, he's currently passed out on the 'bed' in the kitchen. I was just showing it to him to see if he might like it and now he's sprawled out on it in a drugged out haze. Probably the most fun he's had in weeks....
Even though we were gone for only 5 days, the cats missd us. Scooter was prowling the house last night yowling like he was in distress. I'd go up to him and he'd stop and look like, "what do you want?" Has being left alone with two other cats made him anxious? Is he getting senile? The kitty sitter felt all was normal with him. Reg, on the other hand, has been laying near us purring continually. What a buddy!
Well, it's back to work tomorrow. :::sigh:::
Towards the end of Day Two, we drove up through Oak Creak Canyon which is quite lovely, even through the trees were either bare or in fall foliage. It didn't take long at all to get to Flagstaff (which is a different town from what I remember just 13 years ago!), then to Williams where we checked into the Railway Hotel for our package train trip to the Grand Canyon. Our train left in the morning, but the enormous hotel was awash in children wearing their jammies. Dinosour slippers, knitted jester hats and I can't tell you the amazing variety of things parents dress their children in! The thing was that while the train takes 135 minutes to travel 65 miles to the South Rim, this same train will go all the way to the North Pole in 20 minutes where Santa gets on the train and gives all the kids a bell. Yes, the Polar Express is a going concern, and they do two trips a night. The kids were so excited it was like they had been mainlining sugar all day.
Our train trip was very relaxing, more so after the alcohol was served. We saw pronghorn antelopes and deer. Immediately after we arrived, we got on a tour bus that went out towards Hermit's Rest which is west of the village. Our guide/bus driver was a wealth of information about geology, history, politics, ethnology. He spoke very highly of John Wesley Powell's entire career and how he admired the Native Americans and was an advocate for them. One interesting fact, if it's true, is that the Navajo speak the same language as the Innuit, and genetically are closer to them than other tribes. He said the Navajo appeared in the Southwest suddenly about 1350, only about 100 years before the Spaniards arrived. I wonder if it's true?
We stayed at the Maswik, which was adequate. It was rustic but clean and quiet and worked out well for us. After we came back from dinner, and paused as to stare at the Milky Way (which we haven't seen where I live for at least 30 years!) as long as we could tolerate. It was in the low 20s, and down about 18 or so the next morning when we trudged to breakfast. It was so cold because of the altitude (about 7,000 feet) and it was easy for everyone to get winded. I turned on the tv to see if we got Boston Legal (which we did!) and found they were also running the Western channel and I happened across an ep of Alias Smith and Jones. My little fannish heart was totally delighted, it was perfect.
The next morning we took another tour that went east to The Watch Tower. The views were spectacular as the air was crisp and clear, and the winter lighting was at a low angle and gave the canyon many defining shadows. Apparently winter is a best time to see the canyon...who knew? Anyway, this tour guide knew a lot (or memerized a lot) about human history (if a tree falls and there's no one to hear it, it doesn't exist; same thing for the Grand Canyon--our experiencing it makes it exist. Uh huh.) He talked like Festus from Gunsmoke and really was full of BS for the most part. I did learn a lot about Fred Harvey, the Harvey girls and how they tamed the Wild West. Harvey was English born, came to American, learned the restaurant business and realised there was money to made in food service along the train routes. He teamed up with the Santa Fe line and they built Harvey Houses every 100 miles where you could get a decent meal. All the waiters were men and when he found one place manned by drunks, he fired them all and eventually advertised for women in the East to come out to work. First, he had them go to finishing school where they became ladies. As these ladies married the locals, they demanded schools, churches and law and order. Thus, Harvey tamed the Wild West.
Anyway, it was delightful, even if Mom developed a fear of heights and couldn't be proded to get closer to the edge. *g* I like the cold and the visbility was nearly limitless so it was wonderful. In fact, conditions were so perfect that at one point, if everyone was vewy, vewy qwuit, we could hear the sounds of the rapids, one mile below us.
During the train ride back, everyone was into naps, but we had to look lively when the train was boarded by bank robbers. The train had to come to a stop because "you can't get good quality bank robbers anymore that can jump from a galloping horse to a moving train." We had been warned that this could happen so we had a couple of bucks handy. I have to say it was bit of thrill to look out the window and see masked men galloping by. I watched lots of westerns as a child....
The drive home was uneventful. The lady at the Auto Club had worried about us leaving so late as there would be moose laying down on the roadways due to the warmth. Moose? Are you sure you mean moose, I asked. Not elk or deer? She was sure it would be moose (apparently drawn to the marshiness of the high desert?) About the only unusual thing was we could see the light pollution from Las Vegas from 90 miles away. 405 miles in 6.5 hours (with a 45min break.) Oh, note to self, never buy gas again in Needles, Ca. While most communities in CA and AZ were at $2.30-2.40, and Blythe was $2.65, Needles was $3.00/gal. In Kingman, 60 miles away, I saw a sign for $2.20. I just laughed at the boldness of the robbery, because, at that point, you have no choice, but Mom was asking how far back Kingman was. I think she wanted to go back to get the cheaper gas!
Today was a lazy day. I went shopping and revittled the house, and bought Brindle a kitty bed with a secret catnip panel for the bathtub. Have I mentioned that Brindle has been living 24/7 in the bathtub, except for brief trips to the kitchen and litter box? He has NO desire to go outside anymore. When I was packing for the trip, he did come outside, but he watched the front yard with intense focus. My theory is that a coyote may have surprised him there. Anyway, he's currently passed out on the 'bed' in the kitchen. I was just showing it to him to see if he might like it and now he's sprawled out on it in a drugged out haze. Probably the most fun he's had in weeks....
Even though we were gone for only 5 days, the cats missd us. Scooter was prowling the house last night yowling like he was in distress. I'd go up to him and he'd stop and look like, "what do you want?" Has being left alone with two other cats made him anxious? Is he getting senile? The kitty sitter felt all was normal with him. Reg, on the other hand, has been laying near us purring continually. What a buddy!
Well, it's back to work tomorrow. :::sigh:::
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-10 01:22 am (UTC)I've never been to the Southwest; it sounds like it would be interesting. I'm going to look up the Navajo and moose at work on Monday though...
;)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 03:28 am (UTC)The desert is magnificent but never go in the summertime. I'm partial to the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Bryce, Zion and Monument Valley. Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon are worth a looksee, but I'd put them on my B list of priorities if you ever plan a trip. And of course, Las Vegas is a total hoot, the most unreal place on Earth.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 04:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 03:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 03:43 am (UTC)takes me 6-1/2 hours to get to Salinas with a stop or two and gas.
Something to think about!
Arizona
Date: 2005-12-13 03:35 am (UTC)>>Our train left in the morning, but the enormous hotel was awash in children wearing their jammies. Dinosour slippers, knitted jester hats and I can't tell you the amazing variety of things parents dress their children in!
LOL!
>>>One interesting fact, if it's true, is that the Navajo speak the same language as the Innuit, and genetically are closer to them than other tribes. He said the Navajo appeared in the Southwest suddenly about 1350, only about 100 years before the Spaniards arrived. I wonder if it's true?
The Navajo are definitely from a different ethnic group than the other local tribes, and are relative newcomers to the area. Interestingly enough, the word 'anasazi', which has such romantic resonances, is a Navajo word meaning 'enemy'.
>>>It was in the low 20s, and down about 18 or so the next morning when we trudged to breakfast. It was so cold because of the altitude (about 7,000 feet) and it was easy for everyone to get winded.
I don't miss that aspect of Flagstaff at all...! Froze my butt off! (Unfortunately, it grew back... and then some!)
Living in Flagstaff convinced me I never want to live anywhere near snow again...!
>>>Oh, note to self, never buy gas again in Needles, Ca. While most communities in CA and AZ were at $2.30-2.40, and Blythe was $2.65, Needles was $3.00/gal. In Kingman, 60 miles away, I saw a sign for $2.20. I just laughed at the boldness of the robbery, because, at that point, you have no choice, but Mom was asking how far back Kingman was. I think she wanted to go back to get the cheaper gas!
LOL! Yup, once you're in Needles, and you need gas, you're screwed. Nothing between there and Barstow. Do they still have that huge billboard saying LAST GAS FOR 150 MILES!!! at the edge of town?
I'm glad you had such a great trip!
Re: Arizona
Date: 2005-12-13 03:54 am (UTC)The last time we were up that way was in 1992 and we took Route 66 into Flagstaff. The town seems 10 times bigger now! And the I-40 is niiiiice! But it was still below freezing and windy and I'm not use to that.
I don't recall the sign, but they probably still should have it up. The next services (as they put it) was at the exit for Amboy, but there was nothing there at the exit, and Amboy was over the hill somewheres.... Then there was a truckstop later on but I believe it was only diesel. There might have been one other place, but it was closed up and/or abandoned. I really expected Needles to have prospered like Kingman did, but it was still the same sorry place it's always been.
Supply and demand in practice, and don't they know it.
Re: Arizona
Date: 2005-12-19 12:56 am (UTC)I know there's all sorts of theories on any the Anasazi disappeared, and warfare is certainly on that list.
>>>The last time we were up that way was in 1992 and we took Route 66 into Flagstaff. The town seems 10 times bigger now! And the I-40 is niiiiice! But it was still below freezing and windy and I'm not use to that.
The last time I visited Flagstaff I was astounded by how much it had changed. 10 times bigger is right! It was Labor Day weekend, 2001, and I made sure my travelling companions brought their coats - and we sure needed them!
I lived in Flagstaff for two years, and during the second winter, we had 200 inches of snow. That cured me on ever wanting anything to do with snow again ever in my life...!
>>>I really expected Needles to have prospered like Kingman did, but it was still the same sorry place it's always been.
Needles was always an armpit. So was Kingman - I lived there for 14 years. It sounds like it's much improved since I lived there...!
Re: Arizona
Date: 2005-12-19 03:40 am (UTC)I remember Kingman as a small/moderate town, whereas Needles is a truckstop on steroids. Now, Kingman was about 5 exits off the I-40. Looks like a large suburban area from the lights (we were through there at midnight, I think.)