Does This Blog Make Me Look Fat?

One thing I can’t talk about much of Sedona is places to eat although I know there are plenty of good restaurants. It’s never a priority for us once we get there. We’ll take a picnic lunch and eat at Crescent Moon Ranch or bring along some trail mix and snacks to eat while we hike. This time, though, we did a lot of hiking right through lunch and decided to get something to eat before we went up to Airport Mesa to watch the sun set.

Kathy had seen a place called “The Barking Frog” as we were headed out to Fay Canyon and thought that maybe we should try that, but as we headed back into town we forgot where it was until we had passed it. I decided to go to the one place I had eaten before that I never forgot, The Red Planet Diner. I knew the burgers and the milkshakes there are good, the service is mediocre, the decor is both unique and a little bit tacky – just the kind of place I like. Like most restaurants in Sedona they have big windows that provide views of the marvelous red rocks. They also have a  “Vortini” menu to fit the theme along with things like the “Roswell Burger” to eat.

When we got there Gustavo greeted us and took us to one side of the restaurant, presumably to show us where we couldn't eat because someone was coming to fix the sink and it might be too loud, then took us back to door where we had entered and asked us where we'd like to sit. We soon learned he was both our host and waiter. In fact he seemed to be the only one there besides the guests at two other tables until the plumbers showed up. It was 3:30 in the afternoon so maybe that was why it wasn’t too crowded. Kathy had the turkey wrap. I had a hot pastrami sandwich. We weren’t too rushed because we had plenty of time to get to Airport Mesa. Kathy took some pictures of the place while I munched on my fries because that’s the kind of place it is. I found a little virtual tour on YouTube which I think will give you an idea of what I’ve been trying to describe.


After eating we stopped at a little crystal shop but didn't find anything we liked there so decided to head on up to Airport Mesa even though the sun wouldn't be setting for another hour or so. I had never been there either, and I didn’t realize it was at the top of a winding steep two lane road that takes you high above the city. This would have been good to know before hand  (or maybe not) since I’m afraid of heights. The elevation change is about 200 ft. That may not seem like much, but as we ascended and the ground disappeared off the shoulderless road to my right I could feel my grip getting tighter on the steering wheel. Eventually we came to the parking lot (relief!), and tourists had already started gathering with their cameras to photograph the panoramic view of Red Rock country. Some people brought bottles of wine and snacks. This was a little disconcerting to me as I recalled the twisting narrow road back to the bottom.

Just past the parking lot was Sky Ranch Lodge. We had made reservations here once and planned to stay the night so we could take pictures of both sunrise and sunset, but then my cousin had to schedule back surgery and we had to cancel our trip. After discovering its location, I have to admit I was a little relieved. I don’t know if my heart could have handled making that trip up the hill everyday. I had no idea it was so close to Airport Mesa and so high in the sky.

The only problem was that it had become very overcast by now. Chances looked good that the sun would stay hidden, but by now you know us well enough to know that didn’t stop us from taking pictures anyway. We set up our tripods and snapped away, taking pictures of Chimney Rock, Thunder Mountain (a.k.a. Capitol Butte), and Coffee Pot Rock. I’m sure we were hoping to get that one unforgettable photo. My cousin, the sky person, may have because she has an eye for it, but I just took picture after picture hoping one of them would look halfway decent and not be washed out by the gray sky. When we finally decided the sun was going to set behind the clouds, we made our way back down the hill which wasn't so bad because I was on the inside lane close to the mountain.

This, as many other things I saw today, was a good reminder for me of who really owns this planet. There would be another sunset and someday we’d be here to take a picture of it. In between now and then, many others would be witness to this breathtaking awesomeness that is nature. It had been a perfect day even if the weather hadn’t cooperated in the end. Driving back home we saw some amazing sky as we got farther South, but there was never a place to pull over and take a picture. Eventually it was gone, and Sedona was in the rearview mirror fading fast from view behind us. I was going to try and remember it and make the memories last. Until next time.

I made a mistake. I should have finished writing about my Sedona trip before my cousin left. I feel kind of “blah” now that she’s gone, and I forgot how quickly memories fade as you get older! A dear friend of mine, Cathi, would be telling me to be thankful for the time we had together, the trip we made and the wonderful things we got to see and share together. Cathi is a very special person who inspires me every day so I’m going to channel her as I write this.

When we left Fay Canyon, it was about 1:30 in the afternoon. We planned on driving up to Airport Mesa to take pictures of the sunset, and since we had time to kill we decided to stop by our favorite spot. Red Rock State Park, Crescent Moon Ranch, Red Rock Crossing – they are all basically in the same geographical area. We spent an entire day there last time we visited Sedona. The trail is an easy, magical stroll along the shores of Oak Creek. The longer I’ve lived in the desert, the more fascinated I’ve become with water. I love everything about it: the fresh smell, the sound as it trickles over rocks, the way the sunlight glistens off it. Whether it’s the gentle motion of a stream or the powerful rush of ocean waves, I immediately become its hostage.

We made the drive a little further west and took the Upper Red Rock Loop past Sedona High School. I can’t imagine going to school in such a beautiful place! I think I’d have a hard time concentrating and be caught gazing out the windows all the time. The short drive to the park along the winding road provides some breathtaking views of the surrounding rocks, but there aren’t many places to pull over for photos. When you get to the park, the entrance fee is $8.00 but well worth it. There are picnic tables and restrooms – luxuries many hiking areas don’t have. I’m not sure of the direction there, but as you face the creek you can go left on a trail that runs close to the water and towards Cathedral Rock or follow the trail on the right along the creek to one of the most photographed places in Arizona, Red Rock Crossing. The last time we visited here, we went a little ways in both directions. I’m beginning to think we’re a couple of quitters as I recount how many times we don’t finish a trail when we start it. In reality, there is just so much to do and see that we try to fit as much in as we can. Someday we are going to have to either just concentrate on one thing or spend more than a day in the area. And maybe shop.

We were directed to the end of the parking lot at the picnic area. I think it was the last open spot. As soon as you step out of your vehicle you are facing one of the most beautiful photo opportunities you’ll ever see as Cathedral Rock looms in the distance framed by giant oak trees. There used to be an apple orchard here in the early 1900’s, and the water wheel that was used to bring the irrigated water to the apples has been restored. We debated which way to go because we knew we wouldn’t be able to spend more than a couple of hours there. We hadn’t eaten all day so we wanted to grab some lunch before we went to Airport Mesa. We decided to hike toward Cathedral Rock and explore more of the trail than we did last time.


We played along the creek like we did last time. You can wander along the other side if you want to try and tightrope walk across some of the logs that span the creek, but we weren’t feeling that adventurous today. Last time we did that, and it was about 7 months after my cousin’s back surgery. We considered it a small triumph then. We hung out along the flat rocks where we had seen someone performing a healing ritual last time. This is where we stopped before and turned around to hike the other way to Red Rock Crossing. There’s another favorite spot of mine here where you can sit on the rocks and look downstream at a few mild rapids rushing towards you, all against the backdrop of Cathedral Rock.

Cathedral Rock, like Bell Rock, is one of the four main energy vortexes in Sedona. It is said that the energy vortex here strengthens the feminine side. The Feminine Side can be viewed as being on a scale that has goodness at the high end, and the opposite, which is badness or evil, at the low end. In contrast to the masculine side, which strengthens the ability to stand up for your own rights, the feminine side strengthens the ability to allow others their rights and not interfere with those rights. The energy at this vortex strengthens the things you normally think of as feminine, such as kindness, compassion, patience, and the ability to let others need you and depend on you. And it strengthens the ability to anticipate the impact of your actions before you act, which is what considerateness is all about.* Bell Rock, where we visited earlier in the day, is said to strengthen all three sides: the Masculine, Feminine and Balance. 


Shortly we came upon Buddha Beach. Here the trail changes to a sandy beach along the creek and there are hundreds – maybe even thousands - of stones stacked in a zen-like fashion. It is said the energy from the vortex is so strong that it keeps the stacks from falling over. Kathy made a little stack for us along the creek, across from the mass of cairns on the other side of the trail.
We asked some returning hikers if the trail crossed the creek anywhere here. They told us we had pretty much reached the end so we turned around to head back to the car. We’d walked a lot today. Our feet were hurting, and we were hungry…

There is no “Y” at the junction of Highway 179 and Highway 89A anymore. They changed it to a traffic circle, and if you think it’s less congested or any easier to navigate now you’d be wrong. Going north on 89A takes you to Flagstaff. South will take you west of town to red rock canyons and some of the most amazing scenery you will ever see in your life. Our destination was Fay Canyon, another new stop for us. I picked it out because it was listed in the book Best Easy Day Hikes by Brian Grubbs. Mostly I picked it because it was somewhere I had never gone and contained the two magic words - “Best” and “Easy”.

To get to Fay Canyon you turn right on Dry Creek Road and then left on Boynton Canyon Road. The road will come to a “T” and you take another left. If you go right there then you’ll end up at the more popular Boynton Canyon which, like Bell Rock, is considered one of the Energy Vortexes surrounding Sedona. I best remember Boynton Canyon as the place where my Mom lost her footing and slid down a short embankment on her tush about 20 years ago. The video camera recorded it all, along with me laughing hysterically as she slid. I don’t know where that video is now because it belonged to my sister and after she passed away I don’t know what happened to it, but every time we watched it we still laughed – mostly at the fact that we were all laughing in the first place as Mother slid down the hill on her bum.. She was okay, of course, or it wouldn’t still be so funny today.

We followed a Pink Jeep to the trail head. If you ever get to Sedona and have the time to take a Pink Jeep tour I highly recommend it. They have different routes, and some of them will take you to places you'd never be able to hike to if you're city girls like us. I remember when my Mom and Step Dad took theirs. They came back with smiles as wide as the Grand Canyon and red dirt all over their faces. Kathy and I took one a few years back, and I'd love to do it again if we ever get the time.

It was starting to get a little overcast when we got there, and you could hear the wind whistling through the canyons. It almost sounded like a pack of sprites singing some mystical ancient song. At the parking lot, it was pretty cool so we decided to put on our sweatshirts. The trail head is across the street, and once we started walking the sun peeped out from behind the clouds. Since the canyon walls protected us from the chilly wind we felt in the parking lot, we once again decide that we didn’t need the extra layer of clothing.

This trail was obviously less traveled than the one we’d just taken at Bell Rock, but we still met a few hikers coming out as we made our way in. Up the trail a ways and to your right there is a natural arch in the canyon wall which is hard to see if you don’t know that you’re looking for it. The path up to it is steep and not very well marked. We were pretty sure we found it, but not adventurous enough to explore. Besides, I had spent the day planting flowers the day before, and my muscles were already aching from that. We followed the trail a little further and spotted the arch high up on the canyon wall and were pretty glad we hadn’t tried to get there. If you don’t do that kind of hiking every day your body reminds you in fairly quick fashion.

We debated going on, but the clouds were starting to look a little darker. Besides, there was a place that had been calling my name all day so we decided to go there next...

On Columbus Day my cousin and I made our annual trek up to Sedona for a little hiking and photography. We always say if we had more time we’d shop, but we always end up having so much fun on the trails that there is never time for shopping. Next time turns into next time turns into next time and so it’s almost like a joke to even say it anymore. We had decided to try a couple of new “easy hikes” (because you just can’t do enough of the kind of walking us city girls do to prepare you for hiking along a real trail) and hoped to visit an old familiar spot if we had the time.

We left around 7 AM and after stopping for gas and a cup of java, we were on the freeway by 7:30. Sedona is a couple of hours drive straight up Interstate 17. If you have the time, you can take Highway 89A for a winding, scenic trip through the old mining towns of Jerome and Clarkdale which will eventually lead you into West Sedona. We were trying to squeeze in as much as we could for a day trip so we took the Sedona Exit off the Interstate which is Highway 179. That road brings you in through the south and the Village of Oak Creek.

There is something about going around that curve on Highway 179 that takes my breath away every time. Up to that point, there isn’t even a hint of the magic that awaits you. The landscape doesn’t slowly ascend into heavenly red rocks and deep blue sky; there’s no rock formation here and there until they multiply into many. You come around the bend and BAM! Once you’ve been there you never forget it, but you never quite remember it either. The recorder in your brain seems to have come up short at capturing the wonder of it all, and you realize the color chart in your mind is slightly faded. At that moment, I’m certain I have seen the most beautiful place on earth even though I’m not a world traveler.

We stopped at the Visitor Center to get our Day Pass and take in the surrounding beauty. Pretty much everyone stops here to  get their passes and take the first photos of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. The weather is nice and it’s a holiday so it’s more crowded than it was when we came here last year during the first week in November. We have to pinch ourselves to make sure that we’re not dreaming because we have an entire day ahead of us with nothing to look at but this.

Our first stop was the Bell Rock Pathway. I’ve never seen Bell Rock from any place but the visitor center or the road as we passed by. It was sunny and the breeze was chilly, but we decided right away that we didn’t need the jackets that we brought. The path up to Bell Rock is 1.1 miles. Bell Rock looms straight in front of you while Courthouse Butte rises to your right. Once you reach Bell Rock you can take the Pathway on the left or the Court House Butte Loop to the right. We chose the path to the right and walked about a half mile before we decided we should have brought along some water. We also had so much we wanted to do that we made a mental note to hike the whole trail the next time we came back.

When we got back to the parking lot at the trail head there were a couple of tour buses stopped there with a big crowd wandering around and taking pictures. We sat there for a bit and munched on some snacks and drank water until we decided to head to our next destination on the West side of Sedona. Wouldn’t you know that the busses left just ahead of us. We followed them up the narrow and winding two lane road through the Village of Oak Creek and into town. It seems like they’ve been working on that road since the first time I visited 20 years ago. There was a lot of construction and the trek was slow. They’ve put in traffic circles up and down 179 and as you can imagine that made things interesting, but it’s hard to complain when you’ve got such pretty things surrounding you. If you’re not careful you will find your eyes wandering from the road to take in the scenery.