Flagstaff to Sedona

On my bed in the Star Motel in Sedona, with a programme about Theodore Roosevelt on. I recently read a book about ol' Teddy. He was a great man. I mean, he was a man. I can highly recommend it, even if you don't really know anything about him. I didn't. I was inspired to read it (and this is a little embarrassing), by Parks and Recreation and How I Met Your Mother. Random, yes, but definitely with a happy ending. 

Anyway! Sedona. Wow. After waking up at some stupid time this morning (probably 4.30), and then managing to fall back asleep, I woke up at 7.15am. Lovely. After a lazy morning in bed with CNN, computer, and Skype, I checked out and went for a good breakfast. Lots of coffee, eggs and bacon, and some oatmeal for good measure later, and I was on my way to Sedona. 

I've driven through Sedona twice. I wasn't particularly impressed either time, to be honest, but knowing you can't judge anything from the main drag, I had decided to give it a good go. After all, all I hear about is how beautiful it is. 

I arrived after the scenic drive from Flagstaff too early to check in, so dump my stuff in the car and head out on foot to explore uptown Sedona. It's essentially a tourist haven. In fact, all the city survives on is tourism. Something like 4 million people come here a year, but only 10,000 live here. It's a good looking city though. In the 80s, they decided you couldn't build houses more than two stories high, and in fact, you just couldn't build any more houses. What's more, your house has to blend into the landscape, so you've only a certain select palate to choose from when painting your house. It might all sound rather strict, but is in fact a stroke of genius, if you ask me. The city complements the surrounding scenery so well, than from a distance it's actually quite hard to see. It's fantastic. 

The drag is a little different. It's full of shops all selling the same thing, more or less. I did buy some things. In fact, I bought America. 

Tell me you don't want that t-shirt. Tell me. 

It's not the most amazing city judging from the main street, but is any city? The people were very friendly though, I'll give them that. Genuinely friendly. I felt welcome. After a light lunch, I decided to go for a little hike, because you know, the last four days weren't enough. I found a short one, and drove out to Chimney Rock. There was a short and easy hike to do, so out I set.

I got lost, of course, but had my bearings so found my way back with no problem. It was very beautiful, and gave me my first taste of Sedona as it really is. I also decided to climb the hill tomorrow. 

From there I hit The Chapel of the Holy Cross, a really rather cool chapel built into the rock. 

The chapel was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, and with the help of her pal Frank Lloyd Wright, the chapel was finished in 1956.

It's quite beautiful, and I think very Frank Lloyd Wright (I went to visit one of his houses in Phoenix last year).

The stairs

I talk to the parking guy for a bit about Scotland's potential independence, and then head back to the motel. I've got a jeep tour booked for 4pm, and need to get my stuff together. 

A view from the chapel. That big round house is owned by the man who has the patent on laser eye surgeryAnother view from the chapel. I don't know who owns what house

It's a bit touristy doing the jeep tour (with Pink Jeep Tours), but what they heck: I'm a tourist. We're a group of 6, and we head out towards the Mogollon Rim (an escarpment defining the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau - as Wikipedia tells me).

It's a bumpy ride, and it ends with a splendid view of Sedona. Burt, our guide, tells us about how the rocks were formed, and the overall history of the area. He also mentions how religious people sometimes question the age thing, saying the world is only 6000 years old. I'm happy to see we all have a good laugh at this. 

From the rim, we head down and up a trail that only Pink Jeep Tours has access to. It's a very, very bumpy ride, up and down 45° hills, and over huge boulders. It's great. We head to Submarine Rock, a huge bump of a rock that rises up out of of the ground, just below the Mogollon Rim, overlooking the city. It's absolutely gorgeous. This, this is what Sedona is about. 

We wander, and stare. Wander and stare. There's a good storm in the distance, and lightning occasionally flashes down.

Thunder roars, but there's no rain. Just good clouds. A rainbow appears as we head on to Mushroom Rock, a rock formation jutting out above Submarine Rock. It's lovely. 

We head back just as the rain starts. If I'm honest, I could have skipped the rim bit, and just done Submarine Rock. It was really very beautiful.

However, we all get out, full of smiles, and head our separate ways. I head towards the Cowboy Club on the main drag, and eat a great meal of burger, beans, and peach pie. I also had a good IPA and a bourbon, just because. 

What a great day. I've completely changed my mind about this place, and can't wait to explore a bit more tomorrow. A good hike, and a driver out to the airport mesa, supposedly very cool. 

Time will tell. For now, it's back to dear Teddy.