Blaze of Mountain Yellow!

This picture and the one below were taken at the top of Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona Arizona in early October.  The forest fields were ablaze with color; something we did not expect but were a result of plentiful rain during the monsoon season of July and August and an ample amount of life-giving moisture in September.

Yellow flowers seem to dominate the Arizona highlands and the southern Colorado Plateau.

Even the cactus get in on the act with the fruit they bear.

While in Arizona we plan to continue our exploration of its beauty.  Many folk only think of the hot desert but they don't realize that the terrain is varied and interesting and that not all of the state is oven hot.  Oak Creek Canyon is especially beautiful as it winds itself up from Sedona toward Flagstaff.

Normally rushing in spring and summer, the placid Oak Creek gently plies its way down the deep valley.

The venerated one, my dad, enjoying the view and a beautiful day.  Here, overlooking the valley.

Native American vendors set up shop at this mountain top overlook.

Shifting gears a bit, I want to share with you some pictures from my recent bike ride in the town of Prescott.  Little-by-little I am conquering more of the town and its little by-ways.  There are a number of washes and seasonal streams that run through the town.  One of the main ones run just on the west side of downtown and a partially improved bike trail runs a good portion of its length.  To my surprise a local artist carved a dragon out of a tall dead stump.  What will be around the next corner?

Mural art is part of the urban trail, adding to the overall experience whether one bikes or walks.

The urban trail led me to an historic landmark structure, the railroad bridge.  Prescott used to be a major center of rail activity for central Arizona.  You remember the "bridge to nowhere?"  This bridge used to go somewhere, but now is cut off by progress.  Where the six rail track sets converged just north of the old downtown, now consists a small shopping center and a busy street running east through town.

Ending this entry, I wanted to bring your attention to the weather shown in the pictures of recent entries.   Prescott enjoys, much like Denver, 300 sunny days a year.  We are enjoying the temperate nature of this fall season.  I hope you are enjoying yours too!   Next, Toozigoot National Monument...