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...

Journey to Ashfork and the Devil's Sinkhole

The town of Ashfork, Arizona, is about a 70 minute trip north of Prescott at the junction of Highway 89 and Interstate 40 and the old Route 66.   Ashfork is known for its early and critical role as a transportation hub helping settle Arizona to the south.

With the building of the Interstate and the rail line being moved 11 miles north of town, Ashfork almost died off, and even now, the town is filled more with memories than with businesses and occupied homes.  But, the town, as many small towns in America, the townspeople love their home and it shows its pride in the local historical museum, free to the public!

One of its many displays showcased a section of town in scale model in its heyday!

I had dad stand next to this 1925 Ford, made when he was two years old, but he is not an antique!

One of the signs we saw in the museum directed to a place known as the Devil's sinkhole located about seven miles west and north of town.  Upon further inquiry, we gained a hand-drawn map and verbal directions, and after a hearty lunch as the local cafe, we headed out to find the landmark which boasts a 292 foot depth!  We never found the hole, but we sure had a wonderful country drive and met some cows.

One of the many reasons we did not find the sink hole was that there were no road signs to guide us other than posts listing the directions to the rural ranches in the area.  We knew we had gone much too far when the last sign we ran across has just two names, one to the right and one to the left!  It was time to turn around.  We were seven miles off the road, more than any of us would or could walk!

You didn't believe me about the cows?  No bull?

Leaving Ashfork, looking east, we see mountains that lay directly north of Flagstaff, one of our next destinations.

My next entry will show off a local event Kristin, dad, the two grandkids and I experienced at a 300 acre farm in Dewey, 15 miles east of Prescott.

Day Tripping, First of Many to Come (Hopefully)

                                    A crystal art glass sculpture found in Jerome AZ at Nellie Bly's

Today, instead of heading up to the Grand Canyon, we decided to head north and east out of Prescott utilizing State Highway 89A to visit Jerome, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.  The great Grand Canyon will need to wait a bit longer for a visit from us!

This picture was taken as we left Jerome, a famous old mining town built, literally, on the side of a mountain.  The street are narrow, winding, and flat space is at a premium, mostly reserved for the roads and not much else.  It is a great little tourist destination, worth your while seeing and staying a bit.  Let me share with you some of the highlights through picture and words.

Mid-way through his 89 year, my dad Floyd enjoyed his day; standing in front of one of the many historic buildings now shops.  Nellie Bly has the notority of claiming to have the world largest collection of  kaleidoscopes, and I believe it!  What a treat and a feast of visual experience.  I have, up to this point, never had a shopkeeper encouraged me to take pictures of their wares, so here are a few shots I wish to share!  I just aimed my camera right into the view finder.  It is a shame that Kodak no longer makes cameras.

I have yet to go onto their website but I will share it with you, perhaps for more.  www.nbscopes.com

24 years ago there were many nay-sayers in town when this shop was opened, declaring "who are going to buy kaleidoscopes"?  Well, the shop is still there and I doubt our $8.00 purchase helped much for most of their models sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.  One of the kind employees, pictured here, encouraged us to play and enjoy ourselves, and we did.

We headed down the hill, gearing down to second gear all the way.  Our next destination was Sedona.  Sedona is a beautiful small town, reminiscent of Moab, Utah, but a nicer looking town.  Let me share with you a few pictures of the beautiful surrounding that make Sedona such a charm.

Just East of Sedona

Entering town from the South

We ate lunch at a small cafe close to Oak Creek, a great Italian meal with a nice view from every table.

After lunch we visit a very popular destination site outside of Sedona known at the Chapel of the Holy Cross.  What a beautiful setting it was, a place for not only "awes" but for prayer and meditation.  (Right click on this next picture and open to it's own window to expand.)

 

Since we were touring for just one day, we left the town behind for future exploration and headed up hill to the North up the famed Oak Creek Canyon, again on Hwy 89A.  Our journey up the road reminded us of our beloved Colorado with towering hills and shaded flowing water.

I will share those pictures with you next time.  I hope you were able to experience this day trip even for  a moment.

-Kevin

Not Traveling But Still Enjoying the Sights!

We have been treated to beautiful sights here in Prescott and the surrounding areas.  This white tail deer was feeding in a neighborhood just east of town along with a younger buck.  It seemed as curious about us as we were of him.

Picture was taken by an unknown fellow hiker, just yesterday, at Goldwater Lake, just 4 miles from town, one of several lakes within an easy driving distance from Prescott.   Here are some photos of our time together, dad and I, enjoying a late summer day.   This was our first trip to the Lake, but not our last!

Dad enjoyed the day, perhaps even more than I as he sat listening to the call of a couple of hawk, the honk of the white goose, the quack of the ducks and the distant chatter of kids fishing and playing by the side of the lake.

A view on the Senator Highway just three miles from town; the mountain in the background is called Granite and for good reason.   Its elevation is 7626 feet, a mix of pine and rock, just north and west of Prescott.

Earlier in the day, we stopped by the rodeo grounds to watch the 4th annual Arizona Draft Horse and Mule Association competition.   Can't beat the price; it was free!

Yes, the above horse is a Percheron.  What a beautiful animal!

Since it has been a few weeks since I have posted here, I thought I would catch you up on a couple of family pictures for good measure...

In good humor they all posed as they were leaving for a super-hero party hosted by family friends.  Here is a picture I took just this P.M. as I composed this blog.  August will turn two years old early October.  What a little cutie pie.  He already speaks in full sentences and it a sweet little boy - most of the time.

We are planning a day trip to the Grand Canyon in the next week or so.  The high tourist season is over and it should be a beautiful sight.   I hope all is well with each of you, family and friends alike.