Friday, February 27, 2015

Road Trip

SWMBO and I went on a road trip yesterday.  We'd been talking for months about making a trip up to Williams, since "it's only 50 miles." Ah, old age and a faulty memory. I was remembering the distance from the north side of Prescott to Ash Fork, or the junction with Interstate 40. But it's 8 to 10 miles from our house over to join the highway north from Prescott and then another 15 miles from Ash Fork back east to Williams.  So that 50 mile jaunt turned out to be around 73 miles. But we got there.



These bronze sculptures mark the east entrance to Williams.  It's up in "tall pine" country or as a sign alongside the road noted "elk country." These, typically for me, were the only elk we saw.

One other thing I forgot about - the weather. The town sits at about 6,700 feet, nearly a couple of thousand higher than home and the temperature was in the low 40's and there were occasional snow flurries. Not a good day for ambling along the street visiting shops. And Williams has plenty of them, mostly devoted to the fact that it sits on a famous highway.


We spent quite a bit of time wandering through one huge business that must have had every known item of kitsch to remind the shopper that they were in Route 66, Harley Davidson and gun country. But we also visited a wonderful business devoted to Native American art and jewelry. The proprietor was very knowledgeable and solicitous, without putting "the sell" on us.

Then it was time for lunch.


The restaurant we selected was quiet and very tastefully decorated. It sort of gave me the feeling of being in a Dutch Master painting, not what I would have expected in a western town that is not only on Route 66 but also bills itself as "the Gateway to the Grand Canyon", about an hour to the north. I'm not sure which came first, the restaurant or the iconic bird it's named for.



Nevertheless the food and service was wonderful and the Bourbon Ale draught beer wasn't bad either. ☺

After lunch we decided to head east to the outskirts of Flagstaff and then take the highway down through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. On the way we encountered more snow as we climbed ever higher.


Yes, folks, that IS Arizona you're looking at . . not Michigan or Minnesota. But never fear. Dropping down through the canyon the temperature rose 10 degrees and the snow quickly disappeared as we entered the Red Rocks region.






(By the way, just to allay the fears of Nervous Nellies, SWMBO in the co-pilot's seat was the on-the-road photographer.)

World-famous Sedona was, as usual, hopping. It never ceases to amaze me that what was once a tiny isolated village has become a tourist mecca, 12 months a year. 






I spoke to one visitor who said he was from Pennsylvania. I asked him, good-naturedly,  "don't any of you tourists know it's February?"

He responded, "it's a lot better than the 17 degrees back home!"

He probably could have said "what are you talking about?", as I licked my ice cream cone. (It was delicious, by the way.)

But it was getting late in the day so we bid Sedona and the road a fond farewell.


An hour later we were back in our warm home. A good day.

11 comments:

  1. Sedona is INSANE! I won't visit it anymore...way too much congestion. Looks like you guys are going to get some rain this weekend but no snow. I'll be up there this evening so hope I beat the rain.

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    1. It has been over 20 years since I visited Sedona, and there were about ten people there!

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  2. So much information in one post; a bonanza. I certainly agree with your description of the tasteful, and muted, restaurant. But tell me, perhaps, what is Sedona attraction as a tourist resort?

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    1. Sedona is a former Old West town, now a combination of many, many art galleries; many, many "crystal gazers"; and the beauty of the famous red rock cliffs. Along with a beautiful retirement area (with abominable traffic jams) it is a center of New Age philosophies with numerous reputed "vortexes" in the area. You can learn more (if you like) at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedona,_Arizona

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  3. Your neighbor whose good house is never doneFebruary 27, 2015 at 4:37 PM

    I continue to be so impressed with your photography. Let's talk cameras soon. Mine is shot. Lovely post. I was just thinking how much I need to "get out of Dodge", and instead I was able to take a Vicarious Vacation Day. Thanks! I needed that!

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  4. Neat travel adventure. Thanks for the "trip."

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  5. I do like the atmosphere of the "Red Raven."
    Yes Sedona is not what it once was but oh well the red rocks will survive for sure.

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  6. Did you happen to see two younger guys in a nice old 'vette?

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    1. Marty is 83, George is 86 now. Don't know about the 'vette.

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