DAY ONE IN THE DESERT
We took a 6 am, 5 hour nonstop flight out of Philadelphia that was crowded. The rental car building is a 10-minute courtesy bus ride from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport and started off for Sedona nearly 120 north.
Flagstaff is much closer to Sedona, but flights are more expensive there and the rental car costs more too. Total extra cost would have been approximately $500 more. This way we at least got to see some of the beautiful country.
CHICKEN AND WAFFLES, SAGAURO CACTUS AND COTTONWOODS
Definitely very low humidity,
my eyes felt very dry just a few minutes into the warm air of Phoenix. Mid morning and it was in the low 80
degrees, but before we started out on Route 17 we stopped for a hearty breakfast at a Country Boys Restaurant, a small chain of Phoenix area diners. Yep, chicken and waffles for me! Janet had a spinach omelet that came with a massive biscuit and gravy.
Despite the great distance between Phoenix and Sedona it was a quick ride. The speed limit varied from 55 to 75 mph with traffic pushing into the 80's. The desert landscape changed as we headed north and rose in elevation. Phoenix is about 1,000 feet in elevation and Sedona rests at 4,300 feet. Stoic, gigantic Saguaro Cactus filled the sides of the highway at the "lower" elevation and arid climate of the Phoenix area. They only grow in this area of southern Arizona. Janet read off some facts about the Saguaro as we sped along.
The road climbs and the elevation rises to over 5,000 feet at times. The Saguaros disappear and Mesquite, Juniper and Cottonwoods now dot the arid landscape.
We passed an ominous sign advising travelers to avoid overheating by turning off the air conditioning in the car. Average Phoenix temperatures in July are around 106 degrees! Sedona's average temperatures in November average 68 degrees.
We stopped to admire the austere
beauty of the desert at Sunset Point Rest Stop where the vending machines are
caged to prevent looting. The stop offers an unending view of a ridge line,
grey and foreboding.
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| SUNSET POINT REST STOP |
North of here the desert
changes again with the red rocks of Oak Creek and Sedona rising majestically
from the floor like vast ships. Colors of the striations in the rock and the different hues of
green adorning the sheer cliffsides was very beautiful and thankfully as we neared the towns the speed
limit and the several traffic circles slowed us down enough to gawk. 
We tried
to park at the Broken Arrow Trailhead, but as it was a Sunday and the start of a busy holiday season
it was extremely crowded. We inched around the little circle long enough for
Janet to snap some pictures.
SEDONA SUMMIT RESORT
We are staying at a Diamond
Resort again, courtesy of Janet’s step-mom, and late father. This is our third
visit and second one this year. I would never buy into a timeshare, but if
anyone wants to unload points that are about to expire if not used, please send
them our way!
Before checking in to the
Sedona Summit Resort by Diamond Resorts International we stopped the tourist
board in town for maps and hiking advice and then at Bashas’ a local grocery store for supplies. Our deluxe one-bedroom
suite comes with a full kitchen.
The resort is a cluster of
apartments scattered over a spacious property. There are several heated pools
and spas. The place caters to families with several grills dotted all over and
thankfully there’s one adult only pool and spa and another, called the Mesa
pool set away from all the rest with a brilliant unobstructed view of the red
rocks. Hopefully we can see the sun set from a heated spa!
Thanks for reading.
© 2021
By Greg Dunaj
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