Day #37 - 4/18/2011 - Sedona, AZ to Kingman, AZ - 173 miles

Our route from Sedona, AZ to Kingman, AZ is HERE.

The inflatable mattress we picked up before leaving Deming just barely fit in the tent, but made all the difference in the world.  The overnight temperature was in the low 50s, making It a bit chilly in the tent and the 4am walk to the bathroom daunting.  But, the mattress…it felt enough like a bed that I didn’t care.

The Lo Lo Mai RV Park had WiFi, but only in the vicinity of the main office.

After we turned in, another couple pulled arrived in the park...late...so late, they decided not to pitch a tent.

Camping out does not get much simpler than this.

 Our campsite near Oak Creek was about as beautiful as they come.

Lani returned to our tent to work on her journal.

 And, even though this was Arizona and the sun was up, it was still 50°F and pretty chilly.

It's Sedona's elevation of approximately 4300' that keeps it so cool, especially at night.  Oatmeal and raisins, then we're off...

Red Rock State Park was acquired by the State of Arizona to ensure that the public had access to the trails around Oak Creek.  After we broke camp, we headed on over.

True to form, Lani embarks on the road not take

 To be perfectly honest, we were a bit disappointed with Red Rock Canyon.  The rocks just weren't that red, not like the hills overlooking Sedona proper.


A panorama stitched together from three images.  Click on the picture...I dare you. 

On the other hand, I was there with Lani, so that made it special.

If you're looking for the an ultra-light go anywhere tripod, check out the ZipShot. It easily attaches to my bike rack.  It was also attached to my camera bag when I ascended Kilimanjaro.

In the middle of Red Rock Canyon, perched on a hill, alone, is the House of Apache Fire, built in 1947 and later given to the state when the original owners divorced. 



As you enter the Red Rock Canyon Area, the House of Apache Fire sits in the middle of this massive canyon.  From a distance, it looks intact and you cannot help but wonder, "who lives there/"  A fence now surrounds the house and this is the closest one can get.

We exited the park and drove through Sedona, stopping at a Yelp-recommended restaurant, Casa Bonita, to split a burrito.  It turns out that, aside from Red Rock Crossings,  the best place to appreciate the red rocks of Sedona is from the town itself.
The road out of Sedona, heading North, parallels Oak Creek and climbs out of the canyon, flanked by parks, rock slides and swimming areas.  At the top of the canyon, Native American Indians sell their handicrafts.

Lani looked, but we weren't in a buying mode.

 There were throngs of tourists.

There were all sorts of art and crafts, but we moved on.

And then, we continued on to Kingman, Arizona.