Sedona

Sedona has been on my short list of places to visit for years. It was part of the draw for choosing the race in Phoenix this year; Sedona and warmer weather. Sedona was absolutely beautiful but I have to admit that the gorgeous rock formations are not much different from other places where I have visited beautiful red rock formations. The biggest difference was the location of the town and the opportunity for food, lodging and shopping right there in the midst of the beauty.

It was a great stop on our trip. We did not stay over night but we did have a patio lunch with a breathtaking view. I am glad that we visited Sedona in the off season. The locals say it gets crazy busy with traffic backed up for two hours during the busier seasons. It was a wonderful stop and it shortened my short list.

Phoenix Favorites

 It's always a treat to visit a different season. We left winter briefly and visited late Spring and early Summer weather. It was a treat to enjoy the green growing plants and bright oranges and flowers.

 Garden Outside of the State Capital Building

 Palms near the Capital Building

 Roses are even more gorgeous in March.

A little time to swim and enjoy the sunshine was a big favorite!

 The saguaros cacti which are found in the Sonoran Desert, but not as photographable as I had hoped.

Of course we found some very yummy local food as usual. Oregano's was my favorite. Fajitas was good too. Thanks to a co-worker for the recommendations. We also drove across town for a donut that was recommended on our favorite road food website. It was yummy but not remarkable. The food is always a fun part of the exploration!

Blue skies, sunshine, short sleeves and flip-flops are always a favorite!

The ONE Shot

 If there was one great shot that I really hoped to get on this vacation it was a saguaro cactus at sunset. I did not succeed! There were many along the roadside near Phoenix and there were many in people's yards but to find one standing unobstructed on safe public property at sunset was a challenge that would have required a much longer stay. There are street lights in this grouping and at times it looks like the palm trees are growing out of the cacti, but this is the best that I could do this time.

Arizona Baseball

 Baseball was certainly a highlight of this trip. Sitting in the sunshine on a bleacher watching baseball and sipping a beer in March felt really great. It felt like summer! I didn't get to put my toes in any lakes or oceans on this trip but I did walk barefoot on the grassy hills for spectators in the outfield area. It was a Spring Training game between the Cubs and the Indians. It was a lopsided game but I didn't care.

 Although it was interesting to see a Spring Training facility, I am always anxious to visit the MLB parks. Arizona Diamondbacks play in Phoenix. It's too early for a game and when we read the website they said that tours were not available this week. We headed downtown anyway to just get a look at the exterior but got lucky when a wonderful young woman who was working in the restaurant that was about to open invited me go out into the dining area that is open to the field. She said to take my time and look around. It was almost like having personal access and I loved the surprise treat.

Sing Praise

"All the earth worships Thee; they sing praises to Thee,

sing praises to Thy name."

We saw so many beautiful sights on vacation that they almost became ordinary. This sign at the Grand Canyon with a verse from Psalms gave me a reminder that all of this beauty is amazing creation and that it is good and right to give praise. I am in awe of creation, even the gorgeous rocks!  

Road to Phoenix

Our destination was Phoenix; specifically Phoenix International Raceway but we saw lots of sights on the road to the race. (And on the way back but that's another blog post.)

We drove through parts of Oklahoma and the length of the Texas panhandle. It was a fun surprise for me that we were traveling along the old Route 66 quite often. It was worth pulling into the small towns just to see the old signage. While choosing our route we look for new territory and for me the panhandle of Texas was a draw. We found some new things and enjoyed the regional foods.

 Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo Texas was right on the route and since we had seen it on TV it seemed worth a stop and a chance to stretch. I did sacrifice a pair of shoes when I misjudged the mud but it was a worthwhile pause along the road.

 New Mexico was a new experience for me. I had never visited there as an adult and it was fun to explore a bit. Dale always likes to stop and photograph the state capitals. We made it to Santa Fe just as the sun was setting. This sculpture of children stands near the entrance of the state house.

 I loved the pottery and the peppers. We spent quite a bit of time strolling through the old town area in Albuquerque and I really enjoyed  being there.

 We started our journey a half a day later than planned so we moved fairly quickly to make up time and get to Phoenix. We slept in Oklahoma the first night, then New Mexico the second night before entering Arizona for the last stretch through Flagstaff. I cannot get enough of these trucks that were along the road. They may be my favorite photo of the trip. We did pause south of Flagstaff to enjoy a sunset before we got settled in closer to the track for the big race.

Race day temperatures were perfect and the sky was overcast. I normally love a sunny day but when you are sitting on the bleachers in the desert, nobody complains about a few clouds. We actually had seats in the shade with a great view. Our seats were high...very safely out of the path of flying car parts if there had been issues. It was a very pleasant day with enough time left to try a great restaurant, Oregano's, recommended by a friend who lived in Phoenix. So much delicious food to explore!



Arizona Road Trip

We are three days into our latest road trip adventure. Shortly after we crossed the Arizona border I noticed this very interesting collection of trucks lined up outside an automotive business that just happened to be near a beautiful rock formation. The shot just hit me. I actually took this with my iPod and have done nothing to crop or edit, but decided that I wanted to post tonight. I even posted on facebook! We saw 68 degrees today and expect to see 82 tomorrow which feels pretty good after dealing with about a foot of snow on my driveway the day before I left town! I do love a change of scenery and a good road trip!