I won't quite call breakfast a misadventure but remember yesterday's no cheese on a breakfast sandwich issue? Well, as promised I brought cheese with me to the hotel. No, really. I brought a slice of cheese to Ann's hotel. It was an individually wrapped single. I held it up my sleeve so as not to look like a dork as a sashayed into the hotel lobby. This way, I just sound like a dork to all the blog readers. Anyway, I walked over to the warmer. Yesterday poached eggs and sausage adorned the warmer. Today? Some egg, bacon, cheese pizza looking thing. I was gypped!
After my non-cheese topped breakfast, we went to Walnut Canyon. It's home to Indian (Sinagua) Cliff dwellings. We've been to several cliff dwellings in our travels and these were average but not as spectacular as Mesa Verde. It was quite a hike. The website says, "Strenuous, especially for those not acclimated to 7,000' elevation. The trail descends 185 vertical feet into the canyon, and returns the same way." It was fierce. We took many breaks. The views were great, the ruins were OK, and the weather was perfect.
Speaking of weather, we walked through two ecosystems today. One side was cold. We were bundled up. Pine trees, oak trees and walnut trees were all around. We made a turn somewhere, and were greeted by a reader board explaining we'd notice and feel a climate difference now. The now sunny side was very warm (we took our jackets off) and home to prickly pear cactus and yucca. To me, this was so cool. The website says, "This is a biological “hot spot” – a place of concentrated biological productivity – because of its varied exposures and elevations, together with seasonal water, all compressed into a narrow band within a surrounding pine forest. The canyon twists and turns, creating a patchwork of sun and shadow. Hot dry desert-like slopes and shaded forests, normally separated by thousands of feet in elevation, are found here almost side by side. With these overlapping habitats come unusual assortments of plants and animals, and a high concentration of sensitive species. At the same time, the canyon serves as an important wildlife migration corridor, linking higher elevation forests with lower pine-juniper woodlands to the east."
I felt like we drove into a different state today. After we finished the ruins, we took a trip from Flagstaff to Sedona. Sedona's beauty lies in the beautiful red rocks. The drive through Oak Creek Canyon to get there was what was stunning. The red rocks, the green trees and grasses along the creek were amazing! The best part! Once in Sedona, we ate lunch at the Open Range. The food was OK, the views from our table were great.
Tomorrow, Ann, Jim and I drive the RV to Phoenix...... See ya!
Every time you stop somewhere, I want to go and see it all for myself!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in St. Lucia 2 years ago, Tina nd I took a bus tour. In that 3 hour span of time, we were in 2 completely different climates also. At the beginning of the tour, near the ocean, it was tropical with palm trees, etc. Then at some point, we turned a corner and were suddenly in a forest with pine trees and cooler weather! It was really cool!
Glorious photos, Gar.
ReplyDeleteWhen I drove Jordan to Orlando before his move, we stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites and I had that breakfast! To my surprise the eggs were not powdered and actually tasted great. I even splurged on Weight Watchers points and had a piece of bacon and a bowl of Quaker Oatmeal. Livin large! They did have some pizza looking things that morning too - I think they were breakfast bagel tops or something. Sound familiar? What did you do with your sweaty cheese after you had nothing to put it on top of? Sorry you were gypped, but be careful using that kind of offensive language, man. {wink}
The change in climate during your canyon hike reminded me of when we were on a deep sea fishing boat in Cabo. We were warm on the Sea of Cortez side of the Baja Peninsula, but once we swung around the southern tip and headed out into the Pacific Ocean, the air was frigid! We were like, go back! Go back!
Thanks for keeping up to speed on your adventures. It's the next best thing to being there.
Kisses!
@Joanie: Every time I stop somewhere, there I am.
ReplyDelete@Alix: Yes, it was a breakfast bagel top. I put the cheese into our beverage cooler. It was like a funeral.
Garret