The Scenic Route

I can clearly remember as if it was yesterday a road trip with the kids when they were little. I looked at the map and told Donnie, "Let's take this road; it says it's a scenic route" and you could hear Whitney's tiny voice from the back say "oh, no, not the scenic route"!

Tim fixed us a great breakfast to start the day and then we enjoyed our low-key morning. It was hot enough to be in the pool by 8AM. We compared trips we've taken and he gave us some recommendations on routes and things to see. The time passed quickly and it was time to hit the grocery store and the road.

We headed north toward Flagstaff and saw the longest highway backup I've ever seen heading south. Once again, we were grateful to be heading the other way than the crowd. Those people must have roasted because they had to shut AC down while they idled! I felt bad for them but was smiling all the way.



Our mission for the day, from David and Bobbi Baysinger, was to enjoy the Sedona area. We got off the highway and took scenic 179 into Sedona. All I can say is WOW! That may have been one of the most gorgeous drives we've ever taken. We stopped, per our assignment, at the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It is build right into the cliff, designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and what a view inside and out!





We worked our way through the artsy town of Sedona then headed to Flagstaff through Oak Creek Canyon via highway 89A. Our drives today were spectacular. From Flagstaff we continued north to the Vermillion cliffs which headed us toward the road leading to the Grand Canyon's north rim. Tim described driving along the cliffs looking up at them beside you for miles feels like driving through the bottom of the Grand Canyon. He is so right! We did come through some rain on the drive. It was the first rain we've seen or smelled since our North Dakota storm.






We are camped for the night where we are set to drive the North Rim tomorrow morning before we journey to Utah for our next two missions. We are back to primitive camping (no shower tomorrow) but this National Forest location has the cleanest, nicest smelling pit toilets I've ever used! Oops I hear a few raindrops on the tent. Keeping my fingers crossed that it is just a passing few clouds. I have no service and there is almost no one else around here so no way to get weather info. It is currently exactly 50 degrees colder than when we went to bed last night. Whatever! State number 11 coming up.

Stats:

347 miles
Ice $3.88
Groceries $62.43
Gas $35.30. (gas in AZ has been almost 50 cents a gallon cheaper)


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