SouthWest USA - Part 2 Grand Canyon

Wednesday 23rd April  our trip took us through the spectacular Oak Canyon and onto Grand Canyon. No matter how much you read about the Grand Canyon or how many photographs you've seen, nothing really prepares you for the sight of it. It is everything, and then some, you expect it to be.

                                                          Arthur, still focused and inspirational.
                             
One of the worlds seven natural wonders, it's so startling familiar and iconic you can't  take your eyes off it.
The enormity of the Canyon is really hard to appreciate. The Canyon's immensity, the sheer intensity of light and shadow at sunrise or sunset, even its very age, scream for superlatives.

                                                               Hard to take your eyes off it.

At about two billion years old - half of the Earth's total life span. The rock at the bottom of the Canyon is some of the oldest exposed rock on the planet.

                                                    Two billion years old rock, looks relatively young.


 How do you really take it all on board, you don't! We did the South Rim, spectacular views that still left you stunned and irrelevant in nature's journey.

                                                Sunset, the view before dinner, nothing left for desert.

We dined at El Torva, the best restaurant in the village. Maureen and I dined there 36 years ago. It was still just as good.

         
                                             The final run as the Colorado River runs out of the canyon.

SouthWest USA - Part 1 Sedona

On Monday 21st April we flew into Phoenix, a typical big USA city, the 6th largest in the USA. There was little interest in the city as we were only overnighting and meeting with Peter & Marilyn Surtees who were our traveling partners for the trip. It was great to catch up with Arthur (Peter) and Maz as we had not seen them since September 2013. It was an easy catch up as they are great friends and even better traveling partners. 

On Tuesday 22nd April we travelled to Sedona. We avoided the freeways and went  the long way visiting Prescott, where Whisky Row had hotels lined up side by side. We lunched  at Jerome, a small village on the side of a mountain. It had been burnt down twice and rejuvenated as a tourist town, full of antiques and  arty stuff. Quaint and quirky it provided our first sighting of the red walls of Arizona. 

The afternoon saw us travel through Cottonwood and Bridgeport. The scenic and winding road, clinging to Mangus mountain and overlooking the Verde Valley, led us into Sedona. This part of the day made  sure we understood the meaning of red. It was spectacular. The red, very red walls of Arizona were everywhere. The  enormity and colour of the mountains was amazing. The trip was looking good.

                                                                                 

                                                      Our first sighting of the red walls of Arizona 

Our accommodation was at Briars Patch, a romantic patch of cottages on a River 2ks outside of town. A soft and quiet place to stay. 

Late afternoon found us at Cathedral Rock to test our photographic skills at sunset. The rock and colors generated did not disappoint us. Arthur was focused and the rest of us, inspired by Arthur, tried our hardest.

                                                               Arthur "Focused". Inspiring

                                                                     Cathedral Rock

                                                   
                                                                   Cathedral Rock a little later

The following morning Arthur and I left our women folk in the cabins. This was how the West was Won. We headed to Airport Drive to witness sunrise and see if we'd learnt any photographic skills from sunset.