Burnt Orange Sunsets & Cinder Cones

We've had our share of the most beautiful sunsets ever on this trip; this last week they were over Lake Havasu where we stayed again, but this time in the free OHV area just South of the city. Matt was able to ride his motorcycle and managed to skid out (he says he's getting better at it now). Don't worry - he's OK - but did learn an important lession - he needs to get knee pads. We stayed there one night and saw the most beautiful sunsets (first 2 pictures above) as well as a star-filled sky and then drove North to Flagstaff, AZ.

Just North of Flagstaff there is an OHV area called Cinder Hills OHV. It is literally sitting on top of what was once a volcano and that is evident in the dark black covered, finely-ground volcanic pumice rock landscape. The 3rd picture above is of the Sunset Cinder Cone, which really does look like the sunset starting from red at the top, to orange and yellows, to dark black at the bottom. We found a free campsite and stayed for 2 nights. During our stay here, we were able to rig up a special half-kennel for our Mr. B. so he too could enjoy 4-wheelin'. He loved it and pretty much just laid down as I took him around on trails. He did get awfully dirty, but isn't that the point of being a campin' dog?

One of the days in Cinder Hills, we drove down to Sedona. I had been there many years ago, but boy had it changed. One problem was is that we went on a Saturday - dumb idea - and the other was the fact that we went there at all. The drive down was beautiful, but once we got to town it was so jam-packed with tourists and every road through Sedona was under construction making it difficult to manuever and enjoy it. We did go to the Chapel of the Holy Cross - the church Frank Lloyd Wright built right into the red canyon and that was impressive. Then we had lunch at The Secret Garden restaurant where they even allowed Bailey to sit with us at our lovely, garden-setting table. They were prepared and brought him is own little bowl of water. The ride to and from Sedona was the best part of the trip and I can say that the town was much more quaint years ago. Still surrounded by breath-taking beauty, however, too many people have figured that out.

Now we're in the Grand Canyon, but we still have 1 more day here, so I'll put that on the next blog. If you haven't been here, it's hard to explain the "ooooh's" and "ahhhh's" that you'll experience. I still think that the canyon is a canvas oil-painting set back as it seems so unreal. Since I'm not going to take the plunge off the mile-high cliffs to find out if my idea is correct, I'll just have to admire it anyway. :) More on the Grand Canyon by this weekend. (I haven't seen the California Condors yet, but after a ranger-lead speech I heard last night, I have my eyes open and hope to see one!)

Off towards Southern Utah tomorrow.