Category Archives: Arizona

Arizona, USA

Grand Canyon – Sedona – Scottsdale, Arizona Day 38 of 43

2 Comments

After following some advice from the National Park where we saw Smokey we started with a one last look at the canyon after two days looking at its majesty. An amazing place, beautiful, audacious, mystifying. The landscape continues to change and the earth is changing colour again from the reds and browns of the canyon area to softer warm creams.

Beautiful countryside.
Beautiful countryside.

There are grasses along the edge of the roads and trees of a conifer variety and small blue greens shrubs. The roads are of a reasonable condition most of the time. We stopped on the way out of the park and stopped at a sign for the area where Smokey Bear stood.

Smokey Bear is on the job!
Smokey Bear is on the job!

image We all took photos. imageThe woods around the stop were bathed in rich sunlight and we saw a blue jay in the trees collecting something to eat.

Blue Jay
Blue Jay

It moved very quickly so my photos did not do it justice.
We have just stopped in Tuscayan, Arizona at a Trading post where we saw Navajo jewellery where it was said the Navajo were the first Indians to use jewellery in their designs.

We continued to drive through beautiful red rock mountains, that smell divine. We’ve had the windows open taking pictures and the earth smells so rich and the trees so sweet.  So cool!!!

Woodlands on the way.
Woodlands on the way.
Camping sites along the road - well occupied too, long weekend.
Camping sites along the road – well occupied too, long weekend.

image

image

http://www.redbubble.com/people/stormygirl/works/5533115-snoopy-rock
Snoopy Rock (he’s lying on his back)

Snoopy Rock!

Big rocks as far as the eye can see.
Big rocks as far as the eye can see.

We had lunch in Sedona and did a little shopping.  I bought an indian earring set in silver with inlaid stones.  Very cute and lovely.

We had lunch at the HP Cafe and sat outside and enjoyed good food.

We then continued our drive to Scottsdale where we stayed for two nights.  Here is a picture of the pool, sigh.  Tough life.

Scottsdale, Arizona, Gainey Suites Hotel.
Scottsdale, Arizona, Gainey Suites Hotel.

 

 

Arizona, Grand Canyon, Nevada, USA

Las Vegas, Nevada to Grand Canyon Day 36 & 37 of 43

4 Comments

 

Packed and left Las Vegas and headed east then south to the Grand Canyon. The landscape on the way was beautiful. I love the desert shapes and colours. The smattering of rocks up and down the volcanic ridges and valleys. The blues and mauves of the distant mountains and the yellows and creams of the grasses on the hillsides.image

Green in patterns across the rolling hills. Some have rocky outcrops on the top. Red, brown yellow, grey-green and white – almost like the Aussie landscape. Just stunning in its parched look.

Colours in Nevada and Arizona
Colours in Nevada and Arizona

Now the flats again with occasional palm like stumpy trees no more than a metre high. thick stems and green tops. Coarse and tough.Many of the native scrub is very like Australia. It looks dry and desolate yet worth a second look.

image

The drive could take between 4 and 6 hours depending on our stops.
The more we travelled into Arizona the more lush the landscape. More grass and more stumpy trees – where there had been fewer than 1 per square km now it would be 10-15.

imageimage

Arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park and are staying in two cute cabins called Bright Angel cabins. Basic but lovely, with wooden doors to cupboards and the bathroom. Cosy and unassuming. Easy to get around. There are a few cabins for the princely sum of $125 per person per night. Right on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, one of the world’s seven wonders. Beautiful to see.imageimage image image image image image image image image image image image image image image image image

Day 37 Grand Canyon

The next day we were up around 7:30 Fresh and cool. Lovely day.

Went for a wander to “the rim” for morning photos – different from the sunset ones of yesterday. We are driving around the south rim 40km drive around the edge of the canyon. 17 degrees and clear. The air here is fresh and tasty.
Spent the day driving around the south rim of the Canyon and being awe inspired. Again if you want any further explanation, ask.

We came back to the Bright Water Cabins on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. There are hotels here that have been here since the beginning of the last century. Some of the buildings are very rustic and full of character. Our cabins are very basic but very well constructed and cosy. We have a bathroom with toilet, a built in Wardrobe a TV ceiling fan, heating desk and about 4 lamps.
We had dinner at Bright Angel Lodge Restaurant, where we had Clam chowder and Apple Pie. Very yummy.
There is little to no internet access here so I have had to write my blogs each day in the notes section on my ipad until I can make them ‘real’
image image image image image image image image image

We went to look at the Canyon once we had dumped our bags. It is amazing and a huge expanse of rock in so many colours it was awe-inspiring to see. There is no rail, fence or boundary to stop people stepping off the edge. There is an idea in some places and a wall in others but no barrier from actually tipping over if you over balance on the edge. With the sand stone pathways, there is  a high likelyhood of this happening.