Thursday, March 7, 2013

Sweet Sedona, Again

We've been at our timeshare on Oak Creek, in Sedona, for a week. It's our fifth visit to this place, and we still love it. Nice large condo, creek view, quiet. As it turns out, this week has been a good transition between Tucson, where we lived for two winter months in a 55+ resort, and home, where we'll be a week from tomorrow after a weeklong road trip.

In Sedona, we hike every day. This year four out of the five hikes were short ones, about two miles. Art had his knee replaced last summer and he is still practicing. Actually, he sometimes overdoes and then has a setback, so he's trying to be careful. Today we did my favorite hike, Cathedral Butte, which is over four miles with some elevation. I am gratified to note that the exercise I got in Tucson - water aerobics three times a week, line dancing at least once a week, and two-step dancing once a week, plus a couple of miles of walking each day around the resort - has increased my fitness level. I had plenty of energy for the hikes with minimal soreness afterwards. So cool!

I love taking pictures in Sedona, even though most of them look the same as the ones I've taken on previous trips. Here are a few examples from this year.





We had a cool experience on the trail yesterday. We were hiking in a wilderness area when we heard the sound of a Native American flute drifting across a valley. For 15 minutes we listened as we walked.  Then we saw the musician. Art recently bought a new camera for our upcoming trip to Kenya, and it has a telescopic lens. Here's what he saw.

Note the musician sitting on top.

 And the listeners below him.

Tomorrow morning we drive to Las Vegas. We'll spend two nights there with friends. Subsequent nights will be in Bishop (in a mom-and-pop motel after a visit to Manzanar), Napa (two nights in a timeshare), Eureka (in a B&B), Roseburg (staying with a friend while I visit my granddaughters), and home. 

By tomorrow morning, I'll be ready.

14 comments:

Linda Reeder said...

How wonderful it must have been to hear that flute music wafting through the red rocks.

Olga said...

We did a raft trip in the Grand Canyon several years ago. I remember our group exploring a cave and hearing a flute player there. So hauntingly spiritual. I love that scenery.

Arkansas Patti said...

Wow, what a wonderful experience. A wilderness concert.
Being fit really has benefits doesn't it? You can enjoy so many more things.

DJan said...

Sedona is a very magical place, I've always thought so anyway. And you found a bit of that magic with the flute music. Take care getting home, Linda, and signs of spring will be welcoming you when you get here! :-)

Ms Sparrow said...

Wow, it would be absolutely wonderful to have been there with you in that moment! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

The only Sedona I knew of is a car I once owned. You sure are living a wonderful and active life!

Perpetua said...

That is an extraordinary landscape, Linda. Thanks for showing it to us. Safe travelling.

Bob Lowry said...

Betty and I hiked that trail last year. It is beautiful. No matter how many times you see the red rocks they never grow old.

Have a safe drive home. You are now officially part time Arizonans!

Sally Wessely said...

Sedona looks like such a cool place. I have never been there. I really want to go sometime. Like Jann said, "You are living the life!"

Grandmother Mary said...

Now, that's a trip! I loved Sedona and its unique energies. A flute would be perfect music there. Noce going on the hiking.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I love Native American flute music; we have several CDs that we have played a lot. It would be one of those special, memorable life experiences to come upon someone playing right there among the rocks. You are living a great life. And I love the fact that you are enjoying the fitness you've worked for!

Tom said...

Sedona's a real nice place (he said, rubbing the Blue Apatite he bought there last year that's supposed to "enhance expression and creativity"). What a change it will be, though, when you roll into Vegas!

wheels4me said...

The picture and the flute story made a powerful story telling combination. Thanks! Kevin

Galen Pearl said...

What an adventure you have had. Happy trails on the way home.