Southward-bound just a little: Sedona, Arizona

I left Flagstaff this afternoon for Sedona. That's not quite enough southward migration for this duck to bask in the night air. Let's talk about something else while my pin feathers fluff to hold the heat.

"Hyuh, hyuh, I'm the Marshall in these parts."

Scottsdale is known for being the frontier. But, all hyuh aside, downtown Scottsdale is a cool place to hang, at least at night. Maybe daytime! 

The Grand Canal, Phoenix, at N. Central Ave.

 

I included this average photograph of a spectacular chandelier so I could tell you it costs $131,000.

The mural on the side of the building: priceless

A bird comes to drink pool water.

Really? A bird is drinking pool water?

Where?

WHERE?

 I'll be hitting some Sedona/Old Cottonwood sights/sites soon.

Phoenix Phun

My cousin works out of town a lot, so when she said "Would you like to join me ..." my bag was packed before she finished up with "... in Phoenix?"

Phoenix has light rail from downtown to Mesa, but I didn't need it to get to the Heard Museum. I just tumbled out of the hotel door, moseyed down the street, and there I was.

I learned a few basics about American Indian arts; enough to stay out of trouble at a cocktail party. For example, this Hopi kachina (Hopis would say "katsina") is ... okay, I'd have to change the subject. I swear I was listening, but this was seven or eight days ago.

In a truly informative blog, you would learn the meaning of the above painting, or at least the artist. I'm phoning this in, and I've dialed the wrong number.

This sculpture plays in a private park, and I couldn't get closer. From this distance, I thought it was six frolicking businesspeople. Children are good, too.

"There was only six feet between me and the elk! I swear I'm not compensating. Look at the size of my feet."

Downtown Phoenix pulses with activity. That could have been my pulse; it was very exciting. It wasn't long before a little quiet was just the thing. So, I wandered down to the Japanese Friendship Garden. It's an oasis of peace in the middle of the city. In fact, I-10 roars underneath it, but you'll never hear it.

The McClelland Irish Library is an imposing building, but the staff is friendly and helpful. They didn't seem to notice that I'm not Irish, or at least they were polite enough not to point it out. In the courtyard is a tiny cottage with a really tiny gift shop.

That afternoon I jumped, carefree, onto the light rail and headed east. At the end of the line you can stay put - or slide into a forward-facing seat - for the return trip. The train goes through ASU campus in Tempe, where you can disembark to enjoy their collegetown businesses, or stay on the train and thank your lucky stars all that is behind you.

There is a lot of good food in downtown Phoenix. We enjoyed Switch, and The Old Spaghetti Factory, and a Thai restaurant. Plus other stuff. *waves hands around*

It was a good time! I hadn't spent time in Phoenix yet, and now I have.

Boondocking near Cottonwood, Arizona

More boondocking


 

View Forest Road 360, Prescott National Forest in a larger map

If you click on a blue balloon, there should be coordinates associated with it. You may already know this, which is why I'll say it anyway: once you have clicked on a location, you can then save it to your own Google map(s).

Click "Save to map"

Add it to a map you've already started, or begin a new one.

If you've camped or boondocked near Cottonwood, you know about Thousand Trails Road and the boondocking area there. What we learned from another boondocker is that the area across 260 is much less crowded, and still in compliance with Prescott National Forest maps.

If you need propane and/or water, they can be purchased at the Thousand Trails RV Resort just down Thousand Trails Road. Easy in/easy out - tell the gate guard what you're up to, and if you've told the story convincingly he'll wave you through. Or salute. I like when he salutes. Propane sold 11:30 - 12, Tuesday - Saturday.

More RVing entrepreneurs  

In my last post, I featured several RVers who offer goods and services for sale. I'm adding Creations by Cyn to the list. She blogs at TexCyn Life. Cyn specializes in functional jewelry and doggie fashion accessories (so cute). Check out her work worn by award-winning models.

I've become fixated on Karen's socks. Not because I need socks, but because I need these socks. A lot of you already knew about Karen and her full-time life making socks I would be willing to measure my feet for (size large). As soon as I found her blog, she and her husband bought a house and stopped full-timing, so I guess now she'll have more space to make my socks (size large).

More wandering

We've spent the spring, summer, and fall centered around Flagstaff, where The Cousins live. It's been a lovely organizing principle, but now staying warm trumps family, and we've slipped off like a strapless prom dress. Tonight we're on the other side of Phoenix. Phoenix alarms us.

A man my age held up a sign at a stop: Homeless Vet - anything helps - God bless. We've given small bits of money to people for no particularly compelling reason, but we just didn't this time, to this man. On the way past he told us of the harm he wished us. Tonight, I'm concentrating on wishing for him everything he needs, but if he stubs his toe, too, and thinks of us, that's okay with me. I'm still evolving, shut up.

We're Tucson-area head-towarded.