Walnut see this while you're here!

We got a break from the under-the-weather and headed out, all jaunty-like, to Walnut Canyon National Monument. The ranger on duty showed us the Island Loop and the Rim Trail, and advised us to take the Island Loop only if we were "feeling healthy today." I figured Annie couldn't even remember when she last 'felt healthy,' so I was in for smooth cruising on the Rim.

But, no. Annie was hardy, and there was no way I was backing down. What have I done?

Log-walking is fine, but there is to be no segregation of the sexes.

On the way down, while it was still funny.

A pueblo we couldn't get to.

One we could.

I AM smiling.

 

"I have to use the bathroom. Hold my stick and water and hat and shades. Take my jacket, my keys and my camera." CLANG! The Louds hit the trail.

The Rim Trail, on the other hand, is designed for everyone, and is wheelchair-accessible. Why, oh why? I love wheelchair-accessible!

Several years ago, Annie and I hiked a trail in Upstate New York that I found especially strenuous. Along the way, a pregnant woman, three old ladies, and a guy with a broken leg pushing a wheelchair passed us on the way up. I'm proud to say I have the same level of physical stamina now as I did at that age.

Bottom line: whine all you want, but see this somehow. $5 per person, good for seven days. Or, use your America the Beautiful pass: free.

Excellent boondocking location...nah, I shouldn't say.

On the other hand, I'm going to. This is the first place we've stayed our full 14 days and still weren't tired of the spot. Ajo doesn't count, because we didn't stay 14 days.

• Route 17 (Arizona) to exit 298. 
• Go east on Forest Road 618. [If you go west, it's Rte. 179 into Sedona.]
• 0.4 miles past the first cattle guard, you come to a four-way stop. Go left (north). This is Beaver Creek Road and Forest Road something something.
• 1.3 miles later, you're there.
• Coordinates roughly  34.697493,-111.723889

We covered this road in the Duck (38.5'), but never did it with the toad attached. That was just circumstance, though, and Annie says she'd do with the car and dolly.

You could spend two weeks in this area without ever needing to go to town for entertainment. Beer, yes. If you parked at the green arrow, you could hike down the left tine of that fork, turn left at the edge of a canyon, and follow a road right down around to the floor. There are said to be petroglyphs there, but I didn't find them. FREE

 









If you want something a little further off the trail, explore the right fork. The road is better, and we considered a few camping sites down there, too.

The Arizona Safari jeeps passed us every evening at 7PM. Feel smug knowing you're seeing the sights for free. [Arizona Safari: NOT FREE]

 Or, you could follow F.R. 618 down to the same draw (Red Tank), park at a turnout, and take a few steps to more petroglyphs. FREE

 Or, tour V-V Ranch and see a huge and well-preserved collection of glyphs. Bring your lunch and eat under a big tree along Wet Beaver Creek. FREE, needs Interagency Pass or Red Rock Country pass to park.

 Or, Visit Montezuma's Well. FREE

 Or, pad on down to the creek and cool off. Bring your lunch to the shady picnic tables and your garbage to the big garbage cans. FREE

Park at the trailhead off FR 618 and take any trail. There are two strenuous trails, and one moderate. I took the easy trail to the pit toilet. FREE

Best of all, this campsite is on a dead-end (sort of). A few hundred feet down the road is a gate that serves as a cattle guard. People have to stop to open and shut that gate, and first-timers often just turn around there. Feel smug knowing you've hiked on the other side of that gate. Smug: FREE

You may see cowboys. You will probably hear cows. I never, ever knew there were so many cow-sounds. If you think they only moo, you're living in a fool's paradise. Fool's paradise: FREE

Head toward Sedona on Rte. 179, and you'll come to the USFS Ranger station. This is a worthwhile stop, because here is where you can get a copy of the new Motor Vehicle Use Map for this area. A ranger will want to explain it to you if you tell her you're interested in dispersed camping; let her do it.  The map itself is a little less than self-explanatory, as well as being actual-size. Will the rig fit in this spot? Let's pull up onto the map and see. So, a little help is a good thing.



The map is also good because you will be AMAZED at all the dispersed camping there is available in the local forests. I hated to settle without seeing all of them. Pick an altitude, then pick a site.

We've taken on fluids and headed for higher altitude and lower temperatures. That's one thing that will chase you out of town, but the hardier souls are now enjoying the quiet of a not-very-touristy Sedona, and perfect nighttime temps. And remember, it's a dry heat.

Hey hey! Annie says it's her birthday!

She's having a good time, and refuses to feel bad about it.

I was prepared to get a shot of this earnest evangelist. He wasn't there. We heard he's serving time in the repentitentiary. So, here's a picture of Jac, who seems much happier than the preacher:

She let me take her picture if I promised not to publish it. I am untrustworthy.

I "met" Jac online three years ago, when Annie and I began figuring out how to get to the Southwest. She has been my Verde Valley mentor ever since. She's an artist and a scientist - my favorite combination - and a quick wit. If I were half the wit ... nevermind.

The weather forecast has gone south on us, so we're going north, maybe into some piney woods.

Part of my birthday gift to Annie has been to leave her alone and give her some peace.
 

Beaver Creek. Those toes creeped me out, so I left my shoes on and walked away.

V-V (say "vee bar vee") Ranch

 

V-V Ranch Heritage Site is the largest collection of petroglyphs in the area. They were used as a sun calendar.

I guess it is. I'm just mad that I didn't do it.

This is a must-see in the Sedona area. Use your Interagency Pass to park.

If you're cruising through Sedona looking for some local art, try the Art Mart.  You can find more expensive boutiques, but you won't find more beautiful work. It's a collective of artists who don't have to pay crazy overhead. You'll get something beautiful that's locally-made and reasonably priced, and the artists can make a meager living. If I had money to spare, this is where I'd drop it.

When you're done shopping, walk over to Java Love café. They'll let you sit there for hours over your iced coffee, soaking up the vibes and chatting about nothing. When you're done with your coffee but not your conversation, they'll give you a refill for $1. And, if you're still not convinced, they put fresh water out on the patio for passing pups.

Happy Birthday, Annie! And Happy Mother's Day, all you mothers.

Who is cuter?

Maddox?

A gopher.

My little cousin?

A gopher.

Hard call, right? Before you vote, consider that one of the contestants' moms may be reading this post. And, you know how mean a gopher mom can be. I just mention this so you can exercise good judgment. Learn from my mistakes.

Flagstaff is cool! I wore a sweater! Its downtown reminds me of downtown Ithaca, NY, with a little more activity. Here's some stuff:

Left to right: not my cousins, my cousins.

Unrestrained frivolity is the norm here.

Humphrey's Peak may address me when it is no longer snowy.

We visited Maddox's new home that his parents just bought for him, and when it looked like home improvements might be about to happen, we left and went to the Elden Pueblo ruins.

They are ridiculously easy to visit. Just like you might say "Pull in here and let me get a bottle of Boone's Farm," you can just pull in and look at 800 year-old ruins. We took sticks, but it wasn't necessary; the Boone's Farm was a nice addition, though.

Abject misery. And here's a flower.

I hit the wrong [COMMENCE ARMAGEDDON COUNTDOWN NOW] button and deleted my Duckroll.  Chances are really strong, high, and good that I lost you.  Speak to me!  Please say something!  

Then I experimented with email blogging, and messed up the feeds.  There is actually a not-gross post below this one that you haven't seen, and I blame myself. I'd say I feel like a leper, but I really don't, and that would be insensitively trivializing Hansen's disease.  I tried to give you a classy NIH link, but it wouldn't load. Wikipedia saves the day again.

AND, the heck, Blogger?  Even worse word verification?   One spam morsel in 200 reaches the pages of this blog, and I don't use word verification.  I don't restrict comments in any way, and I moderate only old posts (because spammers tend to hit those harder).  Google/Blogger's spam trap is very good.   If you're still using word verification please consider removing it.  I'm not going to boycott you if you don't, of course.  I like getting comments, and I like leaving them, but I don't have anything so profound to add that I'm going to struggle to say it. 

Rick Doyle will demonstrate how to rid yourself (and us) of word verification ugliness - tomorrow!

SwankieWheels told us how to find a very cool WWII artifact in these parts, and so we did.  Once more, I am amazed that these things still exist out here.  Such a thing would have been dismantled and destroyed decades ago back home.  It's because we're all bitter about the climate and we like to vent our rage on inanimate antiquities.  I'll post about the cool stuff soon.  I know.  Try to get some rest until then.