We stayed in Villa 1114 from April 20 to May 4th. It was warm & sunny first few days, then cool and light showers through the second half of our stay. There had been very little rain in Sedona prior to our arrival, and there were fewer wildflowers than I've ever seen at that time of year. However because of the light showers we had, by the end of our stay there were a few cacti in bloom. We were taping Elaine's foot due to ruptured ligament, and awaiting her new foot brace. She was also on the Fast Metabolism Diet. But we did enjoy the new, expanded Whole Foods 'bar" where Elaine found foods that were legal for her diet, and I enjoyed some excellent raw oysters & craft beer.
On the first day, Elaine dropped me at Midgley Bridge trailhead, and I did the Jim Thompson trail to the Jordan Road trailhead. I did a few little side "paths" off of the main trail to viewpoints for photo ops.
https://goo.gl/photos/tLpwHgY4gwX81HHJA
On the second day, Elaine dropped me at Soldiers Pass trailhead, and I went around Ant Hill trail to Grand Central to behind post office and walked back to Arroyo Roble.
Interesting how some trees appear to have twisted as they grew
Here is a link to photos from Valley of the moon parhttps://goo.gl/photos/ViRYzJCczgnp2s3LAk. Note that the trees in the most picturesque spot in all of Arizona have now grown so that they block part of the view of Cathedral Rock and hide part of the creek. I think Sedona, or the National Forest should hire a professional, or a team of professionals to plan either pruning or clearing part of the view, while leaving it look natural. It would take significant skill to do it properly.
On our last day, Elaine dropped me at the Bell Rock Trailhead and I did the Courthouse Butte Trail. Elaine picked me up at the Bell Rock Pathway Trailhead. Link to photo album
George and Diane Kovacic Visited 4 nights -- They took us to a wonderful late lunch at Javelina Cafe - I had excellent Chile Rellenos.
Trails with George & Diane - Valley of Moon, Fay Canyon, & West Fork - Couldn't find parking at Airport trail after several tries. In fact it appeared that a lot of the trailhead parking was very full for a relatively slow time of year.
Here is a link to photo album of our hike up the Fay Canyon. We went to the designated end. There was no water in the creek.
Here is a link to album of our West Fork hike. We did all 13 crossings to the designated end. Lilacs were in bloom at the beginning of the trail.
Nancy & Mark for weekend -After garage sales on Saturday, and a quiet afternoon because of rain. Rain also on Sunday. But rain brought out flowers for Monday hike On Monday, Elaine dropped me at Jordan Road trailhead.
Took "off road" hike looking for angel falls in light shower -- started Jim Thompson trail and then followed what appeared to be a trail, but might have been a deer or javelina trail. Found some great overlooks, but did not get to the falls, that was certainly dry anyway. Maybe should have gone up Brin's Mesa and forked off from there. Here is a link to photo album:
I had gotten confused about the names of many of the local plants. So because weather was very unstable, I decided to take a relatively close trail while Elaine, Nancy and Mark went out for garage sales. I walked the Carruth Trail and took photos of ID tags placed by an explorer scout 20 years ago. The trail is like a nature trail loop near Posse Ground Park, a dog park a swim center, and elementary school. Views from the trail are very nice. Hopefully it will help serve as a reference when I try to figure out names in the future.
Here is a link to my photo album: https://goo.gl/photos/GDSJXYpf5rczEmw18
Had a Brisket Sandwich at Outlaw Grill in Sedona. Place used to be Sally's that had excellent, and reasonably priced barbecue and they had their own big smoker box, Outlaw Grill has been open for 11 months. Owner also has Grasshopper Grill in Cornville, which is larger and where they presumably smoke their meats. Menu is mostly burgers. Prices are relatively very high for a restaurant that is clearly in a very "low rent" location on the back alley. Meat wasn't very smoky, and was drowned in an overly sweet barbecue sauce. Apparently no choice of sauce, and I forgot to ask for it on the side. Fry's were good -- but for $13? It is clear that Sedona restaurants seem to "gouge" the tourists. That is why the timeshares, with kitchens, can make visits to Sedona more reasonably affordable.
On the first day, Elaine dropped me at Midgley Bridge trailhead, and I did the Jim Thompson trail to the Jordan Road trailhead. I did a few little side "paths" off of the main trail to viewpoints for photo ops.
https://goo.gl/photos/tLpwHgY4gwX81HHJA
On the second day, Elaine dropped me at Soldiers Pass trailhead, and I went around Ant Hill trail to Grand Central to behind post office and walked back to Arroyo Roble.
Interesting how some trees appear to have twisted as they grew
Here is a link to photos from Valley of the moon parhttps://goo.gl/photos/ViRYzJCczgnp2s3LAk. Note that the trees in the most picturesque spot in all of Arizona have now grown so that they block part of the view of Cathedral Rock and hide part of the creek. I think Sedona, or the National Forest should hire a professional, or a team of professionals to plan either pruning or clearing part of the view, while leaving it look natural. It would take significant skill to do it properly.
On our last day, Elaine dropped me at the Bell Rock Trailhead and I did the Courthouse Butte Trail. Elaine picked me up at the Bell Rock Pathway Trailhead. Link to photo album
George and Diane Kovacic Visited 4 nights -- They took us to a wonderful late lunch at Javelina Cafe - I had excellent Chile Rellenos.
Trails with George & Diane - Valley of Moon, Fay Canyon, & West Fork - Couldn't find parking at Airport trail after several tries. In fact it appeared that a lot of the trailhead parking was very full for a relatively slow time of year.
Here is a link to photo album of our hike up the Fay Canyon. We went to the designated end. There was no water in the creek.
Here is a link to album of our West Fork hike. We did all 13 crossings to the designated end. Lilacs were in bloom at the beginning of the trail.
Nancy & Mark for weekend -After garage sales on Saturday, and a quiet afternoon because of rain. Rain also on Sunday. But rain brought out flowers for Monday hike On Monday, Elaine dropped me at Jordan Road trailhead.
Took "off road" hike looking for angel falls in light shower -- started Jim Thompson trail and then followed what appeared to be a trail, but might have been a deer or javelina trail. Found some great overlooks, but did not get to the falls, that was certainly dry anyway. Maybe should have gone up Brin's Mesa and forked off from there. Here is a link to photo album:
I had gotten confused about the names of many of the local plants. So because weather was very unstable, I decided to take a relatively close trail while Elaine, Nancy and Mark went out for garage sales. I walked the Carruth Trail and took photos of ID tags placed by an explorer scout 20 years ago. The trail is like a nature trail loop near Posse Ground Park, a dog park a swim center, and elementary school. Views from the trail are very nice. Hopefully it will help serve as a reference when I try to figure out names in the future.
Here is a link to my photo album: https://goo.gl/photos/GDSJXYpf5rczEmw18
Had a Brisket Sandwich at Outlaw Grill in Sedona. Place used to be Sally's that had excellent, and reasonably priced barbecue and they had their own big smoker box, Outlaw Grill has been open for 11 months. Owner also has Grasshopper Grill in Cornville, which is larger and where they presumably smoke their meats. Menu is mostly burgers. Prices are relatively very high for a restaurant that is clearly in a very "low rent" location on the back alley. Meat wasn't very smoky, and was drowned in an overly sweet barbecue sauce. Apparently no choice of sauce, and I forgot to ask for it on the side. Fry's were good -- but for $13? It is clear that Sedona restaurants seem to "gouge" the tourists. That is why the timeshares, with kitchens, can make visits to Sedona more reasonably affordable.
