Sedona Memories better than Reality

Marcia’s first trip to Sedona was back in the mid-80’s.  She remembered being able see unobstructed views as they drove through the area…not any more.  Sedona’s population has doubled since then, and the number of restaurants, resorts, businesses in general has probably quadrupled.  Hence, the unobstructed views as you drive down highway 89 are well…just not the same.  The number of people visiting the area has skyrocketed.  Not only has Sedona grown, so has Cottonwood and surrounding communities…with everyone coming to the area wanting to visit Sedona.  Fournos Restaurant, a landmark of the area since opening in 1982, shut their doors in 2008 after more than 25 years.  She remembered that the parking lot was gravel, the building has vacant lots around it, and food was to die for…as related in the article if you click the link.  Well, that is progress, and to her, it was progress which has ruined the quaintness of the area. 

The drive from Winslow to Cottonwood, where we are staying at the Dead Horse State Park, was very easy and nice.  Clouds in the sky, very slight wind, no hint of rain or problems.  The fix on the tire worked, and all is well except for the one sensor on the car which will need to be replaced.

The San Francisco Peaks are always a sight to see as you approach Flagstaff from the West, South or East…we are coming from the east.  From the north there are too many trees to get good shots.  Marcia had a heyday taking pictures of it as we approached.

As I was checking in at the office of Dead Horse State Park, Marcia got a picture of some deer nearby.  This is the first wildlife we have gotten pictures of on the trip, and frankly we have not seen many deer or other wildlife much at all since we left Florida.  We have only one night at Dead Horse, they are packed for the weekend.  We thought about boondocking nearby, but after our drive through Sedona and up the canyon north of town in the HHR, Marcia said it is too sad to see the growth, and would rather remember Sedona for what it use to be.

 

By 1:30 we were in the car headed north to Sedona, dogs left in the comfort of the A/C of the motorhome.  Had to get the HHR washed since it was filthy after being towed from Indiana where it had its last bath.  For $10 we ran it through one of those monsters which has rolling brushes, hanging rags moving back and forth, and periods of soap and water and rinse water and drying.  It did a pretty good job, but is sure sounds like your car is being beat up as you drive through.

There is no doubt that the surrounding mountains and canyons around Sedona are just lovely.  And the drive up highway 89 north of Sedona is one of the most scenic drives in America.  Although we saw a few motorhomes on it, I sure would not like to drive up it in ours…but there is one or two National Forest Campgrounds north of Sedona, and they were full or nearly full, and yes, it would be wonderful to camp there, that’s for sure.

The canyon drive is one you want to do with both hands on the steering wheel, and someone like Marica in the passenger’s seat taking picture after picture after picture. 

It is also the type of drive that you want to go one way, and then the other because you need to see it both ways.  We drove up to just where they were stopping traffic for road construction at the top…just shy of the scenic view, turned around and drove back through.  The pictures above are pretty much in order of our drive.  Despite the little town of Sedona growing up so much, it is still a wonderful drive.  There are many hiking opportunities, and photograph opportunities…one could stay here a week and not get it all in.  There were many things we could have seen and done, but we just wanted a day to enjoy a drive.  We could come back to Dead Horse Sunday, but we will head on…should be in Phoenix by Tuesday.