Mileage:  68,938

State Forest Road 525 Sedona, Arizona

At an elevation of about 8,000 feet, it was 23 degrees when we got up this morning.  The cold was biting.  Thankfully the sunshine was warm and bright. 

We drove through Vermillion Cliffs National Monument.  In the valley below herds of buffalo used to roam, which you can well imagine as you pass by.  Tim said:  I don’t know what the rest of the road looks like, but it’s a pretty ride this morning.”

We had to take 89A east in order to get around that big hole in the ground (the Grand Canyon).  We crossed the Colorado River.  This is the same Colorado River that we have seen in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, in Canyonlands at the confluence of the Green River and the Colorado, at the Hoover Dam, in Moab on our bikes at the pedestrian bridge, and then in Yuma, reduced to a trickle.

Along the road…I truthfully didn’t take too many pictures today. I was completely content to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

We entered the Coconino National Forest.  The San Francisco Peaks were swathed in a bright yellow band of aspen trees.

We saw smoke in the distance near Flagstaff and we became concerned as we approached.  We learned that it was a prescribed burn and we were relieved…I’m sure lots of people were relieved.

The road, 89A, to Sedona is a twisted winding road.  Initially it was generous and wide with guardrails.  We passed through Oak Creek Canyon, and the road became narrower and more difficult as we got closer to Sedona.

Sedona does not look the same as it did 17 years ago…it is a booming little place!  We were not able to park to go to the Visitor Center and so we went right on through.  We found dispersed camping on State Forest Road 525. 

We took a walk this afternoon and spent time catching up with family and friends.

The moon is nearly full.