We had a great dispersed camping site outside the park’s southern entrance. We picked a spot facing the park, and we didn’t have many RVs coming into the area the whole week we were there. The distance from the southern end to the northern end is sixty miles. On our first day of hiking in the park, temperatures were in the 90s. As the day wore on, the temperature began to slow our hiking pace.

Our first stop was the Cholla Gardens. It’s the only place in the park where these plants grow in abundance. Be careful where you step, as these needles aren’t pleasant if you tend to get too close to the plants. Needle nose pliers are in a container near the entrance, just in case you need to extract those pesky needles.

We explored the Arches Rock, Heart, and Split Rock trails to view some of the most amazing rock formations. Along the way, Joshua trees can be seen throughout the park. Mitch and I mentioned we were glad we visited before the summer heat kicked in.

The day we hiked the Lost Palms Oasis trail, the temperature had dropped to a more comfortable level, which allowed us to enjoy this seven-mile hike much more. The desert blooms on this hike were fabulous. California had more than its usual rainfall, which brought out an array of beautiful flowers. At the end of the trail is the coveted Lost Palms Oasis. While there were plenty of palm trees, there wasn’t a splatter of water to be found.

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We stopped overnight at the Grand Canyon Railroad RV Park (https://www.thetrain.com/) on our way to Lake Havasu. We didn’t take the train to the Grand Canyon as we got there late, and we had been to the canyon several times. The town of Williams offers many shops and restaurants. The downside to this park is that it is adjacent to the railroad track, which is not a quiet environment.

The next day, we continued our journey to Lake Havasu. We scoped out several dispersed camping areas and settled on the Lone Tree, which had a vast area to choose from and reasonably level grounds. As you can see, we were not encroached by neighboring RV’s. The one tidbit we learned about Lake Havasu is it is the home of the London Bridge. In 1968, the chairman of the McCullough Oil Company purchased the London Bridge for 2.4 million dollars to draw in tourists. It took three years to reconstruct the bridge. There is a lot of boat activity on the water, and we host the power boat race each year. For $3, a ferry goes up the lake to the Indian casino. It was a pleasant ride on the water, but Lady Luck abandoned me when I tried my luck at the slots. Oh well, maybe next time.

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We stayed in Homolovi State Park (https://azstateparks.com/homolovi/), which was set back from the main road. It was quiet and not overcrowded. Two Indian ruins are easy to get to by bike or car from the campground. The ruins consist of the remaining outline of where the dwellings once existed and many pieces of broken pottery.

The town itself is more famous for the song written about it by the Eagles. In its heyday, Route 66 was the only road out to California, but now it is just a tourist site once the interstate was built to accommodate the growing number of people traveling.

Our day trip to Canyon de Chelly exceeded our expectations. The canyon walls tower above the fertile farms and streams and preserve the historic dwellings of past Navajo people. The Navajos still farm and raise sheep here in the valley. Each outlook was awe-inspiring and gave us the same feeling when we visited the Grand Canyon.

The next stop in our exploration was the Petrified Forest. The first stop was the Painted Desert Overlook. Here, the vibrant reds of the rocks and the Painted Desert Inn, now a museum, can be seen. The Blue Mesa was next and the most intriguing. The various hues of blue were displayed in the strata of the rock, and a trail allows you to go deeper into the canyon. As you continue down the road, Jasper Forest is where there is an abundance of petrified wood. It is incredible how wood can turn rock-hard over time. The color variation in some of the stumps was magnificent.

We spent the last day in this area kayaking the Clear Creek. It was so peaceful. The birds circling overhead and the stone walls created a beautiful ending to our time in Winslow.

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It was an early morning hike to the Subway Cave. Several people were looking up at the start, and we didn’t know why. I should have noticed the 3D glasses—they were looking at the eclipse. They were kind enough to give us a set and told us to keep them. It was a treat to add that experience to our hike. We had seen pictures of the Subway Cave, and this hike did not disappoint us. The view was spectacular, and the ascent was strenuous but well worth the effort. This is what Sedona is known for – striking red rocks along with the green foliage. Mitch got a little skittish when there wasn’t much room from the wall to the edge. This is one of those hikes that leaves you in awe of nature’s beauty and one for the memory book. This is a must-do hike if you ever visit Sedona. Here’s a friendly tip – if you don’t feel comfortable climbing up the rock slide, there is another way to get to the cave that isn’t as taxing. Wish someone had told us that!

The next stop was at the 7 Sacred Pools. While we were glad we made this a stop along our hike, it would have been better if there had been a rain storm the night before so the pools were overflowing. As you can see, the pools start at the top and cascade down to the lower point of the rock formation. The best vantage point is to hike up to the other side of the pools and look downward.

We started hiking to Vista Point. The trail meanders through a forest-like setting, which is very serene. However, after a while, with no end in sight, we decided to turn around and head back. The last trail for the day was to see the Katchina Women Vortex. There are eight vortexes in Sedona. These vortexes are areas of energy and healing and beautiful areas for meditation. The Indians considered these areas sacred grounds. Unfortunately, we did not feel any signs of healing or energy, but we were glad we didn’t miss this rock formation. After a 23,000-step day, we were ready to relax, have a glass of wine and take it easy.

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We have been to Sedona several times but never to hike. We were determined to experience some of the hikes I viewed on Facebook and said, “We need to go there.” Sedona was about a 15-minute drive from our campground. Our first Sedona hike was to Devil’s Bridge, one of the most popular hikes in Sedona. This 4-mile hike is relatively easy until you reach the climb to get to the bridge.

What did we find when we reached the top? A line of hikers waiting to take their picture on the bridge. We waited 45 minutes until it was our turn. During our wait, we watched people take their turn to get photographed. Some were real daredevils as they sat along the edge, and some thought doing a cartwheel was a good idea. Each time another person took their turn, we became more apprehensive and concerned about whether or not this was a good idea. Mitch has a sensitivity to heights but usually pushes through. Our turn was here, and the folks behind us were kind enough to take our photos so Mitch and I could go out together. It was scarier watching than actually going out on the bridge. There was about a 20 ft span across for us to walk on. Pictures were taken, and now we are on the climb back down. Our only disappointment was viewing the photo afterward. It was difficult to see the open gap beneath us. The photos I had seen must have been taken from a higher vantage point where the gap was seen. Below is the photo I hope we might get.

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