After leaving Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, we headed north once again. We settled in at Lake Pleasant Regional Park northeast of Phoenix. I took off for another business trip, and Tom enjoyed hiking, biking and photographing the lake. We had a gorgeous site with a fabulous view, didn't we?
While it was beautiful, it was not exactly quiet during the day. Between the fishing tournaments, boat races and people enjoying their high powered boats and jetskis, the air was generally filled with sound of engines. However, the nights were beautiful and peaceful, and the view was outstanding.
The cacti were just beginning to bloom, adding their brilliant color to the desert landscape.
After I returned, we spent a couple more days at Lake Pleasant and then headed north to Dead Horse Ranch State Park at Cottonwood, AZ. This beautiful state park is located on the Verde River about 15-20 miles from the red rocks of Sedona. One morning we were awakened by the sounds of the burners of a hot air balloon which was directly overhead. The balloon pilot was having difficulty as the wind currents were not cooperating. At one point, they were headed straight for the APPLE! We asked the angels for assistance and then held our breath. At the last possible moment, the balloon lifted just slightly and cleared the APPLE by inches!!! That was close!!! We didn't want anyone to get hurt, and we didn't want a bruised APPLE either!
There are many things to see in this area of Arizona. We headed east to check out the Native American ruins called Montezuma's Castle and Montezuma's Well. There are numerous ruins in the area from their ancient cultures which are very interesting to see. This area has a rich history.
Of course, what Sedona is known for is the fabulous red rock formations and high energy spots that are the highlights of this geologically diverse area. We spent a lot of time hiking and exploring this very special region.
While we were in this area, our wonderful friends, Barry, Nancy, Zack and Alex Przybylski came for a visit. It's always special to have people we love join us on our journey. We packed a lot into a long Easter weekend visit. We had great fun at the Blazin' M Ranch where the boys rode horses, practiced roping and shooting, ate a delicious dinner and enjoyed a western music and comedy show. What a fun evening!
We explored the area together and went wading in chilly Oak Creek at Crescent Moon Park. The toes certainly turned pink!! We also took a neat hike up Bell Rock. We all had fun climbing up the rocks, checking out the vegetation and enjoying the views.
The Przybylskis all enjoyed the stunning rock formations. We took them on one of our most favorite drives up Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff. The breathtaking scenery just keeps changing in that area. Eventually we ended up in the alpine region of Arizona where you find the San Francisco Mountains.
We also headed over to the volcanic area called Sunset Crater. Seeing the lava flows and mounds of volcanic debris was a unique adventure. It was really special to share this part of our journey with such special friends. We hope they join us again soon!
We concluded our exploration of this area by taking a ride on the Verde Valley Railroad back through the Verde Canyon. The train ride was a great way to see some more of the area where no roads exist. We even saw bald eagles soaring around their cliff-top nests. It was a special way to end our visit to one of the most beautiful areas of Arizona. This is one area where we intend to come back many times.
