Friday, October 31, 2014

Sedona, AZ and San Diego, CA

After just one week back to South Carolina we made a 12 day trip to Sedona and San Diego.  Initially Erin and Mike Houghten were to join us in Sedona but, in the meantime Erin got pregnant and could not travel so close to her due date.  Rose and Bob made the best of each other's company for the Sedona week.  The last 5 days we visited the Houghtens in San Diego.  Much of the visit was spent working on projects for them.  We enjoyed helping them out and visited some pretty good restaurants.  Their friends, the Mellors, visited us one night with their twin boys Rhys and Kellan.  We visited the Olympic training center in Chula Vista (pictures to be added later) and played lots of pinochle...both double deck and single.  The younger Houghtens thought they had us on the ropes with pinocle wins but in the end age, and of course wisdom, prevailed!


This and the following four pics are some of the Sedona area red rocks.





Tlaquepaque is a higher end shopping area in Sedona with lots of art for sale.  These wind sculptures are our favorites.

One of many bronze statues in Tlaquepaque.

No visit to Sedona would be complete without a visit to Jerome, nestled n the side of a mountain.

Near Sedona are several national monuments rich in native American history.  Here is the Tuzigoot monument area.  The next five pics are of the monument and the area.






A view of the valley from Jerome

Relaxing at the Haunted Hamburger in Jerome for lunch

Checking in...

Inside the old Catholic church in Jerome

A view of Jerome and the red rocks valley behind


Six more pictures of the red rock area around Sedona







We did a little relaxing

Almost at the rim of the Grand Canyon

I never, ever get tired of the Grand Canyon views




Rose is taking a break from the canyon



Pack mules bringing supplies for the Canyon trip

The only wildlife we saw on the trip




The Colorado River...maker of the canyon



The Desert View tower at the east end of the canyon

The tower up close

Some views from the tower at Desert View


Looking down from the top of the tower

Looking up at the ceiling of the tower


Some native American ruins near the entrance of Wupatki National Monument

The painted desert lies ahead

Wupatki National Monument


Wupatki was one of many monuments that were preserved during the WPA of the Great Depression.  I often wonder if these would have been saved without those efforts during that unfortunate time of our economy?

Amazingly well preserved and built in the midst of the rock formations

A communal or ceremonial area

The Ballcourt





Sunset Crater mountain at the south end of the road connecting Wupatki and Sunset.

Massive areas of lava ash cover the areas


Arcosanti between Phoenix and Verde Valley on the way to Sedona.  One of our favorite spots

The bells you see hanging here are but a few of the many types they make here to sell to help maintain the commune.

"Everything is awesome, Everything is cool when you're part of a team!"

Claimed to be Arizona's largest Christmas tree went up in a shopping area in Anthem, north of Phoenix

We made it to San Diego and the Houghten home

Alex, Kellen, Amy and Rhys Mellor visited us 
Rhys

Kellen

Mike with his buddies


It seems we were the labor for some projects

Hard at work

Breaktime!

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