After spending Friday and Saturday at the Grand Canyon Caverns being entertained by just over 500 others in attendance we were ready to roll out in the direction of Jerome and Oak Creek Canyon on Sunday morning. Joe had warned Fessi on Saturday night to behave himself so that he didn't have to ride with a hangover. Fessi apparently had learned the hard way before so the advice didn't fall on deaf ears. Unfortunately Joe wound up staying up until almost three in the morning due to problems at the campground with a 21 year old who had drank until he became bulletproof, so he didn't feel quite up to 100% on Sunday morning, or in the afternoon for that matter. Although the kid looked like he'd been hit by a passing freight train in the morning. Some people have to learn the hard way when somebody bigger than you says it's time to go to bed, it's best to take them at their word.. |
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Once we were sufficiently revived to continue our journey we set off for Jerome and Cottonwood where we would eventually spend the evening dining on fine Italian food (pizza) and soaking in the hot tub. Fessi and Sylvia had never been over the Mingus Mountain pass before and compared to the Swiss Alps it really isn't too much to get excited about, but on the other hand we're used to it. Turns out, they both enjoyed the ride immensely. You see when you get to 7,000 feet above sea level in Switzerland there aren't any more trees, not so in Arizona and most of the USA. |
Once Fessi and Joe had exhausted the supply of beer that they took to the pool and Teri and Sylvia had used the shower to scrub away the days grime, it was time for a good old fashioned Italian dinner, served outside of course. Fessi hauled the table out of his room and we set up our dining room out on the sidewalk in front of our rooms, much to the amusement of the other guests. But hey...when the weather is this nice, who wants to be cooped up inside just to eat a meal? |
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Tuesday morning we did get an early start. Joe was almost recovered from his near all nighter on Saturday and we rolled off in the direction of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon a whopping 28 miles away. |
Once our stomachs were full we departed town in the direction of Flagstaff via the Oak Creek Canyon. About fifteen miles up the canyon is the turn off to Garlands Resort and a bridge across Oak Creek that the water runs over instead of under when the the creek is high enough. There is no better place in Arizona to stop on a hot day, pull your boots off and soak your feet in the cool water. We killed a little over an hour there, not wanting to put the boots back on but knowing we needed to reach Flagstaff another twenty five miles away, by early afternoon. |
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Our stay in Flagstaff Tuesday night was not nearly as comfortable as it was in Cottonwood but we survived in spite of our downgrade in accommodations. Without going into too much detail, the next time we will find someplace else not only to stay but for dinner as well. Wednesday morning the plan was to head north out of Flagstaff to Cameron and then turn west into the Grand Canyon National Park. Joe equates going to the Grand Canyon right up there with some forms of Asian torture but given the fact that we had guests he surrendered and endured this largest of Arizona tourist attractions. The weather through the Grand Canyon National Park was almost picture perfect, with cool temperatures and light breezes. We stopped a few times along the south rim to take photos and rest our rear ends but we knew that we had a long ride ahead of us to reach the Colorado River and home sometime before Teri had to go to work on Thursday. It must really suck to have a job! |
As always happens our trip had to come to an end. We arrived back in Havasu sometime after the sun had dipped below the horizon, or as we call it "CommieFornia" and the reality of having to go back to work the next day forced us to end our travels until Teri can convince her boss to set her free again for a few days. |
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