Day 23
Sedona, Arizona t0 Show Low, Arizona
Another glorious day started with breakfast at the Blue Moon Cafe in Sedona which had full views of Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock. Those are nice side orders with the pizza-pie-size Paul Bunyon pancake.
Afterwards we took 179 North for a last glimpse at our favorite rock formations, Bell and Cathedral, and then stopped in at the Chapel in the Rock -- a chapel built into the red rock formations just off 179. Not only was it a Sunday, but it was just after the Summer Equinox, so it was a great opportunity to contemplate space, time, spirituality, beauty, Nature, and the Everlasting, Everchanging All That Is.
And, of course, buy a souvenir at the chapel's gift shop.
Afterwards it was 179 South to I-17 South to Montezuma's Well, a "collapsed limestone sinkhole, containing organisms found nowhere else in the world." [from The People of Montezuma Castle and the Verde Valley booklet from the Western National Parks Association Press, http://www.wnpa.org/ ]
Montezuma's Well also provided an excellent opportunity to feel how HOT it is -- by the time we climbed to the top and then hiked the trail to the irrigation fields we were all incredibly red-faced (and not because we were embarrassed to be tourists). The temperature was a chilly 107F.
So afterwards we headed for cooler climes, specifically the White Mountains of Arizona. We took I-17S to Route 260 East to Payson, passing through the Verde Valley and Camp Verde, which both lived up to the name. Along the way, we saw many beautiful examples of the yucca plants in bloom.
As we climbed the Mongollon Plateau, the temperature dropped 20 degrees in 20 minutes. Again, at a mere 89F, we got our ear muffs out.
We followed Rt. 260 through the Conconino National Forest, and between Pine and Payson we took a detour into Tonto State Park to take a quick peek at Tonto Natural Bridge. There's a nice photo of Jackie there.
Afterwards we continued through the Mogollon Rim and Plateau through the Tonto National Forest. The roads were really narrow with no shoulders -- only gravel and gulleys. Once, the oldest human (who insists on doing most of the driving for some reason) almost ran off the road and for absolutely no reason. A few minutes later the little human (who has to ride in the back seat because she's not able to ride in the airbag-protected front seat) snuck a note to the archeologist. Scrawled in her terrified handwriting was: "Help me!!"
Despite a few near death experiences such as this ("don't head toward the light!"), we made it through three national forests: Coconino, Tonto, and Sitgreaves), each more picturesque than the other. All the while the little human kept us all entertained with her hilarious imitation of a parrot (named Sparky) doing a comedy routine.
Finally, we called it a day in Show Low, Arizona. I don't know the story behind the town's odd name. If anyone out there knows, we'd love to hear about it!
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2 comments:
Just so you know we're paying attention: Show Low received its name when C.E. Cooley and Marion Clark decided there was not enough room for both of them in their settlement. The two men agreed to let a game of cards decide who was to move. According to the story, Clark said, "If you can show low, you win." Cooley turned up the deuce of clubs and replied, "Show low it is." (From the city web site; they appear to have the scene rendered in brass somewhere around town.)
Thanks for the 411, Sharon R. If our internet access wasn't so spotty, I guess we could have found that out ourselves. But thanks very much for passing along the research!
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