Road Trip - Four Corners etc.

Day 1 of our multi faceted trip...

Our objective to get above 5,000 feet for

the entire 12 day trip... and to give our new

Honda CR-V Touring a real test drive.

The back seat had room for more stuff because the
cargo area was stuffed full...

And our navigation system gave this photographer
everything she needed to tell the driver what to do.

Our first stop was at one of the most unique and scenic
rest stops we've ever used.  It was called Sunset Point near
Black Canyon City.  Even tho it was on the opposite side
of I-17 it was worth the effort.

And Don found geocache #1

We began to gain elevation and soon were enjoying
the distant clouds and the appearance of Pinon Pines &  Junipers.

Pretty nice.  Now about 85 degrees...

I realized how much I had missed seeing GREEN trees.

And when I spied a Jeffrey Pine I actually had to
go over and verify that it really was a Jeffrey.
Just sniff a crack in the bark and if you smell
vanilla, you've found Jeffrey.  SUCCESS.   AH... 

And, Humphrey's Peak at 12,300' elevation makes a
great backdrop to Flagstaff since it is the highest peak
in AZ and is part of the San Francisco Peaks. 

Since it only took 3 hours to arrive in the Flagstaff area
we had time to do some local "site seeing"...

Pardon my crumpled map, but it spent a lot of time
jumping in and out of my pocket as I lead Don thru

Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Center which  was
placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

We hiked for about 3 miles and enjoyed a few of the key
points as shown on the above map.  Basically we were
disappointed... not much to see.  Waterfall minimal
due to it being late in the season

We did enjoy the Petroglyph Site

but it was minimal compared to other southwest sites.

There were numerous geocaches in the park, and this one
"Just Hanging Around" was easy for me, the non-geocacher
to find!!!

Regardless of where we hike  it's always good
to remember to look up now and then - don't you
think Mary Ann.  This one's for you.

Elden Pueblo Archaeology Site was a great place...
a site of the ancient Sinagua (Sin ah' wa) village,
inhabited from about A.D. 1070 to 1275 and

worth the 3 "turns" to finally get to the parking lot.

Last stop for the day pretty nice when we found out upon
checking in at the Best Western Pony Soldier Inn & Suites

we had been upgraded us to a Suite.  Good Night...