March 18th--Last Day at Verde

Today was our last day at TT Verde Valley. The weather was great all week---wonderful for playing lots of pickleball. The nights are still very cool but the sun warms things up quickly and by 8:30 we have been on the courts ready for some good games. When we first arrived almost three weeks ago only Harry and I and Keith and Marie were out playing. Gradually over the past two weeks more and more players have arrived. Today we had about 18 people. We had some wonderful games and lots of fun.

Last Saturday Keith Bisel arrived in the park. Anyone who plays pickleball knows all about Keith. He is a great pickleball teacher and winner of many pickleball medals. It was wonderful watching him moving around the court to play and interesting to listen as he instructed some new players. I hope they know how fortunate they are to have been taught by one of the best!

Our last day of pickleball was topped off with a great dinner. In celebration of my birthday on the 20th, Marie made homemade pot pie. It was soooooooooo good. Along with the pot pie we had peas and Keith's biscuits from scratch. And of course for desert they made a birthday cake. It was all so delicious and wonderful of them to take the time to help celebrate my birthday before we leave. Thanks Marie and Keith for a great dinner!

Tomorrow Harry and I pull out of here and head to Albuquerque for the FMCA Rally. We are sure going to miss everyone here and all the great times and pickleball.

Friday Dinner at Blazin' M Ranch

Friday night Harry and me and Larry got tickets for the Blazin' M Ranch. This is a cowboy dinner followed by a cowboy show.

As we entered this sign was posted at the entrance and I really liked it. They really want you to have a good time.

Inside the fence it is set up like a little western town. Of course they are shops were they want you to roam and spend your money before the dinner starts.

The three of us at the entrance to the dinner and show building. We happened to run into a fellow Pickleball player--Howard-- and his wife. They were our photographers, and vice-versa.

This is Mabel's Saloon. Note that baths are only 5 cents. Bet you don't get much soap and water for that.

This is the old jail--open to the public. Harry said I enjoyed this just a little too much!

After we walked around the grounds it was time to go inside for dinner. The dinner bell rings at 6:30 PM. Tables were assigned when tickets were bought. When the dinner bell rings the tables--one at a time--get a plate and go through the serving line.

And this is how your plate looks when you come out the other side of the line. Dinner included: chose of roast beef or chicken, baked potato, pinto beans, applesauce, cole slaw, biscuit, spice cake, coffee, iced tea or lemonade.

After dinner they called everyone up who was celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Since my birthday is next week Harry made me get up to be included. We had to wear these attractive hats and then we were sung to.

The show was three cowboys and one clown and they all played several instruments and sang. There was a variety of music and comedy and lasted about an hour.

The last song was Ghost Riders. As the lights went dim some lights outside the window started flashing and the "ghost riders" road past. Pretty neat. After the show the rider was out side for pictures. It was an enjoyable evening.

Oak Creek Canyon

Oak Creek Canyon is Arizona's first designated Scenic Highway. Rand-McNally rates it as one of the most beautiful drives in America. We would certainly agree. The above photo I took as we started the drive. I wish you could see how far up this is. In the center of the picture is a water falls that looked like it just shoots out of the rocks.

I took this picture out side of Sliding Rock State Park. We did not pay the entrance fee to go in because of time limits. The colors of the rocks were beautiful with the snow melt and the rocks were wet and the sun shining on them.

The sky is so blue out here in the west. And at night it is amazing how many stars you can see.

At the top the elevation is 6ooo ft. They had lots of snow this year and there was still some covering the ground at places and several feet along the roads that had been plowed. This is in the parking lot at the summit.

The overlook at the top was beautiful. It was cool up there but the sun felt warm.

Another area overlooking the canyon and down into the valley.

This is the road we drove up on. Note the three levels of road that wind around the mountain as it rises. At the top in the parking lot there were several stands of Native people selling crafts and jewelry. I bought two handmade necklaces.

More columns of rocks.

Wish this color showed better.

More beauty.The road as it winds through the mountains.

Black and red rocks.

This is Midgley Bridge that was built over the canyon. I was standing at the pathway that goes to the look out over the canyon. Boy---was it far down!

This is a distant view of the bridge.

Coming back to where we started we again saw lots of red rock.

In the morning when we started the sun was at the wrong angle for the colors so we back tracked on Loop Road again on the way home. This time the sun was right for pictures--as if I hadn't taken enough already!

Loop Road has lots of good scenery but for about one mile it is dirt road. Not always so smooth either but well worth the beauty.

When we arrived here at Verde Valley two weeks ago most everything was brown but in the short time we have been here there is lots of greening taking place.

This was one of the most beautiful driving days we had. Thanks to all our friends who recommended this drive to us. Sure am glad we didn't miss this one.

March 11th--Sedona Red Rock Country

Thursday morning the sun was shining brightly and the temperature was to go to 65 degrees. We decided it would be a good day to see Sedona Red Rock Country. The ride up to Sedona was beautiful but it paled in comparison to what we would see later that day. First we stopped at the Information center and picked up a map.

Our next stop was at the top of Airport Road--6oo ft. up. This is how it looked up at the top overlooking the town of Sedona and colorful mountains all around.

This is the Shrine of The Red Rocks dedicated Easter Sunrise 1961 by the Masons of Verde Valley and Senator Barry Goldwater.

Chimney Rock.

Coffee Pot Rock. This looks like the old percolator type. See the spout to the right and the curved handle. Many of the rocks have names that they look like but some you really need to use your imagination.

Here are Harry and Kate at on of the pull-outs. Looks like Harry saw something he wants me to see. The colors of the mountains were magnificent but the pictures do not show it as well.

I believe this is Cathedral Rock. One of the most photographed spots in the country

This is called Courthouse Butte. Do you think it looks like a courthouse.

Bell Rock. We got out and walked the Bell Rock Pathway for a short time to stretch. There are many paths and hiking trails to walk in the Sedona area.

This is Chapel of The Holy Cross built into the side of the mountain in 1956. Here we parked and walked up to the chapel. It was quite a steep ramp to get up there. Inside was a simple chapel where they still have Catholic Services.

Here I am at the top standing beside Eagle Rock. This is one that needs some imagination.

This is really cute but you have to look hard. Right in the middle of the picture is a small rock that looks like a little boy with a cap on. In person it really does look like a little boy fishing. We saw some amazingly beautiful sights.

Campground Hike & Montezuma Castle

Today is Wednesday March 10th. Over the past several days it has been cold and rainy but today when we got up the sun was out. We put on our hiking shoes and walked up the path to the top of the hill overlooking the campground. It was really pretty up there and the above picture is looking down over the camper.

This is the view from the top looking the opposite way toward the mountains.

As we stood at the top looking at the scenery this is what we saw coming over the hill in the distance. It never came any closer. Instead it turned and went the other way.

This is overlooking one of the activity centers. The pool, spa, pickleball courts, and the activity room are all in this area. As we finished our walk the clouds started rolling in again.

In the afternoon, after pickleball, lunch and showers we decided to drive to Montezuma Castle.

This is Montezuma's Castle. Built by the Sinagua people in the early 1100s about 100 feet above the valley on the side of the canyon wall. The 5 story, 20 room dwelling was inhabited by about 35 people. They lived here about 300 years till the 14oos and then began to leave for unknown reasons.

This is a close-up view. Ladders were used to get up to the dwelling.

This is a replica if what the dwelling looked like during the time it was inhabited.

This is what is called castle A. It was much larger than Montezuma castle consisting of 45 rooms and an estimated 100 people lived here. It is right next door to the other castle but it was hard for me to tell that it was a dwelling. Before the people left it was destroyed by a fire and almost all of the interior features were destroyed. Collapsed walls is about all that is left.