Driving to Sedona

Sedona Adventures

September 24, 2008
by Garden Girl

Next: GPS, Mingus Mountain and a Wild Ride

My Sedona Arizona adventure begins with a drive from Phoenix to Sedona. We like to take the road less traveled or at least more scenic. As we made our way to Sedona, we took Hwy 60 to Wickenburg where the landscape was beautiful in its own right but not what we are accustom to at home. We have rolling hills but nothing like the hills and valleys on the way to Waldenburg. Although the landscape contained shades of green, the landscape texture and hues of color were uniquely their own. We snapped this picture of the Arizona landscape on our way to Wickenburg.

During the drive I thought about the kind of adventures that awaited me in Sedona. I'm not a thrill-seeking - adrenaline rush junkie looking for the ultimate adventure. I'm more of a laid-back - take it as it comes - find a way to meet people kind of adventurer. I'm sure my friends find this ironic; since in my every day life I'm high strung - up-tight - ultra-responsible. But the fact is my adventures are what I call "ALL ABOUT ME" and the ME likes to be pampered, enjoy nature with all of its creatures, for go responsibility and meet as many interesting people as possible. I find people absolutely fascinating and almost as wonderful as the great outdoors.

Back to the road traveled but more scenic. We drove to Wickenburg and then headed toward Prescott on Hwy 71. Along the way we saw several Saguro cactus and it seems depending on the elevation their presence in the landscape changes. The Saguro catcus are interesting each has a very distinct shape. As we were flying passed a group of them My husband remarked how they sometimes look like a hand with fingers. I found it interesting that he could come to that conclusion, after all when you are trying to break the sound barrier how do you have time to notice things. My husband likes to drive the same way he likes to ride his bike - fast. I didn't really mind I wanted to get to Jerome and Sedona before dark and we had gotten a late start. But the Saguro cactus really intrigued me. Some had round holes in them. Suddenly the Saguro cactus became the topic of the day. I made a remark about the holes. My husband confidently remarked that they were caused by birds. I asked what kind. He said I have no idea. I said I bet woodpeckers. Then all of a sudden what I thought was a very interesting flora and fauna discussion took a 180 degree turn.

What do you think it would do to your car if you ran in to one? Excuse me ???? was the thought that pop into my head as I tried to follow the question. My husband being a nurseryman went on to say. Cactus don't root deep so I was wondering if you hit one what it would do to your car. At the time I had no idea. Later I would learn that it would do a lot of damage to your car. Oh no no we didn't hit one. I just read information later that the Saguro cactus can weight as much as 3000lbs. I don't care if they aren't rooted deep - it would still mess your car up. The conversation went from bad to worst. Look look at the one up ahead, my husband laugh. It looks like it is giving us the finger. It really did. The way the plant had off shoots - it looked like a hand with three bent finger and one tall and proud one. I wish I had a picture but - sound barrier - speed of light not good for taking pictures.

You know when your in a state that you think of as a desert the sight of water features or lakes is hard to fathom. Along our drive we saw a really neat water feature leading to a subdivision as we entered Prescott.

The signal forced a slow down and I was able to get this picture. Not much further down the road was a small lake.As traveled to on our way to Sedona. We traveled through the Prescott National Forest which was beautiful and I'm sure I would have greater appreciation for it had I not been sick. All my life I have gotten car sick. I spent part of a European vacation with my head on a bus seat and my knees resting on the bus floor. So I was happy that I could watch our climb up the mountain out the car windshield with just a slight touch of motion sickness. It was amazing to look back occasionally to see the difference in elevation as we pressed forward. Pretty soon the curvy switchback leveled out for just a bit which is where we saw the water feature and the lake. The nausea and car sickness were starting to subside and life was looking good. Then I saw it the road that would lead us to Jerome and it was called Mingus Mountain and the Coconimo National Park (known for it wonderful campground and fantastic hiking trails). One thought resonated throughout my brain - Be Afraid - Be Very Afraid. And from that point on a whole other adventure began - Me against Mingus Mountain.