Arizona
Our ride from California to Arizona was a long one. Sarah and I were up and out of the house fairly early to head to Tucson. On our way, on two separate occasions, we were told how horrible Tucson was, so we were obviously really excited to get there.
At this point, I was unaware that monsoon season was a thing. Apparently, Arizona does not always consist of desert like conditions. From July through October monsoons are very common in the four corners area. That is what inspired the negative comments on Tucson. Unlike Southern California, Tuscon, Arizona was experiencing heavy rain and reasonably humid conditions.
While on route to Tucson, we drove past a sign. I honestly have no memory of what the sign specifically said, but it was interesting enough that we pulled off the highway to go see this western California “attraction.”
This stone watch tower overlooked a valley filled with rocks. It was very dry and it looked like it had not rained in that area for years. The area was privately owned by a man who had the desire to live in a hollowed out boulder, which seemed quite odd to me. He also seemed quite odd to me, but not the kind of odd that was a threat, so Sarah and I continued to explore. The place was overrun with dogs, which looked like they hadn’t been bathed in weeks. That part, along with many other parts, was quite strange. I did find a friend in the pug that was hanging around.
Inside the tower was a gift shop, filled with bumper stickers, jewelry and scorpions encased in glass. We decided to pay the $6.50 fee, which allowed us to walk to the top of the tower and explore the zoo of rocks on the property. The top of the tower did not have that glorious of a view. There was some sort of fence in the way - made of a mixture of wooden planks and metal bars - and although the mountains were in the distance, the closest mountains were massive piles of small rocks, which resembled a construction site. The zoo of rocks consisted of a bunch of rocks with eyes and mouths painted on them. Before leaving, the owner decided to show us his boulder house. This was a little too sketchy, so at that point it was time to get back on the road.
Chiricahua National Monument
Although Sarah and I were staying at an Airbnb in Tucson that evening, we also planned on stopping at Chiricahua National Monument for a mid afternoon hike. Our hike was a rough one, but the views continued to get better and better the further we walked. Chiricahua National Monument is the end result of a volcano that erupted 27 million years ago. It is known for its stone columns, referred to as hoodoos. See for yourself.
Tucson
Our Airbnb for that night was with a man named Ron. After staying at a bunch of airbnbs, I now realize that some people were born to be Airbnb hosts and some people are not. Ron is the host that goes above and beyond. Sarah and I had been excited to stay with him from the start. He mentioned that he used to work on Long Island, at South Oaks, years ago. He also mentioned how he makes killer omelettes and waffles for his guests every morning. The man also charges next to nothing for his rooms. Clearly, he enjoys the gig more than he enjoys getting paid for it. Needless to say, Sarah and I were so sad to find out Ron had been rushed to the hospital earlier in the day. We were not given the details, but we certainly hope he is getting better. The room was so well prepared that we didn’t require anything more for our stay, but I’m sure it would’ve been better with Ron’s enthusiastic presence.
The following morning, we packed up the car and I was forced to drop Sarah off at the airport to head home. Her short visit was incredible, although not nearly long enough for my liking. For the next three weeks I was going to be solo and even though I would have loved Sarah’s company for a little longer, I was looking forward to some time by myself.
Sedona
A few people told me that Sedona was a must-see. I trusted what those people said without looking too much into the area before arriving. As I got closer, I was confused at why people insisted I travel here. It did not look like there was anything super exciting to see. It wasn’t until I pulled in to the actual town of Sedona that I saw what everyone was talking about.
At this point, I had already seen a lot of places - all incredible and inspirational in their own way, but Sedona was my favorite of them all. It was absolutely breathtaking. Never had a landscape left me as awestruck as each and every one seemed to in Sedona. As I write this, I’m not far from the end of my trip and I can honestly say that Sedona was my favorite place. If I can retire to Sedona, I will be a very happy woman. Part of me wants to move there now - just drop everything and move to Sedona to hike and work at a crystal shop for the remainder of my days. Sadly, I’m way too much of an overachiever to do that, but I will definitely be back for frequent visits.
My first stop in Sedona was the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The church is built into the red rocks of Sedona. It is a quaint, but spiritual place with glorious views. Kathy O’Connell crossed my mind during my visit. I thought of how much she would enjoy this place and I lit a candle in her memory. I’m looking forward to seeing her son when I return and together, making the trip to visit Kathy at her resting place.
I made a meeting later on that evening. Sedona, it seemed, was not just spiritual in the chapel. I was welcomed at the meeting with open arms. People shared honestly about their progress, their failures and their higher power and it was truly inspiring. The room was not overpowered with religion, which I find refreshing. I have no problem with organized religion, but it’s not my way of doing things and it’s always nice to listen to people share with similar experiences.
The following day, my Airbnb host suggested I hike to Devil’s Tower. She is a kind woman and I trusted her judgement without doing any research. I looked up the location of the trailhead and  just went. I’m so glad I did. The hike, for the most part, wasn’t too strenuous, but the last half mile was practically rock climbing. It lead to a miraculous view and a prime spot to take a photo. Some people were too afraid to walk out onto Devil’s Bridge. Perhaps it was because of the name, but mostly it seemed due to a fear of heights - a fear of which I do not identify with. Personally, I enjoyed walking onto that bridge and looking to see all the beauty beneath me - and all around me.
Later on that evening, I was going on a jeep tour that drives throughout the red rocks in Sedona. It cost me an arm and a leg, but they seemed to be very popular in the area. The tour took myself and five other people, to some very secluded spots as the guide drive over the red rocks. The beauty of the blue sky next to the deep color of the red rocks was astonishing.
Sadly, it was time to leave Sedona and I headed to a really grimy hotel in Flagstaff. My stay would be brief. I was only staying overnight - just enough time to get myself ready for my mule ride alongside the south rim of the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon
Throughout my time at the Grand Canyon, I forced many strangers to take photos of me in front of the dazzling view. While on the mule ride, as well as exploring the south rim on foot, I was able to see some excellent views of the canyon, but while on foot, I didn’t explore for too long. The Grand Canyon was packed with tourists, many of them children under the age of ten, so that did not encourage me to stay for a long period of time. The mule ride was a quieter, calmer and less claustrophobic way to experience the canyon. It allowed me to really take in the experience, rather than be interrupted by a crying toddler. It was much more pleasant.
Antelope Canyon
My final stop in Arizona was Antelope Canyon. The tour guide in the canyon repeatedly stole my iPhone to change up the filters and get the most picturesque views with my camera. The canyon fills up with water regularly during monsoon season. There are logs stuck throughout the canyons to prove it. They floated inside Antelope Canyon during the monsoons in years past and still remain there today.










