Bench of the Week / Sedona, Arizona, USA...Hiking to Bell Rock

I found this bench on our hike to Bell Rock in Sedona, Arizona in late November.  As you can see, it doesn't matter which way you sit on this bench, because the view is mind boggling in all directions!

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Bench of the Week is hosted by RuneE, Norway

Scenic Sunday / Chapel Road, Sedona, Arizona USA

This photo was taken on Chapel Road in Sedona, Arizona in late November 2009. I thought it looked like someone tried to erase the clouds from the sky.

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Scenic Sunday

Camera Critters / Meet My Friend...Mr. Bobcat!

I had the golden opportunity to run face to face into this bobcat while on my trip to Arizona. My friend had gone into our room, which has an outside entrance. I was lingering outside with my camera and taking pictures of the beautiful well lit red rocks of Sedona during sunset. Suddenly I looked up to see this bobcat staring at me withing 30 feet of where I was standing. I froze like a statue! I never thought of taking a picture of it because I didn't want to take my eye away from what it was doing...I think you know what I mean! Soon it just sauntered off and left the property and headed out into the desert. I told the people who run the small resort and they said this little bobcat cruises through their property quite often. They pulled up it's photo from their computer and emailed it to me so I would have the photo when I returned home...so, here it is! It's a little blurry but, I can imagine the blurry image I would have gotten with my shaky hands!

I guess that means a bobcat isn't aggressive unless its fearful or feels cornered. I actually feel so lucky to have seen it like this...but, I was quite nervous!

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Camera Critters

Photo Hunter / Theme is "Curve"

The theme for Photo Hunter today is "Curved." These stairs are really "curved."

Color Carnival / Christmas Bells in Sedona, Arizona

I saw these bells ( and many more) wrapped on a rail along a sidewalk in Sedona, Arizona in late November 09.

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Color Carnival

Weekend Reflections / Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona

This is an old abandoned apple picking shed in Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona, which was built in 1932.

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Weekend Reflections

Wordless Wednesday / Fall in Sedona, Arizona USA

Outdoor Wednesday / Bell Rock, Sedona, Arizona

My friend, Sally, and I had a great afternoon hiking to Bell Rock and then climbing on it. We made it up to about 1/3 from the bottom. Big baskets of red rock marked the trail, although not everyone used the specified way. We finally decided we were high enough when we considered if we would be able to get back down! Coming down is actually far scarier than going up!! I do know that because I did it several years ago. I decided not to test my luck this time.

These pictures show the trail to Bell Rock and people on it at various levels. Look carefully because some people are partially hidden by bushes, etc. I took a picture of my friend trying to get up one of rocks (designated by the trail). We had some good laughs at this point. She also took my picture...but, I would never post that one! In the last 3 photos, I am wearing white and my friend is in the red (like there isn't enough red in Sedona!)

We got out of the area shortly before dark. The gentleman (Eric) who helps to run the small resort where we stayed, took our pictures when we got back. We had such a good time...I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Sedona, Arizona. Get out and play in the red rock!

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Outdoor Wednesday

Watery Wednesday / Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona

This is Oak Creek Canyon that runs through Sedona, Arizona. It was late afternoon with the sun hiding behind the high rock walls creating a lot of shade down at the creek. The running water is rather low this time of year but is full in the spring and summer when the snow melts in the Flagstaff area north of here. I wish we could have been in this area one week earlier for even better fall colors...but, it's still better than southern California!

Watery Wednesday

Monochrome Maniacs and The World in Black and White / Old Water Wheel in Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona

This old water wheel is in Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona. I was part of the irrigation system of an old apple orchard just north of Sedona years ago. There are still a few apple trees left in the area, mostly for ornamental purposes.

Monochrome Maniacs

The World in Black and White

Ruby Tuesday / Red Agave Resort @ Sedona, Arizona

There is so much to photograph at this little resort (Red Agave Resort) in Sedona, Arizona! The red rock is right in their backyard...so to speak! These outdoor decorations (for lack of better words) caught my eye over and over. They moved with the breeze and their color seemed even more intense during that golden hour before sunset. They were beautiful against the blue sky or the red rock, it didn't matter. They are SO Sedona!

Ruby Tuesday

Blue Monday / Red Agave Resort - Water Feature

I visited Sedona, Arizona last week with a friend. We stayed at a lovely little place out in the "red rock country." The outdoor area was very artsy with a pool, hot tub, fire-ring, wind chimes and water features! I loved this particular water-feature just outside our room.

Blue Monday

Sunday Stills / "T" for Trees

The theme for Sunday Stills is the letter "T." I will choose "tree" since I have some nice fall colors from Sedona, Arizona. The top 4 trees are in Oak Creek that runs through the Sedona area and the last photo was taken at the property where we stayed beneath Bell Rock and Court House Butte. If we had been there a week earlier we would have seen more reds...but, that's the story of my life. However, coming from southern California...I was mighty impressed with what I found in Sedona, as always!
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Scenic Sunday / Grand Canyon and Sedona, Arizona USA

I spent five days with my friend (from childhood) on a road-trip to Arizona. We spent time at the fabulous Grand Canyon and the spectacular red-rock country of Sedona...and some sights in between. We were fortunate to have clear and dry weather, but, it was quite chilly, especially at night. The top two photos were taken at the Grand Canyon. We were at the Desert View standing along-side of the Watch Tower there. We were able to get nice views of the Colorado River below. The river can be elusive from the rim at many points...but, it's there whether we can see it or not.

The rest of the photos were taken at Sedona, Arizona. This is a small community only about 2 hours from the Grand Canyon. What a change in scenery! Massive columns of red-rock prevail across the landscape. The colors here, too, change as the light changes according to cloud cover, and time of day. Sally and I spent a morning on the "Pink" Jeep Tour. What a hoot that was! We took the Rim Tour which is exactly that! We were high above Sedona (2000 feet) on the rims of the hills/mountains. The views back into the valley were awesome. You can be thoroughly impressed by just driving on the paved roads in and around Sedona...but, to get up above it all is truly a sight to behold. We took so many pictures! It's not easy choosing those to post here. The last photo was taken on the rim with the driver, myself, and my friend Sally. I am in the middle. Our driver was great!

I have visited the Grand Canyon numerous times and Sedona one other time...it never gets old! The colors change all day long...hour by hour, even minute by minute. These are just two of God's many masterpieces!

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Scenic Sunday