So we did the same calculations in Sussex we had done in Canada. “If we only buy five gallons how far is it to the next fuel stop out of California”. So we bought five gallons and kept going east, out of California into Arizona and stopped for fuel at the first opportunity. Fuel there wasn’t cheap but seemed like a bargain after Sussex at $3.75 a gallon. Had a happy fill up and kept the nose pointing east.
Our destination for this leg of our trip was Prescott, AZ. Prescott is located between Phoenix and Flagstaff. It is high enough to be 15-20 degrees cooler than Phoenix, 1,086’ and low enough, 5,300’, not to get the harsh winters of Flagstaff, almost 7,000′. Priss had read a lot of glowing reports on what a great city Prescott was to live in if we decide to become non-Okies. I think the reports must have been right and also widely circulated because it seemed everyone fleeing California were going to Prescott.
Housing prices have more than doubled the last few years and the housing market can only be described as a frenzy. Houses were going on the market and selling in hours and at the most a few days. And asking prices were not the norm, people were offering more than asking price so the sellers were happy to oblige. New houses, ten year old houses, fifty year old houses, updated, not updated, great condition, poor condition, all were bringing top dollar. If we could pick our house up and move it to Prescott we could easily sell it for $600,000 and more. Prices per square foot have exceeded $350. We decided to enjoy the area and leave the frenzy to the Californians.
We took an easy drive to Sedona, had not been there in at least two decades. Like most other places Sedona seemed to have doubled in size and seemed up ten fold for the number of people on the streets. Traffic was awful. Priss had found a gluten free restaurant she wanted to try so we braved the traffic, found the restaurant and hoped for the best. I can graze at my leisure anywhere without a second thought but Priss has to be very careful about gluten, and the vast majority of the restaurants that advertise they are gluten free really aren’t. When she finds a true gluten free restaurant with really good food she is as happy as a pig in the sun. She said this restaurant easily ranks at the top of her list. Bet you’re wondering if it was so good why I don’t tell you the name of it. Restaurants mean nothing to me and I don’t remember the name of it, something to do with Pizza or whatever.
We decided Prescott was going to become far too Californiaized for us unless we can somehow find a way to move our house there, so we marked it off our list of “what about” locations. But we really did like Prescott and especially the cooler temperatures, especially at night.
We departed Prescott and drove up the hill to Flagstaff. Had no plans except staying cool. But once Priss realized Sedona was only thirty miles from Flagstaff our plan was set for at least one meal so back we went to Sedona and the Pizzathing place. Have to say it really was good food. But the traffic and number of people had not diminished to we didn’t stay too long, but we did drive out to the place we had stayed many years ago, Lo Lo Mi Campground.
The highlight of that trip and that campground was a family of skunks that lived under an old, hollowed out Cottonwood tree. No issues during the day but when the stars came out so did the skunks. We were traveling with the Larricks, Clarks and Noffsingers and going from one camper to the next was very challenging after dark. You certainly didn’t forget your flashlight.
The skunk family still lived under the same Cottonwood tree but the campground had not fared as well, lots and lots of maintenance had beed ignored for a very long time. Too bad because it used to be a really nice campground and a little planning and elbow grease could make it that way again. But I think it won’t happen.
After making sure the skunk family was still around and well and getting our protein for the day it was time to leave Sedona. The drive north on 89A from Sedona to Flagstaff is beautiful. It follows canyons, streams and valleys and has an elevation gain of about 3,000 feet. One place next to the highway we like is called Slide Rock, it’s a resort with a river running next to it. In the river the sandstone slopes downward for about fifty yards of so and is covered with river water. You guessed it, a natural slip and slide and the place is always packed with people sliding down the incline then walking back up to do it all over again. If I was 90 years younger, I’d give it a go.
We did drive to Winslow for lunch at the La Pasada Hotel, an old 18th century Fred Harvey railroad hotel and restaurant from the hey days of railroad travel. People quit riding trains and railroad properties closed and deteriorated. La Posada was finally scheduled for demolition when a young artist and her boyfriend heard about it, raised the funds, purchased the property from the railroad and have done a wonderful job of reconstructing the hotel and restaurant to its glory days looks. Food here was also good, stop by if you’re traveling the mother road. And of course, we couldn’t be in Winslow and not go by the “Standing On The Corner” display and museum. The famous song “Take It Easy” was written by Jackson Browne and finished with the help of Glenn Frey who had just started a new band called the “Eagles”. Frey liked the song and wanted to record it so he helped Browne finish it, it became the Eagles first number one hit.
We also drove to Walnut Canyon near Flagstaff and had a nice hike. The hike is a short circular mile but the issue is the million steps you have to take when descending into the canyon then have to climb again on the way out. I’ll bet an incline railway could make a fortune here. The canyon is filled with ancient indian cliff dwellings. The ancients came to the canyon, lived there for many centuries and moved out of the area long before Columbus ever dreamed of sailing west. As with most of the stone age indian cultures they were self sufficient and knew well how to survive in their surroundings. Interesting culture, artifacts and history but no so for the steps.
We’ll head east again tomorrow and stop at the higher altitudes with no plans whatsoever, so we’ll see what dust we find to kick up.
Later.
-Tom