We've all heard about the mystic powers of the Sedona Arizona region. Apparently there are portals that make the love and wisdom of God more accessible to us. Not sure how we'd measure the truth of that, but I'm pretty sure we experienced it. Certainly the beauty of the region inspires higher thoughts and a feeling that earth has a grand designer whose creative power and eye for grandeur are most superior. Well, in our three weeks in Flagstaff we traveled to Sedona five times and each time received an uplifting dose of healing and inspiration. The drive from Flag to Sedona is about 25 miles but takes 45 minutes. The elevation drop is 4000 feet which makes the drive down very dramatic; switch backs down a canyon wall that looks out across adjacent canyon walls striped with sandstone and limestone and packed with pine trees. Any of you who have traveled on hwy 89A into Sedona know what I mean. Here is Dave on the side of that highway.
The drive takes you into Oak Creek Canyon - a deep canyon with a cool stream running through that collects in rock pools to create wonderful swimming holes. Along the canyon floor there are oak trees, apple trees, and aspen amoung the ponderosa pines. We went to a swimming area called Grasshopper point and enjoyed jumping off the hot rocks into the cool water. We hiked upstream through the water to find a private quiet part of the stream. There we sat on a big boulder in the middle of the stream and had one the deepest heart to heart talks ever. We left feeling so blessed to have each other and to be on this great adventure together.
On another occasion, Dave took me on an "off road" hike right up some of the big sandstone towers. He saw them from the official trail we were on and some how knew how to navigate up them. He packed a blanket and picnic and asked me to adopt my most adventurous attitude. He led me up crags and gullies, across mesas and up steep rock slabs. At times I cursed him and was scared, but once we came to our destination, all was forgiven. What a breath-taking view and the silence... We enjoyed a fabulous lunch 500 feet above the trail and for a while I didn't even worry about the hike down ;-)
We found a large flat area to do some handstands after lunch. On the hike down there was some butt sliding and tree root holding, but it was a great adventure and once again we left Sedona feeling rich and satisfied about our love, our life and our deepening connection with nature.
There are several vineyards and wineries in the Sedona area and one in particular we wanted to visit called Caduceus was founded by one of Dave's musical hero's Maynerd Keenan. He made a wonderful documentary about the progess of estabilishing a vinyard and making wine. It is called "Blood into Wine" and he talks about the humbling and enlightening eight-year process he went through to get to know his land well enough to grow grapes worthy of wine-making. He also talks about how his love for his mother helped drive his passion and he named his first wine after her.
The Caduceus winery and tasting room is in a town called Jerome and was a most interesting place to visit. It was a copper mining town in the mid 1800's. The town is built on a steep hillside and the roads through the town zig zag up the hill. There is an old west ghost town feel to the place and many of the buildings have a haphazard yet charming way of fitting themselves into the hillside. We enjoyed a tasting at the winery then wandered through the town as the sun set. We found a vista just outside town to have a tailgate picnic dinner then drove home under a stunning sky. The clouds looked like they were filled with lava as the sun made its final descent. Dave was singing loud to Queen and with the window down I let the desert air blow across my face.
We also enjoyed an interesting yoga class in Sedona at the Seven Centers Yoga Studio. It was called Five Elements Yoga and the teacher took you through postures that emphasized the earth element - getting energy into the legs and feet - then sat us in meditation and passed out aromatherapy sticks so we could breath in a plant essence that was earthy. And we sat in silence for a few minutes taking all that in, then moved on to the the other elements: water, fire, air and space. It was engaging and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Dave was able to reconnect with one of his Guitar teacher's Randy J and they went on a "man hike" together while I worked on my book.
Our time in Flagstaff was wonderful. We left two days ago feeling a strong bond to the area and to our generous host Todd Nelson who shared his home with us for three weeks. Here is a picture of one of the tunnels we passed through on Hwy 12 driving through Utah. We are now in Boulder Utah and boy do we have stories for you about this place. it is AMAAAZING! Details coming soon.
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