Greetings, dear virtual road companions! Thanks for checking in with the One Bold Crone caravan as we begin our fourth Odyssey across this great nation.
I am pleased to report Day One of the seven day journey went off without a hitch. However, it did include a surprise, thanks to Siri, my GPS, who calls the shots. Instead of connecting me from the I-10 to the I-40 via the Needles in eastern California, Siri decided to keep me on the shortest route, which meant staying on I-10 into Arizona, through Quartzite where gas is cheap, and on towards Phoenix.
Just outside of Phoenix, Siri took us north…over the mountains, up into the high desert, and right on into Flagstaff, where we met up with I-40 as planned.
To be honest, I’d intentionally avoided this route on the previous three trips. Why? Because on the map, it looks like it goes straight through Sedona.
Sedona and its magnificent red rocks are a spectacular sight. I’ve seen them twice before, in 2007 and 2008, and reveled in their beauty. But my first visit to Sedona commenced with a very scary drive down a steep, winding mountain road in the rain. This was during a Four Corners road trip from Massachusetts. I’d already been terrified driving through the Rockies. The driver didn’t think they were going too fast, but I did, and it was the same thing now. Sheer terror. So in my mind, driving through Sedona again, alone, with the animals, was O-U-T.
Well, guess what? Yesterday’s route—303 loop to I-17–doesn’t actually go through Sedona at all! It merely goes by Sedona, in the distance. It also goes by Prescott and Arcosanti, and it was beautiful!
Up in the high desert, about halfway between Phoenix and Flag, we stopped at the McGuireville rest area on I-17 to stretch our legs. (Timi and I stretched our legs, that is. Clyde stayed in the crate.) It was lovely!
Speaking of Timi and Clyde, both are doing great! They were a little sad about leaving, but are now seasoned travelers. They know the drill.
Upon arriving in Flagstaff, the gang settled right into the familiar seeming hotel room. Everybody ate and did their business, no problem. Timi and I took a nice walk and visited with my Flagstaff friend Celia and her adorable dog Rio, a real treat. After that, we all went to bed early and slept through the night, no barking. It’s a miracle!
Here are the kids right now, this morning, taking it easy.
And some parting shots from yesterday…enjoy! OBC 🌵🦉🌿
One Bold Crone 