What an exhausting yet amazing day. We managed to get up fairly early and leave Barstow at about 8:45am. From then on we were on highway 40 east until we reached Flagstaff. From there we took highway 89 south to Sedona. It’s monsoon season here in Arizona and we did go through some showers. Sedona was completely cloudy. It prevented me from getting the typical rocks on fire sunset photo of the beautiful red rocks, but nature treated me with a lovely thunderstorm. I could have stayed there all night and probably would have if I didn’t get attacked by mosquitos and I didn’t want my travel partner (mama) to get too bored while staying in the car. Here’s my day summarized by photos.
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One of the many trains that we saw while going through California and Arizona. It totally made me think of my nephew, who would have LOVED to see all of them.
Bigelow Cholla Garden Wilderness… I have never seen so many cholla in my life and am so glad I wasn’t trying to walk around there. Imagine trying to hike through a cholla forest at night. Eek!
Near Yucca, looking at the rain clouds over the Hualapai Mountains
Amazing road cuts just outside (west) of Kingman, AZ
Check out all of the faults in the road cut! The geologist in me gets stoked about such textbook features observed in the field.
Another view of the clouds over the Hualapai Mountains.
Going through the Cottonwood Cliffs area. This was the last photo that I took with blue skies visible. It was all overcast and rainy from then on.
Adjacent to a vista trail along the infamous Oak Creek
Just outside of Slide Rock State Park.
Remnant puddles along the road…
Bridge for the road next to the Huckaby Trail
View of Oak Creek from the Oak Creek Vista, off of the Huckaby Trail
View opposite the bridge at the Huckaby Trailhead
What a beautiful road to drive down… highway 89 west near the highway 179 junction.
Rocks at the beginning of Chapel Road.
The Chapel of Holy Cross. Amazing how it is built into the rocks…
Lovely cacti all over the place. The chapel was closed when we got there but at least they allowed us to take a few photos before completely shutting down the area.
View from the handicap spaces for the Chapel. If I had this view from the chapel, I may go to church too.
Sun getting ready to set as viewed from the chapel. Check out the mansion in the foreground too.
Amazing cactus with red rocks
LIGHTNING! Viewed from one of the pullouts from Upper Red Rock Loop Road.
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wow. amazing photos! hope i can get to see it too one day 🙂
Thanks! And I hope you can see it one day too. It is well worth it. =)