Our first destination was a rest stop just before the exit. It was relatively typical, everyone taking care of business, walking, or fitting in a smoke break. But suddenly, this was no longer the ordinary rest stop visit. We (all 5 of us) became really interested in a tow truck and how he would manage to get this huge RV on his truck bed without dragging the bumper on the pavement in the process. For some reason I took a photo.
It looks tricky, doesn't it?
Then I decided it would be nice to have family pictures, too. Our deep interest in the tow truck shows that clearly, we don't get out much.
When we got to Sedona about 20 mins later, we decided to go to a renown place called "Grasshopper Point". It was featured (along with Slide Rock in Sedona) in the Arizona Highways magazine a few years back as one of the best swimming holes in the state. I had been there in the past with a friend, and we really enjoyed it. It was a different kind of trip this time around with two kids, though. It is a short hike down a partially paved trail and then it is a lot of larger rocks and uneven terrain to get through before you reach the creek. When we got to a spot we thought we could make our "home" for a few hours, Kurt worked hard (as a former boy scout) to give us some shade using towels and large tree branches wedged between rocks. It worked like a charm.
The water was very cool, but actually felt good after sitting in the sun for a while. There were many other people there enjoying the red rocks and serenity that comes along with a visit to Sedona. Carter waded near the edge catching minnoes in a bucket and every so often Papa and Kurt would take Carter out near the water fall a short way down the creek. Kurt and I tag-teamed with Hudson so we could both take advantage of the water.
I guess the highlight was when Kurt was brave enough to take a plunge off the cliff into the creek below. In this picture, he is about to jump, arms back and legs bent with immaculate form.
After a good few hours we packed up and strolled around the main drag in and out of little "touristy" shops. I was unsure of this since I felt like a big slob after bathing in a creek all day. My dad assured me we wouldn't see anyone we know. I agreed. But, sure enough the first people we see as we enter the strip are two of Kurt's co-workers. It was kind of funny. I don't really care that much but I feel like just because we said that....we were forced to make a first impression in wet clothes and literally looking like river rats. Who cares, right?
Carter saw a bunch of flags and thought it was his job to untangle them as some of them were rolled up from the wind. We ate dinner at a not so great mexican restaurant, and then ran into a family of quails in the front yard of a little house.
All in all it was fun...it was nice to travel with Papa and have some good conversations in the car to and fro. I think next time we should plan ahead and go for a few days. There is so much to see!
Here we are leaving for the day...
No comments:
Post a Comment