Day 13: Walnut Canyon and Sedona

We just got to breakfast after a couple of bus loads of students who had cleaned out the breakfast goodies!  Almost!   After a few moments, the staff recovered and we had fresh scrambled eggs!   We are becoming intolerant of anything that minimises our comfort! 

First stop today was Safeway!   Almost as exciting as Grand Canyon!   Well, not really, but I do love an American supermarket.   I had bought a book on South Western cooking the day before and so stocked up on chiles and chilli powers of various sorts.  

Next stop was Walnut Canyon, once lived in by the Sinagua, a native peoples who lived in dwellings cut into the rock of this deep, forested canyon and somehow managed to eke out a living with very little water. Sin - without, Agua - water, see?! 

Walnut Canyon

Cliff homes in Walnut Canyon

Before the Sinagua other peoples had built pit houses. There was a good centre with explanations and a walk round with views into the canyon and of some of the dwellings.   Also, excellent labels giving the names and uses of some of the plants we have seen, so I have been able to go back and put in some names and appear terribly erudite! 

Typical vegetation

Cliffrose: purshia stansburiana

Banana Yucca

An infinite number of grasses 

Blue Grama: Couteloua gracilis

From Walnut Canyon we drove south through Oak Creek Canyon, a deep, wooded canyon with a creek running through approached from above down a winding road.   

Oak Creek Canyon, the road down

All green and shady!   And obviously a magnet for Sunday trippers.  We managed to find a picnic table at a stopping place and enjoyed a lunch of stuff from the ice box and fresh goodies picked up by Peter and Bob in Safeway while Mary and I tracked down chili powder.   Spelling of chilli is all over the place...English, American, Mexican...which version to use???

Kitchen

Then on to our B&B in Sedona for the next two nights.  Well!   A little oasis of calm and comfort.  What a perfect end to the holiday!   Bob is so pleased with himself for having found it on the internet!   It's called The Lantern Light Inn.  It's just off highway 89A and the owners are lovely.  

We have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large lounge, dining area, kitchen and private garden.  Peter is taking a nap indoors while Bob, Mary and I enjoy the garden.   

Living room

Garden

Garden

 We have booked tonight at Dahl and Diluca , an Italian restaurant just up the road, which the owner says is one of the best restaurants in Sedona!  We are treating Bob and Mary tonight to say thank you to them for organising this holiday, to Bob for doing all the driving (not that we didn't all offer, he just wouldn't let go of the wheel) and to celebrate the anniversary of their engagement.  You're never too old to be sentimental and romantic! 

Just back from the restaurant.  It turned out to be a really good meal. Very friendly staff and attentive waiters.   We are all feeling rather full!  Bob finished his meal with a Limoncello...what can you expect from a man who drinks Dr. Pepper!!!

We are planning the last day of the holiday.  Tomorrow we'll spend some time in Sedona - which looks like the Arizona equivalent of Islington or Hampstead!   There's a museum and an art gallery and much retail therapy opportunity.   We had hoped to meet up with old friends Van and Kathy in Phoenix on Tuesday, but Van is recovering from knee surgery, so sadly that won't happen.   Get well soon Van!