Our second day in Arizona, it rained, all day. This is one of the driest areas of the country, and it's not monsoon season yet, but still, rain. Also, atypically 25 degrees cooler than average. What to do in the rain? Go on a scenic drive and do some responsible wine and beer tasting.
We decided to make our way to Sedona via the Oak Creek Canyon scenic drive, route 89A. The mountain switchbacks and changes in elevation keep your speed to between 35 and 50 mph, which is fine, because even on a rainy day, you can't help but look up at the red rock
Of course, with the weather, and our camera, we can't do it justice, but if you ever find yourself in this part of Arizona, it's worth a peek.
And worth a taste. Arizona boasts one of the oldest wine growing regions in the country, so we hit up 3 wineries. At winery #2, we also learned about Oak Creek Brewing Company, probably the tasty stop in the tour. Excellent nut brown ale, free peanuts and popcorn, and Columbian Hot Dogs, seen here, complete with cream cheese, pineapple and crushed potato chips.
The next day, we were grateful the sun came out, and headed out to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. The volcano, now dormant, erupted in 900, displacing several native Ancient Puebloans tribes. It left behind cinder rock, lava flows, and a very strange, nearly untouched terrain. Here you can see us at an elevation of nearly 7000 ft (a vertical hike mind you), with Lenox Crater and the San Francisco mountains in the background.
Walking the Lava Flow Trail
Pausing to hug some quaking Aspens
The Bointo Lava Flow
Looking up at the Sunset Crater cinder cone.
Jim is Groot
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