Day 20 - Munds Park, Arizona

This morning we got up in the dark as we were scheduled to go to off roading in a 4-wheel drive ATV for two with roll cage. MIL took one look at the thing yesterday and decided she wasn't going! I know she would have been saying "OY!" the whole time. Besides DH was able hot rod it and he couldn't do that with his Mom in the vehicle. We arrived there at 7:30, and got goggles and our ride was checked out, then we were given a map of the trails. So we headed off. We both wore jeans & sweatshirts as it was 47 degrees F. I had my Canon Rebel EOS and an my telephoto lens, my pocketbook, the maps and our goggles. The rental place also supplied a cooler full of ice water and ice. We went to the trail, to the
Honanki Ruins first which consisted of a paved road which turned into a gravel road and then a semi muddy red dirt road. However when we got there it was closed and didn't open for 40 minutes. So I said lets go to the other trails as we are renting this thing for 4 hours only and we were to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado which is the crème de la crème of Native American cliff dwelling Ruins. So DH took his sweatshirt off and so did I but then I decided to keep it on. Eventually I took my sweatshirt off too as it began to warm up, when we reached the other unpaved trail.
This trail was to the formation Devil's Bridge a natural bridge, and it was swarming with day hikers. It was also, lined with parked and moving vehicles, which we couldn't imagine bringing on this rock & boulder  strewn trail. The trail to the ruins was rough but not nearly as rough as the Devil's Bridge trail, which actually was named the Dry River Bed Trail. Since I took my sweatshirt off, the seatbelt shoulder strap was cutting into my neck. I ended up after an hour of it cutting into me, pulling it down under my arm. DH drove the whole way and he had fun driving it. Thankfully after the trail head for the Devil's Bridge, the hikers became less and less. The diehards were also hiking to the petroglyphs which were a lot further then the Devil's Bridge. It's funny, that DH and I thought we had traveled a long ways on the Dry Creek Bed Trail, but coming back we were shocked how close we were to the trail head. We decided to go back since we wouldn't have had enough time to get back to the ruins and then back to the rental place. We wanted to avoid the steep late rental fees too.

After that we went to the Safeway grocery store and bought some things we needed. Then we went to lunch and had burgers with French fries. And ordered chocolate cake for dessert for MIL. Heavens to Betsy, MIL  left all her Lindt 70% dark chocolate bars in Tucson. So I was able to get her 72% dark chocolate bar to hold her over plus the cake.

From there we decided to take the 89A road which is a scenic byway, that winds around Oak Creek Canyon back. We were going to go to Slide Rock State Park just to take photos but quickly stopped that thought when we found out it cost $30 per vehicle which for a car load of people would be s great deal but not for two, who didn't even want to go swimming. Of course it was even worse as we would have had to hike down into the canyon and hike back up. I might have done it if it was a lot warmer and I was a lot younger!

On the way through Sedona there were all these signs to tune to some radio station when the sirens were wailing. I was wondering what the sirens were for? I thought maybe flash floods? Today I found out, the sirens were to warn of forest fires. The scenic byway went from desert to lush forests of tall ponderosa pines or lodge pole pines. We enjoyed the scenic byway back to the campground. We also stopped at two Native American craft fairs along the way and DH bought me a turtle necklace made from hematite and another made from white and gray mineral or shell. The seller told me but I promptly forgot what it is. Then we returned.

I came to the conclusion that I got confused with my trip reservations. I thought we were supposed to be in Sedona from Thursday to Sunday, when in fact I was supposed to be here until Monday. So I either have to see if I can stay another night here or try to get a campground reservations at a campground at Lake Meade, in NV. However, I won't be able to do anything until tomorrow morning. Of course, I don't know what day I am paid up until. I distinctly remember telling the person in the office here that I was leaving on the 26th. So she said what is the last night? I said the 25th. So my mixup happened as I thought the 26th was Sunday, when it is Monday.