Sedona, Arizona

 On Friday, April 2nd we left California and began our journey to return east. Our first stop was Arizona to spend a few days.  We set off for Oak Creek canyon, just outside of Flagstaff, arriving in the afternoon.  To our surprise (BIG surprise), cave springs campground was not open.  It was due to open that day for FCFS( first come first serve) but due to Covid restrictions, the National Park service had decided to postpone for another 2 weeks!  We were not the only ones caught off guard.  And we were planning on three nights there. We hastily contacted a number of campgrounds to only find out everyone was full. It was now about 7 pm. We drove into Sedona ( which was PACKED) got on the internet and found 2 nights in a nearby old dairy farm through Hipcamp.  The site was sparse.....but it was a place to stay for a few nights. The owner was so sweet- she told us to set up anywhere next to the barns and pens where she has cows boarding on her property, some horses, and a donkey (who liked to complain all the time). The next morning, there was a knock on our door around 9am, and there she stood bearing homemade blueberry scones!  How amazing.  And they were the best scones we have ever eaten.  Check these out!

Anyways, the next day we headed back north towards Oak Creek Canyon, only to realize that we would sit for hours in the traffic to pass through Sedona. Oh- it’s Easter Saturday and everyone in New Mexico must be in Sedona!  Ok- we need a new plan, so we turned around 1/2 way through Sedona and found a street side art market. 

We purchased a few items and as we started to head out of Sedona- we found a trailhead in a parking lot that had a place for us....so excited, we purchased our day pass, grabbed our backpacks and headed onto the trail.  It did not disappoint!  The trail was rugged, awesome, scenery stunning, and we spent the day on it.  

Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we want- yet something just as good or better happens!  Must be the “vortex” in these red rocks!  Someday, we will have to return to Oak Creek Canyon to explore those canyon slots.