Montezuma Castle National Monument/Sedona

Fri, Feb 8

First order of the day is to empty the holding tanks because we don't have sewer at the site, but there is a dump station in the park.  So we disconnect ourselves and go down the hill.  Now we're ready for a few more days.  We thought we had an electrical connection problem with our 50 amp cord, so we had that checked out at a repair center.  Nothing wrong.

Cliff Dwellings in Montezuma Castle National Monument

We had planned to go to Sedona today, but with the slow start, we decided we'd just take in a local attractions and go to Sedona tomorrow.  Montezuma Castle National Monument is only about 30 minutes away, and I've always found that National Parks and National Monuments are among the most interesting places to visit, no matter where we are.

For Anna and Evan:  Southern Sinagua farmers began building this five-story, 20-room dwelling early in the 1100s.  It stands in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley.

Early settlers marveled at the structure and assumed that it was Aztec in origin, hence the name Monezuma Castel.  A short distance from from the Castle, a once an imposing six-story apartment-like building with about 45 rooms existed.  It is now badly deteriorated.

A creek below these dwellings was a reliable source of water, and there was fertile land on a terrace nearby.

Tonight, we went to the Blazin' M Western Dinner and Show.  It is just outside the gate of the RV Park.  We met a couple (Doug and Cheryl Matthews) from Washington State when we got here  who have camped near us and we invite them to go with us to the show.

We have a great dinner of chicken and ribs with the trimmings and then an hour of so of music and entertainment.

Saturday, Feb 9

Today proves to be an unusual day in our RV travels.  It snows all day.  They don't get much rain (or snow) in this part of the country and today it seems that they got a good portion of their annual average.

When we woke this morning, the ground was covered.

We had planned to stay another day at Dead Horse Campground and drive the CRV to Sedona and come back.  But after a very brief discussion, we decide to cancel the reservation for tonight at Dead Horse and move the motorhome to Sedona (about a 23 mile trip).

Bill and Dave struggle with the utilities getting ready to leave Dead Horse RV Park

A little surprise in the desert

We've settled in the only RV Park in town, Rancho Sedona.  It's nice, overpriced, and convenient.  It's about the most we've ever spent to spend a night in an RV park ($75).  Commercial campgrounds are generally overpriced, but this one is a little too far out of line.  A one night stand  for us for sure.

We settle in at Rancho Sedona RV Park

It snows all day!  Although we would have loved to have seen the beautiful red mountains around Sedona in clear weather, I guess seeing them in the snow is even more unusual.

To take maximum benefit from not being able to see the beauty of the land, Bill and I park ourselves at a bar in downtown Sedona and send the ladies on a shopping mission for as long as they want to shop.  We enjoy ourselves and they enjoy themselves.

Glasswork art where we ate lunch in Sedona

We stopped by a Safeway grocery this afternoon to pick up some provisions.

First, realize that Sedona is a rather exclusive, overpriced resort.

But, what Bill and I saw as we sat outside the grocery surprised us, even for this eclectic community.  There was a homeless man snuggled into a corner by a bench off to the side of the entrance to the store, listening to music on some type of player and working away at his computer, covered by a sleeping bag.

Tonight we continue on the Downton Abbey series.  We finished one disc (3 parts) and start to load the 2nd disc (out of 3) and realize it's missing.  Clara remembers that she had loaned it to a friend, so tomorrow we'll get it sent out to us.  We're hooked on it now.

We leave Sedona Sunday morning under a cold overcast.  We're going South where it's warm!!!

Leaving Sedona