Day 10, Saturday - Walnut Canyon, Sedona, Lowell Observatory

After the usual wonderful breakfast which Nick fixed, we piled into the van. First stop was near Flagstaff, at Walnut Canyon National Monument. This was a native american settlement, 1100-1250 CE. The inhabitants built their homes under overhanging ledges. We took the Island T trail, along which most of the homes were situated. 240 steps down into the canyon.

We then continued down to Sedona. This artsy town was crowded with tourists. The town has regulations that buildings need to blend with the natural surroundings. I read that even the McDonald's arches were green rather than golden, although we did not see it.

 We continued to the outskirts, and stopped at the Bell Rock Trail.  It was hot with very little shade, so we only walked a short distance to see Courthouse Bluff and Bell Rock. Time to turn around and get back into air conditioning.

We stopped for a short visit to one of the craft shops in Sedona, got something to eat, and headed back to Flagstaff.  We wanted to visit Lowell Observatory that evening, so we had a couple hours to spend in Flagstaff.  We spent some time wandering around one of the arcades, and at a couple of the shops.

 

Ginger and Nick discovered a store called Sacred Rites, so we all spent time there. The proprietor had a couple different vibrating chairs that were very difficult to get out of.

 

We went to the Lowell Observatory when it got dark (yea Groupon tickets). An astronomer had some portable telescopes set up, and he talked a bit about what was visible. The moon was so bright that it washed out most of the rest of the sky.   One of the large telescopes had been set up, but the line was too long to visit it. Sorry, no pictures.