Keepers of the Wild, Williams, Flagstaff, Sedona, Meteor Crater, & Standing on the Corner in Winslow Arizona

Beautiful view of Sedona......looks like painted picture.   Taken with Iphone 13

Leaving Lake Havasu for cooler weather......so cool the temperature difference was 30+ degrees from Lake Havasu (desert) at 700' elevation  to Williams 6700' elevation.   Arizona landscape has drastic changes within it's borders.

On our way to Williams we made a quick stop at "Keepers of the Wild" in Valentine.   This is a 175 acre collection of exotic animals....mainly Lions and Tigers.  It started with a magician in Las Vegas who developed a sanctuary for abused, neglected, abandoned, and retired animals to live out their lives comfortably.   Along the way they have managed to add Grizzly Bears, Llamas, Monkeys, Bobcats, Cougars, Wolves, and Coyotes. 

Williams is part of Route 66 with their claim to fame being the gateway to the Grand Canyon.   We took the train from Williams straight to the Grand Canyon South Rim.  Train offers entertainment before the ride with cowboy show (these guys will show up later).   On the train we had singing cowboys come thru our car and got everyone involved.   On the way back we were stopped by cowboy bandits on horses (same guys from the show).  I was insulted by one bandit telling me I couldn't have money based on the clothes I was wearing.......I told Kami my dress attire would come in handy one day.   😏  Kami and I had been there back in 2018 but this time we decided to take the Angel Bright Trailhead that goes down into the canyon.  We had a three hour window so we only went a mile down.   Trust me, it was easy going down but felt the burn going back.  Lots of people were taking breaks....some shouldn't have been on the trail.   Glad we only went a mile.

The Grand Canyon train ran by our campsite.     

Singing cowboy below.   

Bandits forcing the train to stop!

The bandit below insulted my attire and moved on!

Beautiful day at the Grand Canyon

Next stop was Flagstaff, elevation 6900'.   We stayed at a US Forest dry campsite (meaning we used our generator and water from our fresh tank) for 6 days.   Both Kami and I think Flagstaff is a lot like Ashville, NC.   They have an eclectic downtown, Northern Arizona University, and many young people biking, hiking, and rock climbing.    Just a hop, skip, and a jump from our campsite where several trails that connected to the Arizona trail that starts at the Mexican border and goes up to Utah (800 miles).   Also a couple of hundred yards from the campsite was a rock climbing area (it stayed busy most days).

Pic from outside our trailer.  The mountains in the background are called the San Francisco Mountains.  That is where the Arizona Snowbowl Ski area is located.  

Just past the tree line is the rock climbing area shown below with a climber half way up.

Arizona Trail that rolls from Mexican border to Utah. 

Found a little friend along the trail.  Kami continued to walk while I took the pic of the black tarantula.  Not too big, about half the size of my hand.

Couple of things we did while in Flagstaff were day trip to Sedona and getting on the Arizona Snowbowl gondola to the highest peak in Arizona.

Kami and I were in Sedona in 2018 and decided our one day there would be hitting some of the same spots from that original visit   First, you forget how beautiful (I have over used this word but it truly is) Sedona is until you come up on it and remember this is one of the most scenic spots in America.    We were there in April (seems so long ago because of Covid!) and this time it around some of the sites were a little more overgrown with vegetation.....especially Cathedral Rock.  We also hit 89 Agave to get nachos and tequila we enjoyed last time.....they didn't disappoint.   The pickled onion and jalapenos set the tone.   

Took the trail to Cathedral Rock.  Kami has nice form on her pose!  

Unfortunately the water was higher this time so Kami opted not to cross it to get the picture.  Arizona just got thru monsoon season.

In 2018, we took a picture from this spot and got the whole rock formation (Cathedral Rock) .    Trees have grown since then.  

Had to take picture of house on the top side of mountain.   Below the trees is another house with cables that take you to the top.  WOW!

Arizona Snowball is a ski area that offers summer rides up to the top to survey the area.   The day we were there the visibility was fantastic.   We were 11,500' and needless to say, I couldn't imagine skiing this area without oxygen.   

Gondola to the top.  They had this set up nicely with bar, cornhole, rock climbing, patio to relax.  

Kami looks calm and relaxed but she was nervous going up.....and coming down. 

This is one of those, I have to get the picture 😆

Visibility was 7 miles that day!

Our continued travel on Interstate 40 brought us to Meteor Crater.   It happened 50,000 years ago which in Earth time is yesterday.  The meteor was 150' across and weighed several hundred thousand tons with projected speed of 26,000 mph at impact.   The impact depth was 700' but today is 550' due to erosion. 

This is the best preserved crater in the world.  It helped scientist understand impact and were able to recognize other craters (they thought were volcanos).  

In the 1960's the astronauts trained in the crater since the moon has many on it's surface.  

Wanted to take a picture about a mile away from the crater to give a since of height.   You can see the mountains in the background.   

Last one for the blog and I have a few more pictures to throw in afterwards.......the story goes that Jackson Brown was traveling thru Winslow, AZ.  He came up with the lyrics "Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona, and such a fine sight to see, it's a girl my lord in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at me.   Jackson was stuck after that.   Glen Fry lived above Jackson in California and had heard the lyrics and melody.   Glen completed the rest of the lyrics and the song "Take It Easy" became one of the most iconic songs in Eagles history.  

There is not a lot in Winslow.  But they obviously know how to market what they're known for.  

Stopped by a brewery to enjoy a few refreshments.   There is a train station just 100 yards away.  While we walked historic downtown Flagstaff we noticed cargo trains going in both directions.   I asked the Bartender how many come thru a day and without blinking he said 120......WOW.   

Just outside of Flagstaff is Lake Marshall......gorgeous yellow buttercup field.