Wednesday, July 25, 2012

WESTERN TRIP:ARIZONA,COLORADO, UTAH,NEW MEXICO RED ROCK COUNTRY……

A MY QUALITY TIME POST

Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling. WESTERN TRIP……………………………….

ARIZONA,COLORADO,UTAH,NEW MEXICO


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Red Rock Country, Sedona, RT. 89 ..First day travel from Phoenix Az. to The Cameron Trading Post,Just 30 minutes from the Grand Canyon National Park entrance. Leaving Columbus,Ohio and the clouds behind…..

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No clouds in Phoenix…BUT..it is the monsoon season.. I didn’t even know they had a monsoon season in the West.. I now know what that means.LOL……………………………………………….. “The monsoon season is a showcase of dramatic weather that brings relief and danger. It suppresses the hot summer temperatures and resuscitates vegetation, but it also delivers intense rain, large hail, powerful winds, whirling dust, and a startlingly high number of lightning strikes.” READ MORE

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I was very excited to be on RT. 89 after following…

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for several years. Click on logo for more info…….

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DSC_0018 On RT. 89A

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What does Coconino mean?
”It is the word the Hopi use for Havasupai and Yavapai Indians. The Coconino National Forest was so named because it is located in the central portion of Coconino County.” READ MORE

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“Gorgeous red sandstone adorns much of the West, but arguably, none is as magnificent as that in Sedona, Arizona. Nestled south of the snowy mountains and north of the notoriously scorching Arizona desert, Red Rock Country stretches across wind-whipped mesas, through canyons carved by water millions of years ago and into villages inhabited by Native Americans thousands of years ago. Layered red, yellow, gray and white cliffs 3,000 feet high mark the edges of the canyons, through which sparkling streams tumble and supply sustenance to wildflowers, juniper and pine trees.” READ MORE

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For most of this trip we will be exploring The Colorado Plateau………..

220px-Colorado_Plateaus_mapThe Colorado Plateau is largely made up of deserts, with scattered areas of forests. In the southwest corner of the Colorado Plateau lies the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. Much of the Plateau's landscape is related, in both appearance and geologic history, to the Grand Canyon. The nickname "Red Rock Country" suggests the brightly colored rock left bare to the view by dryness and erosion. Domes, hoodoos, fins, reefs, goblins, river narrows, natural bridges, and slot canyons are only some of the additional features typical of the Plateau.”

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The Colorado Plateau has the greatest concentration of national parks in the United States. We will be visiting Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park,  Mesa Verde National,Saguaro National Park

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JOETODDSAYS210 Well as far as this post goes it is about 1:00 Pm on July 11th 2012 Arizona time. (Day one of the WESTERN TRIP)..Next post I’ll try to make it to the Cameron Trading post and show a little of Sedona,Az. and the Oak Creek Canyon Drive.. but I do have a lot of pictures so we will see….LOL

DSC_0039 BYE FOR NOW

Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling. WESTERN TRIP……………………………….

7 comments:

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love the clouds outside the plane. what a view. i would love to get out there & dance in them. ha. ha!! you take the greatest trips. fun!! (:

Kay Dennison said...

Fabulous photos!!! Thanks!!!!

Unknown said...

Grand post. Looking forward to more. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I'm so excited for you guys getting to do a western trip --- we were just in parts of that area ...love it every time we visit. Your pictures are great; can't wait to read more...yay!

Sylvia K said...

I do love the captures from the plane and on the ground, Joe! Beautiful skies and clouds! And what a wonderful trip you have had! I do love that part of the country! Thanks for sharing the fun and the beauty! Have a great weekend!

Jim said...

Great nature shots.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Linda G. said...

Such a different landscape there from our Pennsylvania / Ohio landscape. The red sandstone is pretty.