Day 7 - Tombstone and then Head Home

We are stating our trip back home.  I am trying not to be too sad about the trip almost being over.  We had such a great time each day and made some memories as a family.  I was hesitant at first to make this trip mainly because of the time in the truck and trying to keep Collin entertained.  He did great during the trip and I know he had a great time each day.  He was so wired at night and so excited about the day that he had a hard time falling asleep...but when he did, he fell asleep hard!

Before heading back, I wanted us to stop by Tombstone to see the cemetery and downtown that I remember seeing as a kid on a family road trip.  We stayed for about an hour.  The best part was walking through the cemetery and reading how people died.  Collin thought it was spooky at first but then was interested in how the people died.

1881 - /Results of the OK Coral battle which took place between the Earp Brothers with Doc Holliday and the cowboys.  

HUGE cactus...maybe an agave?

We then drove to downtown Tombstone and walked down Allen Street to see the old buildings and pretend we were walking the streets of Tombstone during the 1880s. We needed to get on the road so we did not have time to stay to watch a gun fight.

Road Trip - Day 6 - Sedona and More Snow

View from our room before headed to the morning Jeep tour

Today was our last day in Sedona.  We started the morning with a Pink Jeep tour of Broken Arrow which was on the south side of Sedona.  We were all excited to see more of Sedona but weren’t sure how fun the Jeep would be.  Collin chose to sit in the very back of the Jeep because he heard this was the most bouncy.  I sat next to him (just being a Mama Bear…I could hold onto him so he would not bounce around too much) and Dad sat in the front.  We rode with another family that had two little girls, Ava and Audrey.  Audrey was Collin’s age.  It was fun to watch him interact with her….and flirt like a 2^nd grader knows how….which is to be obnoxious and loud.  For example, every bump we hit, he exaggerated it which made Audrey really laugh.

Our first stop 

Get example of the plates shifting on the fault line

Collin had to be in the picture

One of the several steep climbs or decent we did in the Jeep

The Jeep tour was AMAZING and did not disappoint any of us….even Dad.  He said it was better than he expected.  The views were beautiful and our guide was knowledgeable about the rocks, history and geology. 

After the 2 hours Jeep tour, I wanted to do a little shopping before we left.  I just wanted to get some shirts and more Mexican blankets.  These are great to keep in the car in case we need them and for Burke to sleep on.  Dad also wanted some fudge.  We shopped for about 30 minutes and thought it would be a good time to eat before we got on the road.  We stopped to eat at Cowboy Club.  The food was amazing!  I had a wedge salad with a huge piece of salmon.  Collin had some of it and said it was better than what I make (oh really?).  I was proud of Collin because he ordered a rattlesnake corn dog.  He took a few bites and did not like it…but at least he tried it.  The texture was like sausage which he does not like.  Dad liked it and ate some of it.  It was ironic because the snake was from Texas and we were eating it in Arizona.

After lunch, we headed to Flagstaff to play in the snow.  The drive through Oak Creek Canyon was as beautiful as I remember. 

Humphrey's Peak in Flagstaff

Rte 89A through Oak Creek Canyon

We arrived at Wing Mountain Play Area and had more fun than I thought we would.  It cost $15 to get it but it was worth it.  We spent close to 3 hours sliding on the mountain.  Yes, WE all slid down the mountain.  Most of the time, Collin and I slid together.  I was proud of him for going down the steepest part without me…twice.  The last time, he fell off and was not interested in sliding again without me.  We had fun aiming for Dad at the bottom or one of the broken sleds that were abandoned by the owner (We referred to the area as the Sled Cemetery).  I did crash and burn a few times by myself but still got up and went down again. 

None of us wanted to leave but it was time to go.  The park was closing and we needed to head to Tucson for the night (4ish hour drive).  

Road Trip - Day 5 - Off Roading and Hiking in Sedona

I thought we were going to spend some time shopping and hanging out around town today.  Collin announced he wanted donuts for breakfast.  I thought that might be challenging to find in a healthy place like Sedona…and it was.  We ended up at a local bakery that has been around for 35 years.  He selected a huge cinnamon roll.  It looked so yummy.  He said it was the best one he had ever had.  My egg, spinach mushroom croissant was delicious.  Dad had something similar. 

While eating breakfast, Dad said he was up for some hiking.  I was surprised but happy to hear this because I wanted to get out and explore the area that I loved, and missed, so much.  I thought we were going hiking using the truck to get us there.  Instead, Dad found a place to rent an ATV buggy for four hours.  He liked this because it was not a guided tour and we could drive where we wanted.  We had to bundle up because it was 40 degrees and was not expected to get much warmer in the afternoon.

Our first stop was the trail to Devil’s Bridge.  Collin practically ran up the steep trail while Dad and I rested when needed.  Dad eventually needed to stay behind so I ran to catch up with Collin.  Glad I did because it was soon after that when we had to climb using our hands as well up the rocks to get to the top of the bridge.  It was narrow enough that I was fine with us walking out just long enough to take pictures and wave at Dad so he knew where we were.  Climbing back down was more challenging and I got nervous a few times.  We did make it back down to where Dad was and then hiked together back to the buggy.

Challenging hike but not too difficult for Collin

He wanted to climb every rock or ledge he could find

Halfway up the trail  

Looking under the bridge

Doesn't this look like a face on the side of the rock?

Collin standing on top of the bridge

Next, we headed to Honaki Indian Ruins which is a nearly 1,000 year old cliff dwelling that was once inhabited by the ancestors of the Hopi tribe, the Sinagua Indians.  We had seen ruins before but we were able to walk right up to these and feel like we were the Indians.  Collin has questions about the size of the “apartments” and the writings on the rocks.  We were all disappointed to see that some people wrote their names near the ruins. 

Hiking to the ruins

I loved how close we could get to the ruins

I"ndian drawings" as Collin called them

Why are they so ignorant to do such a thing?  After spending 30 minutes walking the ruins trail, we got back in the buggy and rode the Outlaw Trails for 1 ½ hours.  Dad loved this part because he could drive fast, do some “rooster tails” and climb over lots of rocks.  Collin wanted him to jump and go faster.  Ummm….I don’t think so!  The views during this drive where AMAZING!!!  We got to see most of the Red Rocks, Bell Rock and other rock formations in the distance.

We were tried, cold and hungry when we got back to the rental place.  Dad wanted Mexican.  I knew that Oaxaca was close by and on our way back to our room at the Oak Creek Canyon Terrace.  The guacamole was fantastic and just want I needed.  We warmed up while there too.  At this point, it was only 6pm but we all thought it best to call it a night and rest up for the next day.  Tomorrow, we have a Jeep tour of Broken Bow before playing in the snow again.