I forgot how quickly the scenery changes when you head south out of Sedona; in just a couple of minutes all of the red rock is gone and it is again desert. As we approached Montezuma's well it looked like we were in the middle of nowhere; but once to the top of the rim of the sink hole you realize that with just a little water there is a lot of life in the desert. The trail down to the ruins by the well was steep but worth it; it was quite nice down next to the water and the cottonwoods. Of course Devyn didn't want to hike down the trail until after Corwyn and myself were back to the top; because I'm such a great guy I took him down as well. I think the air is thinner there at the well; I was sure puffing...
Down by Beaver Creek where the outlet from the well flows is also an incredible place; you can hardly believe you're in the desert. Cool, trees, water, buzzing bugs, poison ivy; everything you'd want in paradise (okay, maybe not the trees).
Montezuma's Castle was actually the shorter of our two stops at ancient sites; a quick walk down the path and some photos and video of the castle up on the wall of the cliff. It is pretty amazing that people lived in those structures; too bad they don't have a bed and breakfast there!
Up to Jerome for lunch. The place we stopped was perched (as is most of the town) on a narrow ridge with stilts and posts to give you some level ground for walking and driving; it was the Haunted Hamburger Bar and Grill. No ghosts came to take our order, but we had a nice view out over the hazy dry desert. The food was outstanding. Afterwards we backtracked a little and headed for Sedona, there to do laundry and listen to a local guy (from Guam) play homemade bamboo flutes and make animal noises with them (listen to the CD).
Tomorrow morning it's up early, pack, and hit the road heading to the North East, towards Petrified Forest and Monument Valley!
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