DAY - 02: Sedona - Arizona on the Rocks

Day - 02: Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Beginning Location: Sedona, AZ
Ending Location:      Sedona, AZ

Pop Quiz: I slept well last night because _________
     A. The bed and mattress are of a great design and were super comfortable.
     B. I was so tired I could have slept on rocks.

Seriously, it was a very comfortable night of sleep. Sheila was up around 3 AM local time trying to run down the battery on her iPhone but I hung in there until about 5:30; that's not bad, it's like 8:30 in Florida or North Carolina.

The morning was slow to start but it provided time to better organize our packing, break out some of our travel gear and also to catch up on a little Helium business. By 10:30 we were ready to hit the streets of Sedona.

We began with a drive toward the west, again there was some force pulling us toward a red rock mountain, probably another vortex. We passed any number of retail stores and found the McDonald's that has the "teal" arches, no golden arches for Sedona. We back tracked and headed south stopping at a couple of scenic overlooks where to our wondering eyes did appear, more red rock.

During our travels in the area Pat & Jack had mentioned that they had been to Sedona before, actually staying in the L'Auberge Inn (maybe the priciest place in the area); they also remember the pink jeep tours but after that the details are a little fuzzy.  No one seems to have a good handle on when and why they were in Sedona. So if anyone out in the blogosphere has any evidence that could assist with this determination, let us know.

We visited the Chapel of the Holy Cross, located atop a rock formation in Sedona.  We walked up to the chapel and had a great view of the general area.

While at the chapel, we had a good overlooking view of an enormous house located atop a rock knoll with outdoor gardens, a water-lily pond, an astronomical observatory and any number of other ostentatious features. Apparently no one lives there and it's on the market for $25+M.










We returned to Sedona for lunch having decided that the Heartline Cafe noted as the 2nd best lunch restaurant in Sedona was worth a try. The results matched the expectations, the food was great in presentation and more importantly in taste and nutrition. Sheila had some kind of egg and salmon concoction, Pat had a nice tuna salad, that would be tuna filets not out of a can, Jack had sausage soup and I had a multi-meat rolled toasted bread sandwich with a side of Mac & Cheese. Pat and Jack had Bloody Marys; after all it was a brunch type meal. I'm not saying the "Bloodies" were hot, but it sure took a long time to get them down.

Following lunch we headed south toward the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa. Along the way we took in Cathedral Rock and other outcroppings of red sandstone. The Hilton Resort had many amenities including a very green (something other than red) golf course. While out on the road we encountered any number of mysterious sensations, again we must attribute them to the vortex phenomenon in the Sedona area.

Proving the Vortex Theory!

Vortex Pentagram

Actual Vortex

Could Be Us But It's Not!

Artist's Conception of Vortex

We then headed to the center of what we would call "old" Sedona. We walked the street, stopping here and there, pausing in the shaded zones and hanging out by the places with water spray misters. Pat and Sheila came upon a Pandora shop, that would be wrist bauble Pandora not the music kind. Jack and I hung out on a park bench to await the inevitable purchases talking with "the most obnoxious man in the world".

Our last mission for the afternoon was a stop at the local Walgreens, it's just something that people of our age and older do.  It was evident from observing the Walgreens clientele that there are a lot of people in Sedona hoping for rejuvenation and enlightenment.

By 4 PM we were back at our hotel to rest up for dinner.

Dinner was to be special tonight. We had long ago made reservations at the L'Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek. Ranked at the top of local restaurants, L'Auberge would be a repeat experience for both Pat & Jack and Sheila & me.  Our table was on the planked walkway adjacent to the creek. At the time of our arrival the sun had just set and the local cicadas were in full chorus as an accompaniment to the gurgling sound of the babbling brook.

After downing our pre-dinner drinks (Martinis, Kir Royales and a Hendricks G&T) our appetites were teased with, and I'm kinda quoting from Pat, "an amuse bouche of Salami Tartare with Assorted Herbs on Toasted Brioche".

Come-on now does anyone really think I know what that means other than it being a spoon sized mouthful of meat on toast that you eat without utensils, simply firing it down the hatch.

For dinner we had a variety of well presented entrees including: Beef Carpaccio, Dungeness Crab Crepes, Goats Creme Salad, Filet Mignon, Cured Duck Beast and Colorado Lamb Loin.



It was a great meal in a great environment.

Following dinner we weren't long for this world. We returned to the hotel and the evening came to a close.

Tomorrow will begin early, around 5 AM as we have planned a hot air balloon ride over and amongst the red rocks of Sedona.