The sun kisses the mountains and rocks, 'goodnight'. (Nature has a gentle side, too.)
Sedona has always been a special place for us. It's the first town in which we really 'clicked' upon visiting it more than twenty years ago. We would think it's difficult not to find something special about the layout of the place, particularly that it's surrounded by red and yellow mountains and rocks, many in the town itself. Well, often wrong but we don't believe so in this instance.
There are a number of firsts for us in the town besides the aforementioned. On Cathedral Rock during our second visit, Jenni called me a 'wuss'. Her meaning: 'I was a scared little boy'. At the time, I was afraid of heights and as we sat on a rock looking down into an abyss, I developed some negative feelings. After fleeing the position, with the tone and meaning of her words playing through my mind, I stopped, turned around and raced up to the top. A decisive moment. That she could not catch me and shouted out to 'Wait for me', began a new era regarding heights. Since then I have never looked down...um...back.
During our first visit, I noticed a person standing near the top of Bell Rock. I called Jenni to the side, pointed out what looked like an aberration at first and announced, "Look at that idiot. What a fool—he'll kill himself." The following year, we visited Bell Rock and went to the top. Even beyond that idiot's position.
Jen had her first and hopefully, only snake-bite on one of the mountains in this region. We also saw what the concept of "lawyered" means. The clash of humanity, of human kindness versus legal liability. When we returned from the mountaintop, we stopped into a hotel close-by and asked for some antiseptic ointment, or alcohol or anything that might help with the pain, infection or something worse.
"Sorry. Our policy is not to help injured people. Instructions from our lawyers."
In the first book I wrote, I could not help but insert a paragraph dealing with issues of this nature and that 'the good Samaritan law' had to be promulgated to allow doctors and others to assist (without potential liability) in a medical emergency. Something is out of kilter when a person will not aid an injured soul and further, the system discourages kindness. (More later...)
'Bids all others a pleasant night, too.'
"Lock-on". Hangover Cliff: Hike-about attempts to bring out "The Essence, Spirit and Ideals" of a relationship. (Sometimes it works, preferably on a cliff edge...)
Wilson Mountain, from the south. The overlook is ahead. No thought of snow when we were at the base.
A typical view from the top.
Opposite Wilson Mountain. Love this scene, further enhanced by the clump of grey, dormant trees along the river.
Some spectacular sights and positions (Ignore the unnatural sight).
We call that the two-step—some call it confused as Jen rises on a rather steep boulder.
This is Sedona.
and we suppose this is, too. A less frequented view of the town's surround.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
'Golden Girl' goes to the 'Cathedral'.
Climb to Cathedral Rock extension...adds to the adrenaline flow.
