Gadwall duck

Red-naped Sapsucker

Cooper's Hawk ......

The White Stuff

First Snow

Sedona - Red Rocks, Lost UFO's and Hollywood

London Bridge today, rocks tomorrow. The land of red rocks, sacred Indian ruins, a lost UFO, vortexes, hiking, biking, ghost towns, an old copper mine, gazillions of art galleries, old western movies and on and on and on. The land of Sedona, Arizona and the surrounding communities of Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, Village of Oak Creek, Camp Verde and Page Springs. With so much to experience I thought I had discovered a new vortex, the vortex of the orgasmic exploration of the five senses. It's not often that I yell out Ooh! La La in public.

So begins our in-your-face, all-you-can-eat Sunday champagne brunch adventure. There’re just aren't enough adjectives to accurately describe this beautiful locale, though I'll try.

Driving down the historic 89A South, Arizona's first designated scenic highway, we dropped from a chilly 7,500 hundred feet out of Flagstaff to around 5,500 in fewer than 12 miles. Descending along a 2-lane switch-back road was a heart pounding experience for Phil - I never noticed my eyes were glued to the landscape. As we descended into the Oak Creek Canyon and the Slide Rock State Park area the questions in my head began firing in too many directions and a system overload was eminent. Turning the corner into Sedona we were both exhausted, I from the scenery; Phil from concentrating. Next stop, home.

Some vessels anchor, ours plugs in and our plug-in home for the next four weeks is under a grove of Arizona Sycamore trees nestled along the waters of Oak Creek and within walking distance of the town. Our little slice of heaven? Rancho Sedona RV Park. Owner/Operators, Jerry and Margaret Frey and their outstanding staff are the keepers of this sweet 60's style coach park. The park offers 84 sites with varying individual amenities as well as a community fire pit and bar-b-q. Get out the marshmallows; they even have giant pitch forks for making smores.

The park is working on full accessibility and gladly assisted Phil and I with a couple of special requests. Once the park has completed their ADA bathroom/shower facility, Rancho Sedona RV Park will be absolutely perfect.

Tomorrow, stories and exploits of the billion dollar cooper mine and 450 locals clinging to a rock. Reminds me of Bermuda.

Wheelchair Accessibility Rating - Rancho Sedona RV Park: Good.
Recommendation: Ease up on the gravel and complete the ADA bathroom/shower facility.
Rancho Sedona RV Park: http://www.ranchosedona.com/

Wheelchair Accessibility Rating - Town of Sedona: Great. Recommendation: Install wheelchair lifts in the courtesy shuttles. We couldn’t find one, though were told the fleet had at least one.
Sedona Chamber of Commerce: http://www.sedonachamber.com/

London Bridge

And to think an island was created just so the Bridge would span across the water?

Bridge over Colorado Waters

Leaving Quartzsite on a heading north towards Lake Havasu, Arizona, en route to Sedona; Phil felt it was his birth-bound-duty to visit London Bridge. After all he had driven many times over London Bridge in London and now this very bridge was waiting for him in an American town in the middle of a desert nestled along the Colorado River. How extraordinary! "Just a few hours away his boyish eyes pleaded”. I thought the dust and heat from Quartzsite had distorted his sensibilities, but I couldn’t refuse him. So off we went in search of London Bridge and along the way we stopped at every RV and hardware store in search of a replacement part for the electric thing-a-ma-jig we ripped out the previous day. We found London Bridge, but the electrical part was as elusive as a London cabbie on a rainy day in Arizona.

Most baby boomers know the nursery rhyme “London Bridge is Falling Down” but did the Americans know it? If so, it didn’t discourage successful businessman, Robert P. McCulloch, Sr., founder of Lake Havasu City, with a philanthropic vision for his new town. His vision preserved London Bridge and guaranteed Lake Havasu as a British destination without Americans ever having to apply for a passport or experience transatlantic jet lag.

The project began in the late 60’s commencing with the unimaginable task of numbering every brick prior to dismantling. Completed in just over 3-years and officially opened in the fall of 1971. Today, Lake Havasu has grown up around the famous bridge and continues to draw visitors from around the world.

If you are wondering what Phil’s reaction was? It was mixed. The bridge was smaller than he remembered but isn't everything when we return as adults. And he was surprised that the view of the bridge was obscured from most vantage points. Somehow I think this would cause Mr. McCulloch to gasp in disbelief. Consequently, you are over the bridge before you know it. Regardless, Phil can now say he has traveled across London Bridge on two continents.

As for attractions in Lake Havasu, there are plenty. From water sports of all kinds, even on an ole fashioned southern inspired paddle wheel boat, to fishing and off-road adventures. And, of course, plenty of shopping.

For the history of London Bridge, I found the Lake Havasu Chamber of Commerce web site very interesting.

http://www.havasuchamber.com/inner.php4?dbfile=lbhistory.html

Wheelchair Accessibility Rating: Excellent in the town, though water and desert activities are limited.