Route 66 (part 2) Sedona Red Rock National Park.

Today we took a southern excursion off of route 66 to explore the area around Sedona and the Oak Tree Creek. We picked out a loop of a route that would bring us up to finishing at Flagstaff which would be our next overnight stop. We left Williams along route 66 east to Ash Fork and then turned south to Chino than turned off onto highway 89A through a stunning drive up into the mountains along deserted winding pine tree shrouded road against a clear blue sky.

The descent from Cottonwood.

 Eventually came the descent which was just a spectacular overlooking classic historical towns such as Jerome and Cottonwood. We turned off before Sedona and paid our $7 each to get into the Red Rock park.  .We parked up and after a quick visit to the visitor centre we headed out onto the hiking trails that dot the foothills. We walked along the well marked routes for some truly amazing viewpoints of the park and the eroded sandstone mesas. The sun was beating down but the temperatures remained mild due to the altitude and cool wind whipping up the odd vortex. We enjoyed a 2 hour walk where we done a few miles and it was totally enthralling.  The views blew us away. You just don't get scenery like this in England.

Sounds like a lot of fun here with the local wildlife.

  We drove the scenic road loop after that and ended up in Sedona town which also afforded some more great views of the red marbled mesas. There we got stuck in an horrendous traffic jam being a bank holiday Presidents Day for an hour until we hit the Oak Tree Creek valley road heading north and then the views really started to open up.

Even the traffic jams have nice views.

 The gorge was mesmerising as it was all I could do not to crash the car into the river. Eventually after a prolonged climb out of the valley we topped out at Flagstaff and found our overnight stay at our hotel. This time we had booked a Travelodge, being nervous it would be like in England with its small pokey basic rooms but were surprised to find a lovely large furnished room with all the luxuries including fridge, microwave, coffee maker and wide screen  TV.  In fact hotels in America were totally superb even though we were staying in what they would rate a budget rate locations. Even in England, we have stayed at many hotels but none match up to these for comfort and amenities. And all of them include breakfast!

The rooms are all large and comfy.

   Another bonus is the cost of petrol or should I say gas like the Yanks. This averages $2.20-$2.50 per US gallon (£1.57-1.78) so makes driving very cheap. The car we have seems to be returning very reasonable MPG .Not sure on exact figures but we done a 250 mile stint the other day on $14 of gas. (£10).
   By the evening the weather took an unnatural turn from being 15c to -6 that night and we woke the next day with a biting cold wind and a sprinkling of snow which was gathering pace. Making an early start we topped up with gas and coffee and braved the road which was a white out. Luckily traffic was light as it was bank holiday so we picked our way along heading north to Tuba City. After half an hour the clouds cleared and we were blessed with sunshine and dry roads so made good time across the painted desert plains. Later we found out we had just left in time as on the news that evening they reported very heavy snow which had led to multiple car pile ups all over Flagstaff. Even the police got mashed up. At Tuba City we stopped for pee breaks at Maccy D's and a top up on our hot drinks. The temperature was now a respectable 13c although the wind was harsh. The radio kept our spirits up knocking out a varied play list of country, rock and old school faves. The music stations here are so much better than all the boy band rubbish we get at home.

Crossing the state line from Arizona to Utah with a sandstorm in background.

 Again we hit the desert with the roads that stretched for as far as the eye could see onto the horizon with not a bend in sight. You would think it would become boring like our motorways back in England but it was not as over every brow of of a hill was another eye popping vista that just absorbed all your attention. Kathy was religiously snapping away on the camera with a random "wow" every now and again to capture the moment. In no time all all we rolled into Kayenta which was our turn off to Monument Valley for the iconic table top mesa drive.

You don't need jumpers for goal posts here. 

 Here we topped up on gas because you just don't know when the next gas station was going to appear in this dry wilderness. In the valley there were lots of sandstorms as the wind was high as there was an unseasonal low pressure system passing through the desert causing all sorts of havoc. One minute it was stunning sunshine , next heavy grey clouds rolled over creating a very moody atmosphere. We stopped at a few choice viewpoints to sample the views but the wind was relentless causing sand vortexes to rush across the desert. Tumbleweed also completed the wild west ambiance as it rolled at regular intervals across the road in front of us, even at times 'attacking' the side of the car.

Another vicious tumbleweed attack.

   After leaving the Navajo region that was Monument Valley that features so heavily on various hollywood movie's such as Thelma and Louise and many a John Wayne classic, we entered a town called Bluff that also supplied us with sublime views of a town wedged in between sheer red rock cliffs in a dry and sandy valley. Bleak but neat and beautiful. Another stern climb out of Bluff back onto the tablelands of the mesas hovering around the 6000ft elevation, we ended up in our next stop over in a town called Blanding. Another bleak but agreeable town and another fantastic room at the Rodeway Inn.

Random rock formations along Monument Valley. 

Just one night here in Blanding as a stop over then on to Moab for adventures in the canyon rich lands.