After our trip to the Chapel, the husband headed up Hwy 179 …

 

 

Through more canyons…

 

 

And an infinite number of roundabouts, some decorated with rather nice metal sculptures.

 

 

We turned up 89A and drove through the usually busy, but too wet to shop that day part of Sedona known as uptown. Sedona is large and spread out into separate sections. Oak Creek Village, where we were staying… was quiet and felt like a community. West Sedona was a long main drag of restaurants and strip malls. Uptown was attractive, bustling, and filled with all the expensive tourist shops you expect to see. But continue on 89A for just a mile or two…

 

 

And you’re in a different world.

 

 

The rocks go from red to brown…

 

 

And you find yourself in a pine forest…

 

 

On a twisty, turning mountain road….

 

 

In the snow!

 

 

Of all the things I expected to see in Arizona?

Snow was not one of them…

 

 

But we were headed to Flagstaff and apparently it’s a whole different world up there. Kids were playing, sliding, sledding and building miniature snowmen. We saw a pick up truck owner fill his bed with the cold white stuff to haul back to Phoenix. Hoards of cars were pulled over on the side of the highway just so the passengers could get out and romp in the snow. Police were everywhere trying to keep them out of the roads.. it was nuts!

 

 

Of course a little snow doesn’t bother us, we’re Mainers!

 

 

 

Although the high elevation, switchback road got interesting in 5% visibility.

 

 

As did Arizona snowplows who were literally all over the road.

50 feet? No problem… I’ll give you a hundred.

But there was a Prickly Pear Mule with my name on it….

 

 

And nothing can keep me from that.

 

 

Mother of God! I’m not exaggerating when I tell you this was the best mule I HAVE EVER HAD! (and that’s saying something) I swore to myself I would find Canyon Diablo Prickly Pear Vodka before I left Arizona and smuggle numerous bottles home in my suitcase… Homeland Security be damned.

I have to be honest and tell you I don’t even remember the name of the restaurant, or where in Flagstaff it was. I was in mule heaven and totally oblivious to my surroundings…

 

 

But you could tell by the shooter list the place had a sense of humor.

 

 

5 points to the first person who can tell me….

 

 

The male equivalent of Camel Toe without looking it up…

Go!

It was Sunday, the place had a big screen tv, and brother… get a load of this.

 

 

Brilliant bar marketing, but a person could get seriously sloshed just watching the game!

Oh, and yes.

There was lunch…

 

 

A spicy southwestern cheeseburger with awesome hot dill potato salad for me…. and a roast beef melt on rye with Spanish beans for the husband. What’s a Spanish bean? I have no idea… and after 2 mules I couldn’t have cared less.

 

 

As we were leaving, this little darling was packing a snowball and had that “let’s hit the tourist lady” look in his eye.

To be honest, I doubt I could have cared less about that either. Take your best shot junior, the drinks were strong and the tourist lady won’t feel a thing.

Prickly pear vodka……  oh yes.

Yes, please!!

 

 

The ride back?

Looked something like this.

I think… I was still savoring the vodka and not paying any particular attention.