December 27 Sunday

We were going to hike a trail called, "Rabbit Ears Base" but we couldn't find the trailhead so we decided to hike the "Courthouse Loop."

Dennis had a big donut and a banana for breakfast.  About a half hour on the trail, he boinked and had to sit down for fuel to continue.  I alwo had a donut (so good and yet so bad for you) but I got away with it.  I didn't need to eat until about noon. 

 

This is the same area that we were in a few days ago.

I am fascinated by these purple cactuses that grow close to the ground.  I think they are pretty in a weird sorta way.

A beautiful day with beautiful views.

We took a connector trail and ended up close to Bell Rock.

This time I climbed higher up, about three quarters from the top, while Dennis sunned himself, like a lizard on a rock.

I took this photo of a Cairn from my climb about three quarters up Bell Rock.  There was one place that I kind of had to trust myself, let go and land on the next rock.  I just read a fabulous book entitled "The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride" by Joe Siple.  I had just highlighted the following quote by a 100-year-old man who had sorta kidnapped these two ten-year-olds. (For a good cause.)  "Back in the car now. The dark. The feeling of danger and risk. I know it has a name, but can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s a feeling of something new. Butterflies in my old stomach. And then, finally, I place it. Youth. Just what Doc Keaton was talking about. Somehow, not knowing what will happen next—and knowing that some outcomes would be very bad—makes me feel young again." Although I was never in any real danger there was a little excitement to getting down.

There are a number of energy vortexes in Sedona and they cause tress to grow twisted.  I am still trying to understand how they work.  I can't tell if I feel energized from the vortexes or not. A good long hike of some challenge gives me such a high that I don't know how to tell if I am near a vortex.

We had dinner at the Vault in Uptown Sedona.  We each had a kale salad and Dennis had Buffalo Chicken Dogs and fries.  I had scrumptous Butternut Squash Enchiladas with mole sauce.  Odd combination but it worked extremely well. For dessert we split a banana sunday which was closer to a banana split.  Not a smidgeon left.