OAK CREEK CANYON TOWARD SEDONA WITH SUN BATHERSRancho Sedona RV Park, well shaded by sycamores and poplars along Oak Creek, had been pleasant, each site with a bit of
green lawn, with fantastic red cliffs barely visible through the leafy canopy. But it was hot, the days reaching over 100°, nights down to 75°. We cope by awakening at 6 a.m. to take advantage of the sweet morning light and cool temps, sometimes having breakfast at a picture site. In general, we take a two hour nap during the hottest part of the day, quite comfortable with the rooftop air conditioner running, either with camp site electricity or with our own gasoline fueled generator (at about $1.00/hour). Toward 4 o’clock we “hit” photo locations requiring afternoon light, then have soup and crackers or a salad for a light dinner. In between we spend most of our time processing photos on our laptops; Bill preparing new blogs and Jean checking out any new plants.
PINE CREEK CAMPGROUNDWe didn’t go far the next two days (total about 49 miles), leaving around noon from Sedona, we followed Oak Creek for 12 miles to Pine Flat Forest campground. We found it nearly empty except for the camp host and two other groups. A few more RV’s arrived in the evening and during the night. How good it was to be under Western Yellow Pines in mountain air and away from the city bustle!
Up here, in Oak Creek Canyon, the stream is barely alive, but Jean found the same plant friends as in wet sites in California. Watercress and speedwell mass the edges and duckweed floats in the stagnant pools. Common yellow monkey flower brightens the rocky creek bed.
WATER CRESS AND SPEEDWELL
YELLOW MONEKEY FLOWER
Climbing up and onto the Mogollon Rim into pine forests. Bill photographed down Oak Creek Canyon from the Vista Point. It was raining and cold. Twelve miles later, shivering in the 7,000 feet elevation, Nellie (temporarily substituting for Millie), our GPS navigator, led us to an Albertson Market in Flagstaff.
VIEW FROM VISTA POINT ON MOGOLION RIM
