Sedona, Arizona
The backyard of the Sedona Dream Maker Bed and Breakfast in Sedona, Arizona.
Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, Arizona.
All posts in Arizona
Travel Tuesday – Your Own Backyard
Snowboarding in the desert
A deceiving headline, I know, but essential in conveying what I felt when I first moved to Arizona. I was certain that this state was just that, a desert.
Two hours north of the cacti and dust, at a summit elevation of 11,500 feet, there is the Arizona Snowbowl. First, I came skiing a few years ago before I realized that entailed too many moving parts. My friend Joey will still remember the first time I went on the lift and ceremoniously dropped one of my poles in a panic as I tried to hold on to the seat.
Rebirth of the Camera
On my last sailing trip, I had my Canon SD750 point-and-shoot camera safely stored below deck, where I thought it would be safe from rolling waves and splashing water. But in a twist of fate, in which the irony is not lost on me, the camera was siting right next to an inappropriately capped bottle of water. This bottle of water, and not a drop from the Pacific Ocean all around us, was the culprit of what I thought was the end of my camera. I remember looking at the drench screen, now flashing completely white, and the equally drenched battery and memory card.
The short burst of disappointment ended when I realized how far, how great and for how long that camera had served me — much longer that I had ever hoped. It went skiing with me, lived on a boat, it traveled to several countries and islands; it attended gatherings at seedy bars and lame restaurants.
A short visit to Wickenburg, Arizona
Arizona and the desert have a lot of detractors. I’ve met many of them throughout my life here, usually before they depart back East, and I’m sure I know many still. The arguments run along these lines: it’s hot, the landscape is dreary, it’s hot, there are no trees, and it’s hot. Whatever your opinion of Arizona and its politics, culture (or lack thereof) and vegetation — it’s a beautiful state. Almost anywhere you go, the view is framed by mountains, now with snow-covered peaks, and they’re sort of looking out as if waiting to finally be appreciated. During my drive up to Wickenburg, I had plenty of time to appreciate.
I wanted to go to Jerome but since the winter storm hit the High Country, it seems a lot of roads in that area are shut down. So I looked for some other location, closer to the Valley and without dangerous driving conditions. Wickenburg is about 30 miles northwest of Phoenix and perfect for a short day trip. My goals were simple: take my camera out of dusty storage and learn about a different part of Arizona. Towns, I believe, are like parts of a puzzle in a state’s history. The more I visit, they more I understand, and then the more understanding I can be to a culture which is often still foreign to me.
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