ARIZONA DREAMING

The Mamas and the Papas sang about California dreaming in the 1970s.  I'm going to switch this to Arizona dreaming.... this state has blown us away.

This last week has very much focused on the incredible beauty and power of nature.  Up until this trip the only rock that I was ever interested in were the teeth-destroying bars we used to get when we visited the Isle of Man, Southport or Blackpool (Mike here in Italics...or Southend for those of you who have never ventured to the grim and cold North)  I used to laugh at the idea of studying Geology... wow look at this rock... its millions of years old... who actually cares....But having spent a week in Arizona I'm a convert..... I now love rocks!!!!

Best rock type things seen this week- or something connected to physical Geography:

Sunset Crater just outside Flagstaff- a bloody great big volcano blew and left the landscape covered in black lava.

Stunning Pueblo Indian settlements from 1,000 years ago built from beautiful red rock and surrounded by breathtaking mountains... long before those pesky Europeans arrived.

The Grand Canyon - I cried when I took that first look over the edge and again at the end of the day, having watched the sunset come down over the Canyon.  Wow just wow.- a real numinous moment for me.  (New word just learnt by Mike: numinous....I had one of those moments when I ate the ice cream we bought at the visitor centre). Mike tells me that it was formed as a result of erosion by the Colorado river... my brain found it difficult to comprehend this so I just carried on taking pictures of this mahoosive, magical, majestic bit of rock as we walked along the South rim.  (Please note these are Wendy's choice of pictures....my face in shadow, one of the rare times when my belly looks massive etc)

Sedona's red rock formations. Words can't describe the beauty of this place....the varying colours of the rocks set against the beautiful blue Arizona sky took your breath away.  The Roman Catholic church was built into the side of the red rocks.... we lit candles here for the old man and Mike's mum, dad and brother. Can't imagine a more beautiful place to have remembered them.

The Meteorite crater, east of Flagstaff. It was recommended by one of my colleagues from St Helena who is an avid rock and stuff like that fan.  (Geologist, Wendy, geologist!! ) Unfortunately, I arrived in a little dress and then spent the entire time trying to hold my dress down as what felt like 90 mile an hour winds battered us as we walked up to the main viewing point.  The serious geologists in attendance were not impressed....  (actually many of them were taking a keen interest in the scouse bimbo with a mini dress..)

We finished the week with two days in Phoenix, soaking up some desert sun.  (As we sat by the pool I was forced to move by Wendy because she was in my shadow!  I tried to explain that the order was Sun, Wendy, me.  No amount of explaining could persuade our new geological expert. ) We are now in our third state- New Mexico- where we will spend the next three days in Santa Fe.  We then have a big drive down to Dallas, Texas to see my fabulous cousin Don Wesolowski and his gorgeous wife Mimi.

11 days done. 78 to go. Feeling blessed.

THE FIRST FEW DAYS

Both of us arrived in good spirits at Los Angeles after a great flight. The plane was a brand-new Dreamliner and one of the stewardesses was an ex-St Helena student who gave us a bottle of Virgin Atlantic champagne to celebrate our trip. Wendy likes to walk up and down the plane during the flight (much to the amusement of fellow passengers) and she had been chatting to the stewardesses about our plans so they generously gave us the champagne. Thanks Virgin!

The Hilton hotel was not so good or should I say their receptionists are not so good. I am not known for my ability to queue for long periods of time or indeed my patience. Luckily, I got some practice in. One hour after arrival ‘thick and slow’ or Chicita as she liked to call herself had checked us in. Great room though. Shame we both woke up at 4am the next morning.

We picked up our SUV the next morning and our three month trip in a car began.

Wendy here…….Now this will be an interesting study of human nature. What you have got here are two people who both believe they are always right…. I am by the way. Two people who are quite set in their ways….. my ways are usually the better ones. Two people who have a tendency to be impatient…. Mike is much worse than me. Two people who like to do different things in a car… Mike likes to begin each sentence with ‘’Did you know….?’’, whereas I like to sing along with whatever tune is blasting out of the stereo. Two people… in a car… together… for three months. Think Peter Kay’s Car Share on acid….

Back to Mike…..Three motels later and we are in Flagstaff, Arizona. Highlights so far:

• Route 66. A beautiful road with lots to see… giving you a real feel of the old American West
• The weather. It has stayed between 75 and 95 degrees all the way
• Sushi. Some great restaurants and good prices
• Purchasing a huge drinks cooler for bugger all from Walmart- it fits 90 cans or bottles!
• Spotting prototype GM cars being tested in the Arizona deserts
• Wendy here….Going to a State fair and hearing a judge of the pig competition advising the owners that they need to train their pigs to look the judges more in the eye… wtf?
• Just having a laugh as we head East. So far no arguments (well a little frustration as we wait for photos to be taken)….. Wendy here - please see picture of Mike standing on a train for the evidence of this:

• and lots of fun in the beautiful state of Arizona

Wendy here…..The next three days will be spent exploring the Grand Canyon and Sedona areas.  Hoping to get in contact with the Sioux Great Spirit- Wakan Tanka- to get some help for EFC in their game with Romelu and Man U tomorrow…….what a frigging disaster they have been so far.

Four days done, 84 more to go. Feeling blessed.