Phoenix and Prescot, Arizona

Traveling from Tucson to Phoenix, San Carlos Apache Reservation

Good morning from Sedona, Arizona and Rancho Sedona RV Park.

It's spring break and people and the traffic they bring are in full bloom here in Sedona. Never have I been more appreciative of our choice to have our two electric assist bicycles in lieu of towing a car than here in Sedona. On a good day, the bikes are just great fun to ride, here we can travel from our location to various places (thanks, Sedona, for the well-marked bike lanes and signs) around town with ease, avoiding the long lines of cars snail pacing their way through town.

Leaving Tucson last week, we traveled to Phoenix where we made a stop at the local Bass Pro Shop parking lot overnight before I dropped Melanie off at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport so she could attend a board meeting in Chicago. We took the circuitous route into Phoenix, traveling through the Tonto National Forest in search of a Super Bloom located in the San Carlos Apache Reservation. We didn't find the bloom (thanks for the heads up anyway, Beth), but the trip was beautiful and a bit exciting as we got to experience a bit of semi serious winter weather (high winds and blowing snow and sleet) coming through a pass in the forest.

Prescott, Arizona

After dropping Melanie off at Sky Harbor, I continued on the Prescott, Arizona north of Phoenix about a hundred miles or so. The last and only time I was in Prescott was in 1995. My recollection, colored by the passage of time, was of a sleepy tourist town with a history of copper mining. The tub in my hotel room was a copper claw foot tub I remember as being pretty cool.

​The drive up to Prescott is scenic as you ascend into the mountains. It was chilly and windy on Thursday morning and a few of the surrounding peaks still had substantial snow on them from a recent event a few days before I came through. Despite the cooler weather, the desert is beginning to bloom and greater than average rainfall has left the desert greener than normal for this time of year.

Approaching the Prescott Valley prior to getting into Prescott proper, I was very surprised by the exponential growth the area has experienced. The area is now a busy retirement community with several colleges too. Remembering that Spring Breaks were happening all over, it's still a very busy place. They bill themselves as "Everybody's Home Town." Indeed.

​I choose my location, Point of Rocks RV Park, for it's proximity to Watson Lake and the Granite Dells. There's also the Peavine rails to trails bike and walking path that runs through the Granite Dells. I was about 8 miles from downtown Prescott and Prescott is also very bicycle conscious with many of the roads having clearly marked bike paths. I was given a nice map of the area upon arrival which, among other points of interest, had clearly marked bicycle routes on it.

---

Watson Lake and the Granite Dells Hiking

---

Peavine National Recreation Trail

On Saturday I took the Red Ranger out for a spin on the Peavine Trail. Another great ride on another great rails to trails pathway.
​