Trip to Meteor Crater and Sedona, Arizona - 2006
This was a nice little trip, it could have been done in 1 day but we decided to keep going to Flagstaff.
We began in Scottsdale and took Shea to Fountain Hills, then picked up the 87 North through Payson, and finally making it to
Winslow. This was a very beautiful and scenic drive, but not many twisties. There were some sweepers but again, it's more about
the scenery. As soon as you get to Payson temps fall drastically so it was nice to get out of the heat. However, once we got to
Winslow there were some very serious winds of up to 60mph. The bike was bufetted by the wind. This type of riding is not for
beginners, in fact it should be avoided altogether.
From Winslow we headed West on the 40 for about 15 minutes and then you'll see signs for the Meteor Crater. You follow the sings
off a ramp and another 6 miles to the site. The crater was cool and the little museum was nice too. I think tickets were $20 each for
adults to visit the crater and museum, which was a little more than I expected but that's o.k.
After the crater we had another hour of extreme wind bufetting until we got to the I-17 and Flagstaff. I did not know that the Winslow
area had such serious winds. Apparently the wind happens nearly every day but subsides at night. Sometimes tractor-trailers are
over-turned by the wind, and the DPS has to shut that section of the 40 down until it subsides.
Flagstaff was very cool at 7500 feet. We checked into a hotel and walked to a nearby Sports Bar to watch a UFC (Ultimate Fighting
Championship) fight.
The next day we headed south, using a little side road instead of the I-17. That sideroad took us straight into Sedona where we
enjoyed the beautiful scenery. However, there was a ton of traffic, almost to a stand-still at times. So no fast twisties for us. Still, I
didn't mind.
We stopped to have lunch in Prescott at my parents summer-home, but ended up staying until night and then took the I-17 back to
Scottsdale.
We began in Scottsdale and took Shea to Fountain Hills, then picked up the 87 North through Payson, and finally making it to
Winslow. This was a very beautiful and scenic drive, but not many twisties. There were some sweepers but again, it's more about
the scenery. As soon as you get to Payson temps fall drastically so it was nice to get out of the heat. However, once we got to
Winslow there were some very serious winds of up to 60mph. The bike was bufetted by the wind. This type of riding is not for
beginners, in fact it should be avoided altogether.
From Winslow we headed West on the 40 for about 15 minutes and then you'll see signs for the Meteor Crater. You follow the sings
off a ramp and another 6 miles to the site. The crater was cool and the little museum was nice too. I think tickets were $20 each for
adults to visit the crater and museum, which was a little more than I expected but that's o.k.
After the crater we had another hour of extreme wind bufetting until we got to the I-17 and Flagstaff. I did not know that the Winslow
area had such serious winds. Apparently the wind happens nearly every day but subsides at night. Sometimes tractor-trailers are
over-turned by the wind, and the DPS has to shut that section of the 40 down until it subsides.
Flagstaff was very cool at 7500 feet. We checked into a hotel and walked to a nearby Sports Bar to watch a UFC (Ultimate Fighting
Championship) fight.
The next day we headed south, using a little side road instead of the I-17. That sideroad took us straight into Sedona where we
enjoyed the beautiful scenery. However, there was a ton of traffic, almost to a stand-still at times. So no fast twisties for us. Still, I
didn't mind.
We stopped to have lunch in Prescott at my parents summer-home, but ended up staying until night and then took the I-17 back to
Scottsdale.
"Well I was standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona...." I don't know what the Eagle's were talking about. Winslow is a dump. There is nothing
here but a large Prison and a lot of beggars. To make matters worse, the wind blows at nearly 60 mph all day long. Supposedly it dies down at
night, but I wasn't sticking around to find out! If I never see Winslow again as long as I live that will be just fine with me! In fact, shortly after I
took this picture some stinky homeless dude came up to me smelling like stale alcohol and asked me for money.
here but a large Prison and a lot of beggars. To make matters worse, the wind blows at nearly 60 mph all day long. Supposedly it dies down at
night, but I wasn't sticking around to find out! If I never see Winslow again as long as I live that will be just fine with me! In fact, shortly after I
took this picture some stinky homeless dude came up to me smelling like stale alcohol and asked me for money.
Bekah on the same corner
Bekah at the Meteor Crater, May 2006
Sedona is very beautiful, with high
mountains and lots of trees, and a
meandering stream.
mountains and lots of trees, and a
meandering stream.
Bekah took this shot while we were
moving (slowly) in traffic.
You can see the famous "Red Rock"
that Sedona is noted for.
moving (slowly) in traffic.
You can see the famous "Red Rock"
that Sedona is noted for.
This is the famous "Slide Rock" in Sedona. Lots of people come here to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and take a dip in the stream.
It's nice and pretty for sure, but not for me. Too many crowds, too much traffic. Mostly tourists. Look at the line of cars in the upper
right hand portion of the picture. We were in that line for over 1/2 hour waiting to get through the town of Sedona and continue on into
Prescott. I guess it would have been better if it had been a weekday instead of the weekend.
It's nice and pretty for sure, but not for me. Too many crowds, too much traffic. Mostly tourists. Look at the line of cars in the upper
right hand portion of the picture. We were in that line for over 1/2 hour waiting to get through the town of Sedona and continue on into
Prescott. I guess it would have been better if it had been a weekday instead of the weekend.
