#SEDONA – Sharon Tunley

Songs are so fitting

I had started this blog a few hours ago, I thought yes, a great day, but who knew a great day ended up being an extraordinary one! So read up …

This morning was the day to farewell Sedona. As I stop and pause where it all began before I knew what I was driving into, I say a few words ..

The sun shines a little smile as it lights up Bell Rock in the distance as if to say goodbye, and then the skies open up and rains as I leave.

As I drive up Hwy 179, a few minutes up the road, Universe has this song for me “Its magic .. you know … never believe its not so! Certainly is!

I drive North West, with no clue where I will end up tonight. I put in San Francisco with 2 stops … Death Valley Inn and Yosemite National Park, but then removed Death Valley (remember this for later) .. The highway is open to scenery of desert and plains. Music is sparingly playing with little to no service, left to my own thoughts. I observe the many RVs and Campers on many desolate properties, and wonder what the attraction is to live so far from anywhere, plant life spare, Joshua Trees surviving in the crazy desert.

I drive past the Hoover Dam and decide to take a break and needed to walk. First, the view of Lake Mead .. nothing like I have seen before, a beautiful sight to take in. Lake Mead irrigates more than 1 million hectares across US and Mexico. With the Hoover Dam built back in 1930, finished in 1935 and was declared the highest Dan in the world, it helped to navigate water that created Lake Mead.

Next was the drive over the Hoover Dam, finding the furthest parking to walk down and take in the sheer size of the Dam. It’s been 3 years since I was last here with my family. The dam used to be known as the Boulder Dam being not far from Boulder City, but renamed in 1947 to Hoover Dam.

With walking done, it was time to hit the road again. I hit the craziness of the Las Vegas traffic which I expertly got through, got out the other side to even more desert, this time miles and miles of nothing except the haze in front of me and my thoughts again. It was actually quite comforting being in open space, feeling quite relaxed, giving time to reflect, time to think nothing at all but to look at the landscape before me.

I stopped for gasoline, was looking across the street and there it was The Alien Center and the biggest firecracker in the world. I could not help myself. After chatting with the lady who served me, asking what it was all about, she advised that behind those mountains (she points) is Area 51 … who knows what goes on behind there in that area she says, but only President Trump is allowed there. The Center has a lot of Area 51 alien paraphernalia. So after finding out where she thinks is a good place to stay, telling me not to speed as it is a speedtrap, I went on my merry way.

You got it, I had to check out this Alien Center … well it definitely had a lot of tourist teeshirts and mugs, shot glasses. Even a cute soft toy where the eyes lit up.

Getting that out of my system, I got on the road, alone again with my thoughts, this time wondering what might be behind those spectacular mountainous views.

Tonight’s abode is Death Valley Inn. Now remember, at the beginning of my blog I spoke of removing Death Valley as a stop, but Universe had other ideas!

I arrived around 5.30pm, got my room key but decided to go have a bite to eat in downtown Beatty. It was here that my blog was done, or so I thought!

I get back to the Death Valley Inn, get to my room, and would you know my key doesn’t work. So back to Reception. All apologies, a re-set and I go back. Again doesn’t work, after the third time I soon switched on and realise there is a reason. Well the next couple of minutes soon turned into a couple of hours where I met the lovely Simone. We spoke about all sorts of topics ranging from the history of Mona Belle, the Inn when it was known as Burro Inn, Beatty and Rhyolite amongst a few things. She spoke of her beloved Grandfather and her family and offered to sing something that she sung with him. Simone has an amazing strong voice and I can see her going places. See below the video link I recorded of her singing

Simone singing Diamonds in the Sky … the acoustics in the old inn are amazing when she begins to bellow out the song!

Thank you Universe for connecting me to another beautiful soul. A wonderful end to the day! WOW …

Snoopy, Chicken Point and a Submarine

Another full day of adventure, hard to believe you can fit in so much in one day!

After getting the low down from the locals again, I was set for the day.

First up, Chapel in the Rocks. Apart from the beauty all around, walking into the chapel took my breath away. The energy amazing. I took some to meditate and send healing out. As I sat, a tear rolled down my cheek. I acknowledged the tear or 2, acknowledged the feeling of gratitude.

Next … a pink jeep tour up the Broken Arrow trail to see the sights of the Chicken Point, Submarine and Snoopy. Mind blowing scenery …

So having time to kill after all that spectacularness, what was a girl to do I wonder. A drive up to Jerome with “You ain’t seen nothing yet” bellowing out from the radio. Really I ask … I get up over 5,000 feet above sea level and the views magic. I also wondered why, a place so high up, not a lot around. It is a ghost town of sorts, discovered in late 1800s for its mining.

The day was finished off with my second Sweat Lodge Ceremony which I came away feeling bloody fantastic.

So yes, how much can a girl fit into one day .. a lot so it seems!

A piece of my heart will always remember this very special place, the people and the energy like no other. Sedona is Ulluru on steroids, today I was told by our Pink Jeep guide that Zion in Utah is Sedona on steroids. The mind boggles. You never know, maybe Universe will help me to get there one day!

Edith, Hans and Rahelio

A mystic place is how I would sum up Sedona!

Talking to locals is the best way to get a low down on the places to check out.

One of the kitchen staff told me about Route 89A … check out the Indian Markets made by the local tribes and the cost much lower, oh and there is a stop at a bridge you should stop at.

So off I go exploring. And true to form, I found the local markets and bridge.

Meet Edith, a beautiful soul. I spent time chatting with Edith for ages talking about crystals.

My new ride … definitely wouldn’t mind one of these, you do not need a motorbike license! A slingshot. Sweet ride!

Meet Hans … another spoilt pooch that loves traveling with his human parents … he loves the slingshot. When he sees new humans, he gets up on his back legs and waves to get attention so that he gets pats. Soooo cute!

Next stop, the bridge for some more spectacular views and the sound of the river flowing below me.

Then the fatal mistake, stopping in the town … I was in crystal heaven, blissed out with music on the xylophones available to play on the street known as the Free Notes Harmony Park. Have to see if we can implement this somewhere in Sydney, sounds incredible. Had a giggle at the Husband Day Care … thought that was a great idea and should probably be implemented the world over!

This afternoon, meet up with Rahelio. He took a group of us to a couple of local spots to learn all about love and gratitude, the Stupa, the medicine wheel. Rahelio was instrumental in building the medicine wheel and is very proud of it. He began to share the stories and purpose of the medicine wheel, which were so interesting.

and he did a healing using the medicine drum, flute and rattle. He sang, he sang some more! It was certainly beautiful to be on the other side and receiving the healing.

It was certainly a memorable afternoon as it finished with a beautiful sunset that was certainly magical!

“The Best Hike Ever”

This was a quote I overheard a young boy telling his Mum. Not wrong mate!

Today was spent exploring Sedona, a stunning spectacular place that is always changing.

Another big day of walking, with 16K+ steps, 11.43 kms, 30 floors climbed. Another evening I have crawled into bed, oils on the muscles with the body simply aching but will be rested for another day ahead!

This morning I spent exploring Bell Rock on both sides.

The Bell Rock Pathway may be the most popular trail and one of the easiest of all the walk-ways and hikes in the Sedona area. Bell Rock, so named because the shape resembles that of a large bell, stands adjacent to Courthouse Butte and both, typically in tandem, are frequently the object of photographers and artists, and I can see why as the sun dances away on the cliffs, the clouds providing for some interesting fotos. The location also enjoys significant popularity as one of Sedona’s vortex sites.

Some pics from my first walk

Meet this little fella … a scorpion

Spectacular colour of nature

Some balance in your day!

The sun dances all around us

Walking up to Cathedral Rock, another vortex site!

Cathedral Rock

Yeah!

Tonight I participated in a Sweat Lodge Ceremonywith Rahelio and 8 complete strangers. A powerful ceremony full of tradition and culture, an opportunity to give thanks!

Because my eyes are having problems staying open, I’m calling it a night!

So in love …

Today was a topsy turvy journey to Sedona, leaving Buttonwillow CA. With around 9 hours of driving to do, it was an early start with waffles, using the motel’s basic amenities which included unhealthy and very unhealthy. Served by Misty and breakfast sitting with a gentleman who grew up in El Salvador and now lives in Sacramento doing seasonal work in Buttonwillow. A couple of reminders of a couple my nearest and dearest back in Australia. I should have known then I was in for an extra magical journey!

The day started out beautiful, the scenery magnificent as it changed every couple of hours.

From the Golden Hills, to a landscape of windmills for absolute miles, to seeing a Deer, to solar farms …

To some quirky sights and stops along the way, and yes I resisted not buying crystals! Meet Mouch, a 7 year old who was absolutely gorgeous, big grin on his face enjoying a bike ride with his human companion!

Side tracked on Route 66

… to a change in weather … rain and rainbows, to snow on the hills.

By the time I got to 7000 feet above sea level this afternoon, there was evidence of snow and a temperature drop from 82F to 34F (which is 1 degree Celsius in our language) … bloody cold

I had a giggle as I listened to the radio, flicking from station to station, to silence. As I got closer to Sedona, all I was able to get was country music. The following words rang out …

Give me some kind of a sign girl .. and there were the rainbows!

I was literally 4000-7000+ feet up and I hear this song not once, but twice … This is it .. this is now.. on top of the world together. This is what i was talking about.

Scott McCreery Lyrics
Way up in the mountains, four thousand feet high
There’s a trail through the trees to a cliff where Carolina meets the sky
Oh, and there’s a view I just can’t describe
No, I’m not there yet, just a few more steps, baby wait
Okay, you can open your eyes
This is it, this is now, this is what I’ve been talking about
Looking out, can’t you see forever?
Take my hand, just take it in
This is a moment we won’t forget
On top of the world, here, together

I arrived just before the hotel, got out of the car and it was an instant love and feeling of peace. Words do not do it justice how it felt! A couple of snaps before it got dark … followed by a yummy meal by a chef, not a cook, so I was told, at Corner Table.