Day 26 & 27 To Flagstaff, Sedona

Yesterday, we honked out and drove 9 hours to get to Flagstaff, Arizona.  It was an absolutely gorgeous drive.  What astounded us is that we went through 5 or 6 very different types of terrain and the change was not gradual.  You rounded a corner and BOOM!  Different landscape!  It was like unwrapping a Christmas present everytime we went over a hill or around a curve!! A few pictures from the drive are posted below:

 

 

Above, yes, that is the moon over the mountain.  Below...sunset in Flagstaff

We  ended up in Flagstaff for the night and will base out of here for about 3 or 4 days.  Nice to be able to keep our toothbrushes out for a few days!!

Today, we headed out for Sedona.  For us, it was about a 3 hour drive because once we began to get into the mountains and rock formations, we stopped about every 2 minutes to take more pictures.  It was an absolutely incredible day today.  I  knew I was going to see beautiful scenery, but I really was not prepared for the extent of that beauty.  Today was breathtaking!!  We finally got into Sedona, stopped at a visitor's center and got a map for our drive.  Again, our afternoon drive, which was probably only no more than 10 miles took us 4 hours.  I am going to post some pictures from that drive.  My favorite place was the Chapel of the Holy Cross which is built into one of the rock formations.  It is gorgeous.  

 

 

Then, we got to the Chapel of the Holy Cross.  It was a very moving experience to see it and to be in it and to see the views from there.  

 

 

 

The bottom left picture is called Madonna with Child and the right one is called the Nuns,  These were not carved, they are natural formations and the Madonna and Child is the reason the Chapel was built on this site.

From the Chapel, you have a 360 degree view of all the nearby red rock formations.

The picture below is called the Eagle.  Again, not carved, but a natural formation!

 

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After tearing ourselves away, we still had some more in store!

 

 

I have to say, I was in sensory overload.  My brain was exhausted trying to comprehend all I had seen and my eyes were tired.  What an amazing day!  This country is simply overwhelming!  Feel  more blessed each day.  I have to rank today as my top, followed extremely closely by the Badlands. 

Tomorrow is the end of our 4th week on the road and it has been amazing! We head to the Grand Canyon in the morning.  I can't imagine what it will be like.  Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!!