All good things must end or so they say. This was it. After a great breakfast at the Denny's in Flagstaff, we headed for Phoenix. While it was cool and beautiful in Flagstaff, it was expected to hit 102 F in phoenix. We decided to drive down through Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona rather than just drive the I 17 all the way. Stopped for a nice lunch under the trees along the creek and I arranged the packs in order to get them on the airline.

Around 3:00 Pm we hit Phoenix and it was indeed 102 F. The odd thing about this desert heat is due to the dryness, it is really tolerable. That 102 did not feel bad at all. We gassed up and my buddy dropped me off at Sky Harbor early so he could get out of Phoenix before traffic as he had to drive back to Ft. Riley Kansas over the next day. I had a great dinner at Chili's at the airport, then boarded my plane at 7:00 PM for the return flight to Portland.

I had a good flight with a very friendly and cute SW flight attendant. I sat in the first row for the extra leg room and they all sat there too. We got to chatting and I even got an extra free beer out of them. All in all it was great end to an epic trip. When I got to Portland, it was no surprise to be greeted with rain. It rained all the next day as well. Today it is very nice and it is my hope that maybe I brought some of that great southwest weather back up here with me



US Highway 89 between Kanab, Utah and Page, Arizona


Lake Powell, Utah


Lake Powell with 11,000 foot Navajo Mountain in the distance


Lake Powell and the Four Corners Power Plant


Looking back toward Page and Navajo Mountain from Highway 89


Sunset on a lone Pinon Pine at the Pass on US 89 where it cuts through the Echo Cliffs


Echo Cliffs as seen from US 89 with the Marble Canyon Plateau stretching out in the distance


Sun setting behind the Vermilion Cliffs high above Marble Canyon


Sedona, Arizona


Bell Rock, Oak Creak Village, Arizona