Snowy Sedona

We left the Grand Canyon as plenty of traffic headed to the Canyon. A stream of traffic seemed to be everywhere on Tuesday. Clearly, people were heading to places for New Year's Eve. We made it to Flagstaff and finally were able to top-up our phones so we can stay in touch with everyone. This also signifies that we are in our last month of travel (sad face).

Tim called and gave us instructions to meet them on the side of the road, "near the bridge" in the Oak Canyon. Our travels took us down 1000feet on a road that wound around hairpin corners and alongside some amazing rock walls. Only video can do this ride justice. We travelled for about 30mins looking for a bridge; however, instead, we find the Barmettler's car with Tim's head waving out of the window sitting on the side of the road. The plan is to follow them to the bridge and then take a small hike around the bridge area and down to the small creek that flows at the bottom of the canyon. It was very picturesque, and the girls with Will and Ally walked across the wet rocks and explored the creek with great enthusiasm.

When we returned to the car, we planned to head into Sedona and go to the lookout to watch the sunset across the rocks....and so did the entire population of Sedona. Okay, so maybe not the whole population, but there were quite a number of people doing the same. It was quite cold up on the side of the hill, and a little windy, but it was beautiful to watch another sunset. The town of Sedona is surrounded by some significant red rocks and there are some fantastic trails you can walk which take you up and through the

rocks. However, while we didn't have the chance to undertake another walk, we did get to watch the sunset on the rocks.

Tim spent much of his later childhood in Sedona, and his family use to own a house in which they would all meet and spend much time together. The house, however, was sold in the last couple of years and so trips to Sedona have been few and far between, which for Tim is quite sad. However, he enjoyed (and we enjoyed) showing us some of the highlights of the town, one being a local and small brewery in which Tim's band played one of their three public performances.

Yes, Tim is a drummer in a small 'garage' band with some fellow teachers. And so it was at this small brewery that Tim's band played and enjoyed some locally brewed beer. It is tiny, so small in fact that the large vats are located inside the area where they have their small bar - I am sure this was a local tasting venue and overtime and

patronage, regulars most probably 'turned' this brewery into a bar. The girls loved it because you could eat as much popcorn and as many peanuts as you like. Needless to say, they were happily entertained and happily snacking before our car trip to the Verdy Valley (30mins away) to our accommodation.

Tim had booked two motel rooms at the Cliffcastle Casino, a lovely motel which was an absolute bargain. Okay, so we had just stayed at the Grand Canyon for $220 per night, and it was a basic room but had a fridge and heating with lumpy pillows. Here at the Casino, we paid $49 .. Yes, $49 for big beds, soft pillows AND a hot buffet breakfast for 4 people !!! Great value. And yes we did get to the casino and enjoyed a $14 all-you-can-eat buffet and played tenpin bowling (yes inside the casino). The only downside was the fact that patrons can smoke inside the casino, which when coming from a country who has thankfully banned smoking inside buildings, the smell is simply awful in some parts.

It was a wonderful day; however, what was even more spectacular was waking on New Year's Eve to find snow covering everything, which for the Verdy Valley is very uncommon. Our plans after breakfast were to drive back into Sedona and weather permitting and with our limited snow gear, to attempt to do a little walk around some of or one of the rocks. We arrived at our location near the base of one the large rocks and decided

to walk through the snow to get to the base. Peter and I thought, with the girls being unwell and without proper snow gear, we would only be able to stay out for about 15mins. However, an hour later after having snowball fights, climbing part of the rock wall, and attempting to eat falling snow, we arrived back to the car feeling a tad cold but just so happy having these wonderful memories and experiences. I am so glad Miranda and Hayley 'toughed it out' (they couldn't stop smiling the whole time), so we could enjoy a great morning.

We hopped back into the car, turned the heaters on, changed pants and headed to a 'gas station' for hot coffee and snacks for the 2hr trip back to Phoenix. Snow continued for quite a while, and it wasn't until we had completely climbed back down to 2000feet that the weather changed into a rain depression. Plans for New Year's Eve was dinner at Lois and Ed's place (Barb's parents - where we enjoyed Christmas dinner) after our day of trekking around. However, with these weather conditions, our trekking ended early and so we decided to hit the outlet malls near where Barbs parents lived.

Needless to say, the second fold-out wheely bag is now full

We managed to see the New Year in, and so did the girls, back at the Barmettler's house after yet another extraordinary dining experience at Ed and Lois's place. However, the celebrations lasted all of 10 mins after midnight when all of the girls realised just how tired they were and promptly took themselves to bed without showers or anything.

Another fantastic and unique experience; to celebrate the new year in another country.