SEDONA HIKES

 amazingly we did ALL new trails in Sedona. we have been here so many times and have hiked so many trails that we didn't think there were any "untested" ones. But we found 'em.

 this picture was taken at our lunch spot after climbing up lots of slickrock ledges and up to a pass. We accidentally discovered this trail as we were wandering around Red Rocks State Park.

PINE CREEK CANYON - RED ROCKS AREA - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

 This was our last hike in vegas and we continued to be pleasantly surprised at how great the hikes were, especially the ones we did in Valley of Fire. This hike was in the  Red Rocks Conservation area and we amazingly found parking at the trailhead. This is a busy busy place.

There were rock climbers on the huge cliff behind Bill. we have a really good telescope and were able to see them pretty clearly.

The trail drops down into the wash and then up Pine Creek Canyon until you get to a towering monolith called Mescalito and you can explore to the right or left of it down the side canyons. We went left; lots of boulder hopping and scrambling but we got to some lovely areas and the creek was running and there were waterfalls.

Afterwards we ate one of the best Italian meals EVER at Roma's restaurant. The bread was fantastic; a crisp crust and airy light inside. It was so good bill had 2 pieces and he usually only has a bite of one of my multiple slices!! Then we shared a Caesar salad and brachiola. The beef was very tender and the sauce was extraordinary. The rolls were stuffed with herbed bread and pine nuts and raisins.

Now these last 2 days are just deciding what stuff will go back in storage (now that the weather is warming up and its March) and starting to pack for our next leg of this wonderful journey. Sedona here we come!

THE HOBBIT IN DESPERATION

We hadn't seen a movie in 3 weeks and the day was turning out to be chilly and rainy and windy; an overall vegas gloom. So we saw the latest Hobbit movie which wasn't too bad. I'm a Harry Potter fan and have never had any interest in seeing the hobbitters prance around or the lord of the rings trilogy or is that the same thing?

but then again i've never been in Vegas before when its rainy and when the bore monster is starting to awaken.

The movie was 2 hours and 40 minutes. After what seemed like an interminable dragon fight i finally got up and roamed the halls and by the time i got back to my seat, it was in its last throes of a set-up for the next hobbit film hobble. but prior to my unknown end of the cinematic inning escape, it was quite entertaining. The story was about a group of little people trying to reclaim their homeland.

I am very much ready to move on. Since we are not situated close to the restaurants, bookstores, libraries, etc. that we like to frequent, getting out on the town is always a major undertaking. and Vegas itself is getting old. Wanna see new sights and sounds and people and areas. But that will have to wait as our next stop is Sedona to hike and we've been there probably 8 times. Slowly slowly we are heading east though and in 6 weeks we'll be with alicia!!!!!!!!