Tucson - Phoenix Murals - Rockabilly / Car Show - NHRA Arizona Nationals - Cottonwood - Clarkdale - Jerome and Sedona, Arizona:
l leave Tucson at 9 AM for a solo (without Twinkles) van adventure trip for one week. I'm heading to Phoenix with a planned stop on Roosevelt Street in downtown Phoenix, an area known as Roosevelt Row. This is a colorful, culturally mixed area covering several blocks with much street art and murals, a favorite photography targets of mine. My time is limited at Roosevelt Row by my having to move on to my destination in mid afternoon at the Lake Pleasant Park and RV Campground for the Arizona Rockabiliy Bash.
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| Very colorful and appealing |
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| Music themed |
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| Blessed low rider cars are very popular in this area |
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| Note that there is also sidewalk art |
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| Huge mural on side of building |
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| This art was somehow inbeded in the buildings glass |
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| Liked the contrast between the two buildings |
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| One of my favorites |
This is my first time at the Rockabilly Bash which consists of a car show, a music concert and and Pin-up model show. The car show is huge and well attended, much larger than anticipated. This is part of the Lake Pleasant Regional Park which encompasses over 23,000 acres and the Lake Pleasant water reservoir created by the damming of the Agua Fria River. The park grounds are huge, able to hold large music festivals with many food and shopping vendor spaces.There are several hundred very unique cars and trucks on display, everything from mild to wild ! Many of these vehicles are very creative and artistic. Rockabilly is sort of a throw back to a 1950’s kind of thing, with lowered cars with loud mufflers, custom paint jobs and graphics. There was a special dress attire for men and woman in this period which relates to the “Pin-up” look for the women. I was never a fan, it was before my time and I never really liked the look or the music but I did admire the creativity. The new spin on this is the “Rat Rod” car trend that I much prefer, I could get into that? The Pin-up show portion seemed sort of ridiculous, there were about a dozen women in gowns and heels who were introduced on stage and then did a sexy strut on stage. The bands were very rockabilly inspired but it seemed weird that the attendees just sat in their chairs, not dancing? As darkness fell, another Pin-up pose event stated at two show vehicles with flames coming out of their vertical exhaust stacks as the pin-up girls posed in the flame light, it was supposed to be erotic, but seemed almost comical to me.
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One of my favorite cars |
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| A very sleek low rider |
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| Interesting decal on rear window |
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| Pabst Beer is a nostalgic sponser |
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| Busty model posing behind this great flame paint job |
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| Flathead Ford powered rod |
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| Ole No 5 Soomer School bus was really cool |
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| Flying K Ranch cowboy Cadillac |
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| View of the reservoir from the show field |
Everyone loves the flames
After all this decadence, I depart for the hour long drive back to the southern end of Phoenix to the Gila River Lone Butte Casino, following my GPS and amazingly getting there with no wrong turns. This Casino has a huge lot and is fine with overnight Truck’s / RV’s in a free parking area.
I was up early on Saturday heading a few miles away to the NHRA Arizona Nationals at the Fire Bird Raceway. I wanted to be there about 7:30 AM to avoid the traffic back up’s that I have experienced in the past. I also wanted to see some of the sportsman racing competition which was my reason for going on Saturday, as you don’t see much of them on Sunday. As I once participated in this type of drag racing decades ago, I still feel that it is more to the original spirit of the sport. Drag racing like all sports has been somewhat corrupted by big money, the sportsman categories are the only classes where it is still possible for someone with ability and a reasonable income to participate. Sunday is the big race day with the final class eliminations, but it’s mostly the the pro classes that get broadcast on TV.
I spent most of my time wandering around the pit areas where car watching and photography is best. Drag racing used to be a mostly male sport, but it has changed over the recent decades with many woman drivers who now are equal or better behind the wheel. The really unique thing in drag racing is that with the admission price you can roam around the racing pits and get close and personal to the cars, drivers and team members. Everyone loves to hear the nitro fuel cars warm up after the between round engine rebuild with the ear blowing noise and odor of the nitro fuel. I have to admit that I love too, but I try to stay back further and upwind if possible these days. It was a great day, I logged about 20,000 steps walking.
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| This is a funny car, dumbest car name ever |
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| This is a pro stock car which today almost no stock parts |
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| Pro Stock car transmission and gear shifter |
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| Top Fuel Dragster |
On Sunday, I’m driving on I-10 to route 17 north to visit Cottonwood, Clarkdale and Jerome, Arizona. In Clarkdale I find the Copper Art Museum and am amazed by the insane mind boggling collection of Copper objects. It also clearly explained the importance of Copper as a mineral and its worth in this electrical age and how Arizona is one of the leading producers. The town of Clarkdale is named for the Mine owner, William A Clark, who as the owner of the Clarkdale and the nearby Jerome Mines became an extremely wealthy man, actually one of the richest men in the country . He founded the town of Clarkdale and set building standards for all the downtown businesses. As a result, the downtown has a row of impressive buildings remaining now in various stages of restoration. This town appears to be doing very well with a large new development on the outskirts of town, but I hope this trend is kept in check?
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| There were several rooms filled like this |
After leaving the museum, I hear the sound of music from the 10 - 12 Lounge on Main Street. I go inside to find a bar packed with locals, an older crowd, actually half are younger than me, who are dancing and rocking it up to a band playing mostly covers. The schedule on the wall shows that they have live music several times a week, it seems like the happening place.
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This Bakery caught my attention but was closed |
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The Copper Museum ia housed in the former High School |
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| The Forner Hotel is now a brew pub |
I stop at the Verde Canyon Railroad Train Depot just outside of town to look around, they have a very popular scenic rail excursion train operation. I was hoping to see the train arrive, but my timing was off.
I then visited the historic (Wicked city) of Jerome, a few miles uphill for a couple of hours. It appears virtually unchanged from my last visit here a few years ago, but is always interesting.
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| Looking down on the Spirt Room action |
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| Interesting sculpture |
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| Distant view from town street |
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| Wicked |
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| My kind of store |
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| All that remains |
I end up in Cottonwood where I stealth camp on a downtown side street without issue. I like this town, it has a really pleasant Main Street with many good shops, restaurants, bars and architecture. This becomes my come back to place for the duration.
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| The Old Town Cafe is great |
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| Fun Sign |
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| Intersting murals |
On Monday morning I drive to Sedona to do some hiking, but I haven’t planned this out so well. The trailheads in Sedona are limited in size and if you don’t get there early they are filled. This is an issue especially at the popular tourist times of the year and this appears to be one to them. After reading an issue in Arizona Highways, I had planned to hike the Soldier Pass Trail but the trailhead parking area was closed and I didn’t know how the alternative Sedona shuttle bus worked. I then drove along the Boynton Pass Road stopping at a couple of other trailheads, all full, very frustrating. This is the problem in Sedona, too many people !
I finally found a place where it was possible to park along the road about a half mile from the trailhead. Luckily for me, it was the Mescal Trail which turned out to be a great trail. The trail takes a route around the Mescal Mountain that is very scenic. I didn’t do the entire loop as it is huge, but did go about half way around and then doubled back, that was plenty for me.
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| The desert vegetation is lush |
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| Red rocks and spectacular views are everywhere |
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| The trail follows a mostly level path |
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| Great views abound |
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| View of an arch |
As if that wasn’t enough, I go to another parking lot in the early afternoon where I take the Fay Canyon trail which is a beautifully forested trail into Fay Canyon. There is a side arch that can be seen from the trail and a faint side trail for a better view. As I’m half way down the trail, a middle age woman in passing tells me; You must climb the Wall, its the most incredible view and if I can do it, anybody can do it. (Did I look that old and feeble?) I then come to the trails end at the “Wall” which is a rocky scramble leading steeply uphill to a great viewpoint. It appears to go straight up for hundreds of feet, looked a little crazy for me ? Another elderly man had started up before me and gave up after stumbling around a bit. I also started going up as I thought it can’t be that bad, but almost immediately decided it was really that bad.
I then drive to downtown Sedona where I do some research on the Sedona Shuttle and find that there is a shuttle parking lot with an overflow roadway parking area where you can park and wait for the next shuttle. This special shuttle travels only to the very popular Soldiers Pass and the Dry Creek Vista trailheads. That’s my plan for tomorrow morning.
I’ve had enough of the crazy Sedona traffic scene, so I drive the 15 miles back to Cottonwood. I’m walking along Main Street checking the shops and restaurants, Cottonwood has a nice mix, I like this town ! I hear music coming from a bar, the Jacalope, with a musician playing old delta blues songs, my favorite. I sit at the bar, but immediately see that I am bookended by people talking sports and about todays youth who are lazy, don’t want to work unless they can do it from home. These people are not listening or interested in the music playing and are annoying me so I move to the vacant other side of the bar. This musician is great, playing electric guitar, great finger picking and slide, good clear strong voice and great old blues songs. I’m still the only person listening and clapping and when he takes a break, he comes over to talk to me. He’s been doing this for quite a time and actually got to go to the Memphis International Blues Challenge in the past to represent a local Blues Society.
At dusk, I travel a few miles away to a dispersed free camping area off route 89A for the night. It was a little congested, but quiet and peaceful.
On Tuesday, I get an early start and arrive at the Sedona Shuttle Posse Grounds parking area just in time to get a parking spot. It’s a full bus load to the Soldiers Pass trailhead a short distance away. It’s a scenic trail with great views as about everything in Sedona is. There are several iconic sights along the trail such as Coffee Pot Rock, the Devils Kitchen sinkhole and the Seven Pools and the trails end the Cave. Most of the trail was through forest and a moderate level hike, but at the end approaching the cave it becomes very steep and rocky. The Cave was a big attraction, but a very small tight space to get into and constantly filled, I skipped that.
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| It was quiet until a tour group arrives by ATV |
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| The Cave entrance |
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| This tree trunk had an unreal texture and appearance |
I then park in downtown Sedona, (not easy), and walk around Main Street browsing in a few tourist shops and buying a tee shirt and an ice cream cone. This town is one of the most beautiful places, but it's kind of ruined by excessive development. There are many good shops, restaurants and attractions, but the traffic flow through town is ridiculous and I don't know how the locals deal with the tourist season.
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| The Cowboy Coral has movie star history |
So, it’s back to Cottonwood again, feeling really tired and a little dehydrated, I’m in need for a plain old comfort meal. A basic burger and fries, a couple of ice teas and ice waters at the Old Town Cafe was exactly what I needed.
I spend another night on a side street in Cottonwood, nice and quiet until in early morning when the garbage truck comes crashing and banging down the street.
On Wednesday morning, I leave early heading to Sedona trying for a parking spot next to the scenic steel arch Midgley Bridge at the entrance to Oak Creek Canyon. I was worried that there would be no room to park, as it’s a small lot, but I lucked out. There are two trails here, a downhill one to the very scenic Oak Creek and another, the Wilson Canyon trail heading uphill through the forest to a mountainous area.
I started off going steeply downhill to Oak Creek with great distant mountain views. The Creek was flowing nicely, many impressive rocks / boulders and huge trees with impressive views in all directions. It was so refreshing to see flowing water again !
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| The Midgley Bridge is beautiful |
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| A most impressive view |
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| Oak Creek flowing over the rocks is music to the ears |
I then climb uphill to the parking lot and take the Wilson Canyon Trail that passes through heavy forest following a dry creek bed. This canyon must get crazy during rainy periods. The trail crossed the creek periodically and is rocky in areas, but nothing difficult. I kept seeing mountain peaks in the distance between the trees and was hoping for an opening to get a clear view, but it never materialized. Eventually, I scramble up a steep slope to get to a pinnacle with a partial view. Unfortunately, the sky had clouded up so the photos conditions were not as so good, but with some post editing look decent.
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| It's an old bridge adjacent to a ghost town |
I still had another destination for the day to the Tuzigoot National Monument near Clarkdale, AZ. I have been there years ago but since it's so close, I want another look. The visitors center is closed today, but the reconstructed ancient pueblo site is open to view. It’s much larger than I remember with 87 rooms that were built in stages between 1100 and 1400. It’s a very impressive site sitting on a summit 120 feet overlooking the Verde River and surrounding wetland.
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| Tuzigoot is amazing |
Afterwards, I go a short distance away to a Verde River park area. It's obvious that this flood plain continues to flood periodically. The river is flowing strong today and the Cottonwood trees are looking beautiful with their new emerging green foliage.
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| Love those Cottonwood Trees |
I then return to old town Cottonwood where a craft and farmers market is happening on the patio adjacent to the Copper Jackalope Bar. There is a good crowd with a young woman playing guitar and singing. I watched for a while but didn’t feel like a beer, kind of strange ? There was a young girl there who approached me asking if I would give her a dollar if she could do a series of cartwheels, that was fun and of course I did.
At times, increasingly so, I grow tired of paying $25 plus for a cheap meal, at minimum, in average restaurants these days. As I’m not feeling very hungry, I just go to a local fast food joint for their cheap meal, which are no longer that cheap ! My phone shows that I have walked 21,163 steps during the day, I should be starving ?
It’s now Thursday morning and I’m heading home to Tucson with another planned stop in the Roosevelt Row area of Phoenix. I need to see more of the street art and murals in the Roosevelt Row area. This area is a cultural melting pot with photo op’s on every block.
I return to the free dispersed camping area for the night, I'm feeling pathetically cheap today !
The traffic as usual is heavy on I-10 leaving Phoenix on the two lane section, I don’t understand why this section hasn’t been expanded to three or even four traffic lanes. The ride is uneventful however and I drive straight back with no issues.
Overall, this has been a great trip, I've done a lot in a short time, but perhaps it was a little too busy. Next, I need to concentrate on getting our RV, the Odyssey ready for a future trip with Twinkles and Alice the cat.
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