We took the incredibly scenic Arizona State Route 88 to visit Tortilla Flat after our hike at Lost Dutchman State Park. The sun was on it’s way down and the light and mountains were lit up so great. As we rounded one of the corners this particular section of mountain caught our eye and we had to grab a photo.

Rugged rocky mountains glowing golden in late afternoon sun along Arizona State Route 88, with saguaro cacti dotting the desert valley below.

Lost Dutchman State Park

We visited Lost Dutchman State Park and hiked the Treasure Loop Trail. There is a story hear about a lost mine that brings some intrigue to the Superstition Mountains. There are even some documentaries about it. We did a good 2.5 mile hike with 480 feet of elevation. It was a warmer day, Sunny at 80 °F which seemed to hit Tyler and I the most.

GPS route map of Treasure Loop Trail at Lost Dutchman State Park showing a 2.5-mile loop colored green to orange by elevation gain.

We hiked the trail up and took a bit of a break for photos before heading back down the loop. The landscape was very pretty the entire way.

Day 29 of the February Photoblogging Challenge: Light

Light coming through one pattern and making another pattern.

Striped shadows cast by a lattice railing onto a rough stucco wall in bright sunlight.

Day 28 of the February Photoblogging Challenge: Up

Mesa has 296 days with sun a year. When you look up you usually see a completely blue sky, dotted by an occasional palm tree. ☀️🌴

I suggested today’s prompt! 🥳

Tall fan palm tree photographed from below against a clear deep blue sky in Mesa Arizona

Broken Arrow Trail in Sedona

We had a great hike on the Broken Arrow trail in Sedona today. We were a little hesitant since some folks online had commented that there were a lot of Pink Jeep Tours on this trail. I don’t think they must have hiked very far because it doesn’t take that long to get to the point where no vehicles are allowed.

Satellite map view of a GPS track showing a winding 1.4-mile out-and-back hiking route marked with yellow and green dots through red rock desert terrain.

We would have hiked much more, but we had to turn back due to time. We did a total of 1.4 miles out and back with very little elevation. It was a great trail and very scenic. We will take this all the way to Chicken Point the next time we are here.

When we were visiting Sedona today we stopped at Tlaquepaque and revisited a spot from the last time we were in Sedona. We remembered a photo we took on the Summer of Love and Mazie and I recreated that photo from 13 years ago. She sure has grown!

Side-by-side photos dated June 18 2008 and February 28 2021 of a man and a girl sitting together at a tiled fountain in Sedona

Day 27 of the February Photoblogging Challenge: Pompasetting

Mazie gave me a showing off look. Seemed equal parts sassy to me. 😊

Young girl in a plaid fleece jacket with a light blue bag, posing at the Grand Canyon rim with canyon walls behind her.

Grand Canyon

We took a weekend getaway to Flagstaff, AZ and today we visited the Grand Canyon. It was Tyler’s first time here, Mazie’s second but the first she will remember, and my 3rd time and Tammy’s 4th or 5th. We hadn’t been here in the winter before and I can report that the Grand Canyon is cold in February. There was a dusting of snow around that made the place even more scenic.

We only had the day so we spent a few hours on the South Rim and visited the Visitor Center, the Village and drove along the rim and took photos from various places. We did the Trail of Time hike, or walk, along the rim.

Satellite aerial map showing a color-coded hiking trail route between two pin markers along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon

As always the Grand Canyon is spectacular and an amazing natural wonder. Tammy and I agreed that the next time we come it is going to be with a permit to go down to the bottom of the canyon and spend a night or two there.

I am greatly enjoying the Hip Chalet we are staying in Downtown Flagstaff, Arizona. The place has a great vibe to it, and delightful accommodations.

Day 26 of the February Photoblogging Challenge: Favourite

I went to my archives and am sharing Tammy’s favorite picture of me. I like it too. 😊 This picture was taken right after finishing the Chequamegon Fat 40.

Mud-covered man sitting on the ground resting after a mountain bike race, dirty bike in the foreground, trees and onlookers behind him