"In his domestic administration my father had this system . . . to keep a journal and insert in it all occurrences of any note . . . A record very pleasant to look at when time begins to efface the memory of events, and very well suited to get us out of perplexity: When was such and such a thing begun? When completed? What retinues came? How long did they stay? Our trips, our absences; marriages; deaths; the receipt of happy or unhappy news . . . An ancient custom, which I think it would be good to revive, each man in each man's home. And I think I am a fool to have neglected it." (Montaigne, Book I, Essay 35 (publ. 1580))

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Lockett's Meadow 2013 (with Sedona side trip)

PJ and I traveled up to Flagstaff on Friday, October 11 - via Jerome, where we had lunch, and then up through Sedona and Highway 89A.  Which was quite lovely.  Wandered Flagstaff a bit, stopped by Lumberyard, eventually dinner at Tinderbox.

(Per usual, click any photo to enlarge all.)

Working our way back from Inner Basin.
Saturday was hiking day - couldn't have turned out nicer.  NOC, POC, CPG and PJr joined us (after our Macy's breakfast).  A bit later in the season than our typical timing, but still a nice amount of color.  Perfect weather - plenty warm - which made the remnants of the snowstorm from earlier in the week all the more interesting to look at.  We continue to much like the rerouted hike (due to fire a few years back) (and first encountered last year).

Switchback section (heading down).
Late lunch at Diablo Burger downtown; cleaned up at hotel; resumed wandering Flagstaff; drinks and cheese plate at a wine bar; then another round and a not-fine Five Crowns game (with Washington Street hooligans dominating the medal stand) at a congenial spot where we also got a kick out of live music and some flirted with a Dutch tourist; late supper at Criollo; nightcap at Lumberyard.

Pano from Inner Basin.
Our fellow travelers went back to Phoenix on Sunday after a fine brunch at Criollo (among other treats, PJr and I had a "Brass Monkey" in honor of EMG).  PJ and I spent less time outdoors on this day (partly because the wind kicked up during the daytime hours) - eventually to lunch at Cuvee 928; wandered town a bit; watched some World Series; tasters at Mother Road brewery (marked for return); back to hotel; late dinner at Criollo.

Inner Basin.  Painted Desert (barely) visible in the distance.
Monday:  had the touted breakfast at Martane's - an ungodly amount of wonderful food - their green chile pork rules (Hatch chiles in season doesn't hurt).  Worked our way back down 89A and hiked the Brins Mesa trail (trailhead ridiculously convenient to downtown Sedona) - we took a little different ending route than last time and much liked a 360-degree viewpoint.  Late lunch at Oak Creek brewery, and worked our way back to Phoenix.

Inner Basin.
Sometimes hard to believe the two incredible hiking experiences - completely different in terrain and weather conditions - are only about 40 miles apart.

Delightful.

Looking back at Lockett's Meadow as we drive back to Flagstaff.

Mother Road brewery - like.

Dinner at Criollo.

At Brins Mesa trail - turn-around point.

PJ at our turn-around point on Brins Mesa Trail.

Found this friend.
 
Aspens along Lockett's Meadow trail.

Intrepid-ness on the trail.

N and C try to reprise a cute picture from their younger days.

Happy vandals.

Gloating Five Crowns hooligans on medal stand.
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