Flagstaff explorations and more
Flagstaff is the original Dark Sky city in North America...
Long ago Percival Lowell had made a considerable fortune supplying uniforms for the Union Army in the Civil War (a la Lowell, Massachusetts), and this allowed him to pursue his interest in Astronomy. His mother had given him a telescope for his 14th birthday, and his interest had grown from that time.
During a survey of potential western areas for a research telescope, Flagstaff emerged as a contender, and the city donated land for building. And so it came to pass that the planet Pluto was discovered at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff....
Lots of little blue Earths can fit inside our Sun.
Not far from Flagstaff is Sunset Crater National Monument. THe lava flows and sculptures are rare. The last time I saw similar was on the Big Island of Hawaii at Mauna Loa
lava shades and 3d stereo here, maybe picture of NPS building also?
In the later afternoon we visited the V Bar V National Monument, which is the home to some spectacular petroglyphs, and Sun Dagger.
We stayed in Sedona that night. The next morning it was time for good coffee.
Sedona has lots of interesting sculptures.
At Bell Butte, I got talking to a pleasant guy out for a bike ride from town. He's been spending time in Florida shrimping, and is now back for a while where he grew up.
From time to time it's a struggle to find our way in the world. Jeffery, the photos you showed me of your work suggest a great talent that will give enjoyment to many people once they get to see it!
Here, Jeffery strikes a contemplative pose, scouting the land.
That evening, it's laundry time. All day long David has been wearing his shades, and his overall expression fits well with the boredom of the Laundrymat!
Outside, an old VW bus slowly chugs to life, and then beetles off into the darkness.
Killing time, I keep walking around the parking lot looking for interesting license plates. I walk past one car and then walk back for a better look. Meanwhile the owner has walked up with groceries and is a smiling at my attention to her plate.
It turns out that today was the photoshoot for her new book and here in the parking lot is another photographer. Several years ago Linda had a transformational experience with Dolphins, and her life is now quite different and enriched from that. To read more about Linda Shay and her work, visit her website!
All the best Linda!
A local Sedona house, complete with alternate landscaping.
The Park Service has prepared a binder of local wildlife and their stories. This one is good for a laugh!
From Sedona we backtrack up through Flagstaff to visit Sunset Crater. Across much of this region of the USA there was active volcanism as the plates and rifts moved.
