Blog text and images by Patricia Banks©
After the Plein Air Convention, in Tucson, we headed north hoping to beat the blistering heat. Camp Verde, in the Verde River Valley was a few degrees cooler, but still plenty hot for us!
It seems this trip has been all about deserts and canyons since we left the green and rainy Pacific Northwest. Strangely enough, we have had a full gamut of weather conditions throughout the trip. All of the various desert areas have slightly different micro-climates, making each one unique.
We stayed near Montezuma Castle which was built around 1100 CE by the Southern Sinagua Indians. No one knows why or where they went after 1300-1400 CE. These cliff dwellings are about 100 ft off the valley floor and have 20 rooms.
We spent a day at Red Rock State Park, where we hiked in Oak Creek Canyon and near Sedona. The trails are filled with people walking, running and bicycling; all enjoying the outdoors and the incredible scenery. You could hike for years on the numerous trails that vary from easy to challenging, and never hike the same one twice. Luckily they are well marked.
Everywhere we have been, we have enjoyed pleasant conversations, learned helpful tips, and heard interesting stories from our fellow travelers, as well as everyone we have come across in one way or another. This has been a real blessing!
Looking forward to posting more paintings soon.
After the Plein Air Convention, in Tucson, we headed north hoping to beat the blistering heat. Camp Verde, in the Verde River Valley was a few degrees cooler, but still plenty hot for us!
It seems this trip has been all about deserts and canyons since we left the green and rainy Pacific Northwest. Strangely enough, we have had a full gamut of weather conditions throughout the trip. All of the various desert areas have slightly different micro-climates, making each one unique.
We stayed near Montezuma Castle which was built around 1100 CE by the Southern Sinagua Indians. No one knows why or where they went after 1300-1400 CE. These cliff dwellings are about 100 ft off the valley floor and have 20 rooms.
We spent a day at Red Rock State Park, where we hiked in Oak Creek Canyon and near Sedona. The trails are filled with people walking, running and bicycling; all enjoying the outdoors and the incredible scenery. You could hike for years on the numerous trails that vary from easy to challenging, and never hike the same one twice. Luckily they are well marked.
Everywhere we have been, we have enjoyed pleasant conversations, learned helpful tips, and heard interesting stories from our fellow travelers, as well as everyone we have come across in one way or another. This has been a real blessing!
Looking forward to posting more paintings soon.
