CATHEDRAL ROCK!!!

This morning we woke early, about 7am, in order to get out to Cathedral Rock before the heat of the day set in.  Initially we drove to Red Rock State Park but soon learned this was not where we wanted to be.  Nice drive though.

We headed back the way we came and turned into Crescent Moon State Park where we disembarked from the truck and saw ahead of us Cathedral Rock.  At that time of the day there is still a haze over the mountains so you can't see how deeply red the rocks are, but the majesty of the form is always available.

As we walked one of the paths to take us to the river that passes through the canyon, we met up with this little guy.  Grasshopper is the Chinese symbol for good luck and abundance.  As a totem it gives the person the ability to take chances, or to leap forward.

 Me and Alpha.  This was the only place she wanted to come and to be able to sit on a rock in the river and view Cathedral Rock from that vantage point.  We walked along the river for some distance looking for a place to enter the water.  At one point, Alpha and I held onto a log that had fallen across a smaller tributary of the river and she and I waded across to see if there was any way to enter the river from this point.  There wasn't, so we crossed back.  The water was deliciously cool and felt wonderful as waded back and forth.

Another view of the "rock".  As you can see, the haze is beginning to lift and you can see a little more of the red rocks.







We finally found a place where we could wade out a little ways and sit with our feet in the water.  I took this picture as I was sitting facing Cathedral Rock.  Just ahead of us was a couple with their two dogs.  The dogs were having a marvelous time jumping into the water chasing sticks.  Alpha and I were the only ones with our feet dangling in the water.  Brian and BB decided not to get in.  Too bad, they really don't know how refreshing it was.  I loved it and didn't really want to get out.  We left this area and took a scenic drive up Hwy 89, towards Flagstaff.  It runs along Oak Creek Canyon and when we finally got to the top of the mountain we were at an elevation of about 6800 feet.  I so wish all of you were here with me!!! Sharing the sights and the beauty of this wonderful area!!!