Echoes of the Southwest

Located in central Arizona in the Sonoran Desert sits the harsh black rock terrain known as the Bradshaw Mountains.   Named after William Bradshaw, this mountain range consists of an interior forest, to an exterior desert grassland and shrubbery from the Sonoran Desert surrounding the rocks. (From Wikipedia)   “ The first known settlements in the Bradshaw’s were a group of Yavapai Indians called the Kwevkapaya who built forts and mined copper from around AD 1100 to 1600.   Apaches occupied the area around 1800 as a means of keeping white settlers out.   But by 1863, a party led by William Bradshaw was in the area, followed by the Walker party.   In 1864, a group of five white settlers was attacked by Apaches at what is now called Battle Flat.   One of the settlers went for help, but upon his return found the Apaches had left.   The Walker party found gold, and within a few years, the Bradshaw’s were filling up with settlers mining for gold, s...

As we got off the highway to Black Canyon City, this abandoned dog track caught our eyes.  I wanted to take photos so we drove around to see if there was an entrance to the grounds.  After being harassed by a buzzard and couldn't find an entrance, we went back to the start of the road, parked the car, and got as close as we could to the building. This once was a thriving greyhound dog racing track.  In 1982 it was closed and has sat abandoned, deteriorating from the harsh Arizona climate.  I just saw it as another beautiful photo opportunity.

Tucked in the mountains and just outside Sedona in the Verde Valley is the site where cliff dwellers once lived known as Montezuma Castle.   This six story dwelling with its 45 rooms is remarkably well preserved but seriously deteriorating.   It was built by the Southern Sinagua people in the 12th century using limestone, a soft material causing varying breakage over time.   Sinagua is Spanish for “without water”.   Historians can only speculate that they build so high in the rocky cliffs because the spot offered protection from the desert elements.    They cleverly wedged their lodgings in the rock, 100 feet above Oak Creek, which runs through the red rocks of Sedona and used as their water source.   The Sinagua people were hunters, gatherers and artisans.   They made their own stone tools and used the red rock materials that surrounded them for their pottery.   The Montezuma Castle Sinagua lived in their rock high-rise apartments for o...

Love the antique stores and try not to miss any while visiting the small towns of Arizona.

Thick fog hiding the redrocks. Sleeping bear covered with snow. An elk striking a pose. Beautiful cactus cover with snow. Statue with a "snowhock" as Sharon called it. Mr. Snowhocks garden buddies. Pink Jeep Tours for a cruise around the deserts for the best view of the wonderful Sedona redrocks. Sharon's little snowghost. View from inside Sharon's car (the back window in the morning). My most delicious spinach/cream cheese chimichanga.

Sharon and I had to wait at the cemetery in Mayer for the cemetery crawl contestants to show up.  It snowed most of the time while we were there and the wind was chilly.  This is the first time taking photos of a cemetery with snow on the ground.  It was breathtaking. Also, don't forget my RedRock Giveaway.