Link to Devil’s Bridge Facebook Pictures

Today, we woke up and did the usual routine: pack up tent, etc.  We are getting really good at it.  I think we said “Good morning” to each other, and then didn’t say another word until everything was packed away.  I’d estimate 10 minutes from start to finish.  Anyway, after that I decided I was looking a little scruffy, and needed a haircut.  So we figured out the most white trash way to get a haircut in the woods.  We hooked the power inverter up to my car’s cigarette lighter, then hooked up a power strip to that, and the clippers to that.  Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

After this endeavor, we took a solar shower, and headed into Sedona.  Today’s hikes were going to be Devil’s Bridge and Chicken Point, but we only ended up doing Devil’s Bridge.  We had to park at the beginning of the Forest Service road, because it was impassable by car.  It really made me miss my old Toyota Pickup, and made me start thinking about the possibility of a 4Runner in my future, especially if I am going to keep bumming around the good old US of A.

We hiked about a mile in, until we got to the Devil’s Bridge trail head.  We sat down for shade and some granola bars, and we met another group of hikers.  One couple was from Philadelphia, then the grandfather of the group was from Hawaii, and other people in the group were from Southern California.  They were pretty well spread out across the US.  We chatted with them for awhile, and I told them how I was in Philadelphia two months ago for work.  We continued the 0.7 mile ascent to Devil’s Bridge.  When we got there, the original group that we had met in the trail head was now reduced to two: the father and the grandfather.  Molly took pictures of them standing together on Devil’s Bridge, and I took pictures for another group of people that were there.

Here are some of the pictures that we took:

It really is as big of a drop as it looks.  It is probably 5 feet or so at the narrowest section.  Molly and I both did a “jumping” picture, which was rather gutsy.  At one point, a tour helicopter flew overhead of us, making a good bit of wind.

After Devil’s Bridge, we headed to the local grocery store “Safeway” and bought the ingredients for an afternoon sandwich.  We decided to head on to Flagstaff, and not do the Chicken Point hike that we had originally planned.  We already saw so many great views in and around the Sedona area that we figured it wouldn’t hurt if we moved on.

We didn’t have to drive long to get to Flagstaff, and the first thing we did was stop at the Forest Ranger’s station and ask for maps.  She gave us MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Maps) for the Coconino National Forest (which we’re in now) and the forest which is closest to the Grand Canyon.  We are planning on finding random Forest Service roads and camping off of those.  No more “pay-to-stay” campsites.  The ranger also told us about a lava flume which extends about a mile underground.  Molly and I are going to check that out (maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow.. not sure).  If you don’t hear from us for a few days, we are in that lava flume..although I don’t remember exactly which Forest Service road it was off of..  it was a bit north of Flagstaff.

That’s about it as of now.  Not too exciting of a day, I know.  At least I got a haircut, a nice shower, and some A/C.  Flagstaff is MUCH more nice (weather-wise) than the Phoenix area.  I wonder why the population density isn’t higher up here, instead of down there.

Side note: There seem to be little-to-no police around here!  We have only seen a handful since we have crossed into Texas.  None of this crap of State Patrol sitting on the sides of interstates or highways, trying to bust people for speeding.  And most people tend to follow the rules of the road, as well as the speed limits.  Well, kind of on the speed limits.  I feel like the speed limits are so much higher here, that it’s more of a “drive at your own pace” style of driving.  I have found myself driving 15 below the speed limit, on more than one occasion.  Especially at night!!

Side Note #2: I realize that in my Facebook albums, I am posting WAY too many pictures.  Before I post them, I don’t sort through the 3, for example, of me doing the same thing, and pick a favorite.  You would think this would be the most logical thing to do, but I am using my Facebook albums as a kind of online “backup” of the pictures that I take.  So sorry if you have to wade through 3x or 4x pictures of us doing the same things, or doing the same poses!!