MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS

Friday, November 14, 2014

{1880s Rawhide, Arizona - Western Town}

Most of you might recall RAWHIDE, ←(click it) the CBS TV show that ran from 1959 till 1966 in which Rowdy Yates got played by Clint Eastwood and Gil Favor, the trail boss, played by Eric Fleming...←click it.

We both did visit Rawhide, Arizona in 1986 and in 1987 during the before mentioned SPAWN MATE SYMPOSIUM where my husband Pieter lectured.

Back to RAWHIDE ←(click it)... on our final day in Arizona!

This is husband Pieter in 1986 when we went for Steak Dinner to Rawhide, during the above mentioned Symposium.

That's me in 1986...

Yes, this is us after we left The Boulders in Carefree, where we ate lunch. It is 15:45 o'clock in the afternoon and still 109°F or 43°C but it is very pleasant, due to the low humidity!

Rawhide, at Wild Horse Pass is about 15 miles south of Phoenix airport's rental car return; so quite convenient!

RAWHIDE...
Our nice weather is ending soon!

Beautiful Bronze Statues...

We arrived early for the 17:00 o'clock opening till 22:00 o'clock.
During weekends it opens at NOON!

Oh oh, they let me pass but threaten husband Pieter...
Those men look MEAN!

Pieter made it inside as well and here he stands in front of THE MOONSHINE ROOM...

This is how they did transport he BAD guys during the 1880s...

LOOK: This cannon featured in the motion picture WILD WILD WEST starring Will Smith...

There is even a real 1880s style blacksmith forge!
You can buy all kinds of gifts made with horse shoes and others.

Interesting to watch...

BUTTERFIELD STAGELINE
RAWHIDE, ARIZONA
On their website you can read: Our authentic replica allows guests to experience the majestic Sonoran Desert the way early settlers did. Your ride, guided by a trained mule team, meanders through Sonoran Desert trails.

Here you see the mules, waiting for the first passengers...

Pieter is studying the breaks on such an old wagon from the 1880s...

Rawhide Electric Chair...
Having a conversation with a cowboy in front of Rawhide's Jail.

Interesting stories!

Well, if you had to spend the night in jail, this is what you got...
Not quite comparable with the room that is waiting for us that evening at +Hyatt Place Tempe/Phoenix Airport after we drop off our rental car!

The Sheriff is keeping a watchful eye on the jail corner!

Yep, this is how the doctor arrived with his horse or mule and all the necessary items in a wooden tool box.
To the left you see people entering the Steakhouse...

There even was a Mission and from here I say goodbye and thank you so much for joining us on our Arizona journey!
We flew home the next morning, on September 5.
Little did we know that on Monday, September 8, there would be severe flooding in the Phoenix area.
Flooding prompts Brewer to declare statewide emergency ←click to see why Governer Brewer had to declare this statewide emergency.
We felt so blessed for having had such great weather till the very end!

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

{Lunch at The Boulders A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Carefree, Arizona}

Because husband Pieter had to lecture in 1986 and also in 1987, in Scottsdale, Arizona, I got to go to this desert playground with the ladies tour. We had lunch here each consecutive year. Because Pieter never had been there, I did look it up and found it, comparing my photos from the 80s.

Nestled in the tranquil beauty of the high Sonoran desert and 12-million year old granite boulder formations that dot the landscape... The Boulders ←click it.

On our last day in Arizona, we drove from our Hyatt Place Scottsdale/Old Town to 34631 N Tom Darlington Dr. in Carefree, Arizona by following our GPS.

Typical Sonoran desert view with cacti as we enter The Boulders.

Seeing The Boulders sign made me smile, for being back after 27 years!

This is the only photo in which our Buick rental car is visible...
Lovely cacti!

Flora & Fauna of the desert is so different from the north of Arizona...

Husband Pieter just loved this cactus tree!

Closeup of the cactus tree...

Quite interesting desert garden layout.

The Boulders is world renowned as one of the finest golf clubs in the United States.
Maybe next life we too will play golf...?!

It sure looks like a golfer's paradise and certainly for living here!

We just admired the grounds and its exotic looking flowers...

Including blooming cacti...

BUT, let's have some lunch at THE GRILL Restaurant!

THE BOULDERS
A WALDORF ASTORIA RESORT

Pieter happy with a coffee and for me a green tea!

Both of us selected from the Starters, as a light lunch.

Pieter went for the CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAP with chopped chicken breast, red peppers, scallions, water chestnuts, peanuts, sweet honey dipping sauce.

And for me GRILLED GULF SHRIMP Arugula, pickled Vidalia onions, Creole rémoulade.

With a happy tummy from my 3rd lunch at The Boulders, this time with husband Pieter as well, we are leaving for the final leg of our journey.
See you next in 1880s Rawhide, Arizona - Western Town...

Related links:
{Scenic 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona, Arizona} | previous post by me
{Humphreys Peak, a 12,000 footer in Arizona} | previous post by me

{Maswik Lodge & Grand Canyon Flora & Fauna} | previous post by me

{Our Dinner at the 1905 El Tovar Hotel | Grand Canyon National Park Lodges} | previous post by me

{Hiking Part of Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon} | previous post by me

{Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach Tour} | previous post by me

{Riding the Grand Canyon Railway} | previous post by me

{1881 Williams, Arizona - Gateway to Grand Canyon & Wild West} | previous post by me

Monday, November 10, 2014

{Scenic 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona, Arizona}

Of course, already being in North Arizona, we also did want to drive the scenic 89A route from Flagstaff to Sedona, viewing the fabulous Red Rocks. So we did, after viewing Humphreys Peak we continued south on said 89A.

Yep, we got to see Cathedral Rock!

Red Rock Scenic Byway ←(click it) or 179, is what we took after the 89A, all the way down from the Grand Canyon, via Humphreys Peak (from previous post).

When we drove up from Phoenix airport, I took the I-17 up north...

This time we enjoyed so much the scenery and as a matter of fact we want to go back to Sedona for a stay of a couple of nights!

The scenery from 89A is just breathtaking!

Beautiful Ponderosa pines...

Red Rocks start revealing themselves along 89A...

Switchbacks as the 89A follows Oak Creek...

Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive Just North of Sedona, Arizona ←(click it)
This article from May 14, 2014 mentions that Route 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona has been recognized as one of the Top 5 Most Scenic Drives in America by Rand McNally.
So we actually were descending 4,500 feet from the Flagstaff area down to Sedona.
Indeed, breathtaking through very picturesque forests.

What a view!

Sign that points to Slide Rock...

5 Most Scenic Drives of Arizona ←(click it).

Indeed: Hwy 89/89A where Old West meets New West

The 30-mile stretch of Hwy 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff (we did it the other way around!) rises up through dramatic Oak Creek Canyon. Be sure to stop at Slide Rock Park (see previous photo), where the rollicking Oak Creek pushes swimmers through a rock slide. The road levels off and glides through ponderosa pine, into fun and funky Flagstaff...

We just went south from Flagstaff to Sedona!

Can you see WHY we really want to go back in order to enjoy this area?!

Somewhere I read that in Arizona, the Grand Canyon has 5,000,000 annual visitors and Sedona 4,000,000...

Husband Pieter was photographer, while I drove and enjoyed the ride as well!

You are really surrounded by the beauty of these Red Rocks!

This iPad photo I took from the curb, going to Hyatt Piñon Pointe, A Hyatt Residence Club ←(click it) that we want to try out next time! Overlooking 89A.

Also this iPad photo, showing you the view more to the right...

Wish we could have spent a couple of days there!

Cathedral Rock...

What a view!

We continued the Loop Road and we should have followed Red Rock Crossing... that would have given us far better views but we actually did not have the time as we still had to continue about 2 hours south to Scottsdale, to our Hyatt Place Scottsdale/Old Town for that night...