Flutes in the Grand Canyon...

The Grand Canyon is spectacular, even in November.

We hiked the south rim trail on a beautiful but cold day. We also brought the flutes to see how they would sound, magnificent.

The only problem was the temperature was in the 30's and 40's and the altitude was more than 7000 feet above sea level.

That makes it a little hard to play for very long. Tom got a lot of compliments from others who were hiking. They said it could be heard a long way off and sounded so right.

Next: Christmas

More Grand Canyon...

It is 7000 feet above sea level here.

Grand Canyon...

This is our first attempt at video uploading, so somebody please let us know how it turns out.

Montezuma's Well

Monntezuma wasn't here, either. However, people lived in the cliffs, just like the Castle.

When we climbed down the hill side (not into the well, but down the outside), we found where the water left the well from below.

They cut a small channel where the water escaped from underground and used it to irrigate their fields.
It then spread out into a small creek that meandered into the Verde River.

Tom and I now find all sorts of interesting places to play our flutes. In fact, we have 2 more, a B and a small G. Still playing every day.Next: The Grand Canyon...

Montezuma's Castle

Montezuma was never here. In fact, he wasn't born until at least 200 years after the site was abandoned. The people who lived here just disappeared. The Navajo and Hopi say they are still here in them.

This is a model of the pueblo. The Park Service has an agreement with some local Native Americans to maintain the ruins in a completely authentic manner. Last year they came and repaired or replaced the main roof.


The public is no longer allowed to enter the ruins or climb the cliffs. I'm glad, this way they will be there for us all for a long, long time to come.

These are some of the storage caves. They would fill the cave with supplies, light a small fire and then seal the cave completely. The fire would burn all the oxygen out and the food would be safe in the cave for about three years.

Tom bought our first Native American flute in Red Rock Canyon State Park in Nevada about a month ago. He plays it every day now. In the gift shop here, they had a display of High Spirits flutes, the same manufacturer as the first one he bought. Needless to say we bought some more. Now we have a C (the first one) an A and 2 pocket flutes in A. We both play every day now.

Next: Montezuma's Well.

Verde Canyon

The dark marks on the wall are petroglyphs, ancient paintings left by the earliest tribal people.

These are some of the reasons this is called Arizona's "other Grand Canyon".

Next: Montezuma's Castle and Well.

We've moved...

This is the Colorado River. The same one that runs from Hoover Dam and through the Grand Canyon. Now it is our back yard for the next two weeks.

Colorado River Oasis RV Park is a lovely one with very friendly people. We'll be visiting Quartzsite and doing a lot of relaxing and walking. After spending the last month at high altitudes (3500 to 7000 feet) I need to get over an asthma attack here at 1000 feet.

Next: some more pictures of Verde Valley and the Grand Canyon.

Verde Canyon Railroad - a beautiful 4 hour round trip

4 hours from Clarkdale to Perkinsville and back through Arizons's other "Grand Canyon".

Our train: The 2 engines pulling us above, the front of our train as seen from our car, then the caboose.
You can ride the caboose for $600. You get champaign, special food and a personal valet to take care of your every whim (up to 6 people).

Clarkdale is an old copper mining town. When you leave the station you go past a mound.

It is 500 million pounds of tailings from the copper mine, just sitting there. Lately the technology has developed so that it is worth the time and effort to render them for the various ores and minerals.

Next: more shots of the canyon.

Arizona Highlights...

Tuzigoot National Monument - a beautifully preserved pueblo on top of a hill in the Verde Valley.

Several hundred people lived here at one time.

They lived in inter-connected series of rooms, up and down.

They farmed the fields all around.

Next up - the Verde Canyon Train.