My First Night in Sedona

(Obviously, my entries about my Sedona trip are NOT in chronological order.) 

Looking at my notes, I remember driving north on I-17 from Phoenix.  The speed limit was a breezy 75 mph, as opposed to 65 mph in Oregon.  I saw motor-cyclists without helmets (yup, against the law in Oregon).  And, the cactus plants along the road were an unusual sight for me.  However, as the road begin to climb, it reminded me of I-5 between Roseburg and Grants Pass.  I passed several trucks laboring uphill as I sped along toward Sedona.  Darkness fell quickly, and I was grateful for the explicit driving instructions supplied by Sedona Soul Adventures. 

Once I left I-17, I followed the well-paved Hwy 179 the remaining 15 miles of my journey.  I have never driven through so many roundabouts!  I lost count of them even before I made it into central Sedona.  At each one, I had to think ahead about where I was going, so I would be in the correct lane.  What with being in the dark (both literally and figuratively), it took some concentration to get the hang of it.  Sedona has limited outdoor lighting on its streets and businesses, and I had to keep a sharp lookout for signs - and for the numerous pedestrians who nonchalantly wandered back and forth, in and out of the crosswalks.

I had found my way to Sedona, but it took two calls to my host at Red Rock Guest House before I found my final destination.  Feeling tired from traveling and sore from sitting on the plane and in the car, I decided to walk around outside before collapsing into bed.  As I stumbled down the driveway, I was struck again by the limited amount of lighting.  "Maybe I better just stand still while my eyes adjust to the darkness," I thought.  Then, I looked up at the night sky with more stars than I could remember seeing for years and years.  As I stared at the heavens, I knew - at least for that moment - I was in my perfect place.