From the Editor: This trip report has 29 images and they take a few minutes to load despite their conservative resolution. To ease this problem, I have divided the story into two separate "chapters." You can jump to the next one using the link at the bottom of this page. Enjoy!
Spring has traditionally been reserved for a week in Mexico, but Reagan "decided" that she wasn't ready for the unfamiliar foods and remote access to health care, so we elected to return to one of the most beautiful icons of the Great American West. Reagan was naturally at attention being only her second trip in an airplane.
A smooth and uneventful flight (Angie and I were very thankful) deposited us in Phoenix just in time for chorizo burritos at Filiberto's and then it was north to Sedona. The temperature dropped a few degrees for every thousand feet in elevation and it was
in the 50s by the time we reached Red Rock country. A steady rain made the road up Schnebly Hill slick with mud, but didn't dampen our enthusiasm for shopping. The day ended with the sun peeking under the clouds to light up a rainbow.
The forecast didn't improve for Sunday, so we headed out early for coffee at Macy's in Flagstaff then drove on hoping to see snow on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. The whole drive was quite interesting and we were thankful for the sure footing of our all wheel drive SUV. Most of the snow was in the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff, but the low 5000 foot snow line brought new light to Oak Creek Canyon.
The Grand Canyon revealed some of the most dramatic scenes we've seen. We had to take refuge in the El Tovar Hotel during a white-out blizzard, got blown about with strong gusts at Desert View near the east end of the Canyon, and revelled in the warm 
sun of the lower desert at the Cameron Trading Post. Reagan loved the ornate gardens and was thrilled to run free.
The snow and rain stopped and Mother Nature began to thaw out the red rocks. After breakfast at the Coffee Pot we loaded Rea into the backpack and hiked around Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Occasional blue sky breaks gave us hope for the coming days.
Blustery gray clouds suggested we stay inside so we drove west across Verde Valley to Jerome. This rejuvenated mining town sits literally on the side of the mountain. The only road switchbacks steeply up through Jerome in 50 foot increments leaving every building with a
spectatular view. The high never reached the 60s, but that didn't stop us from sampling Jerome's eclectic shops. The spectacular sunset was a good omen for the days to come and we finally got a clear night.
Sure enough, the morning dawned clear and crisp. A stiff cup of Jimmie Jean's Morning Blend at Sedona Coffee Roasters and one of the Coffee Pot's famous 101 omlets primed us for a hike out to the foot of Coffee Pot Rock. The trail winds through juniper shrub over red rock shelves to the foot of this Sedona landmark. We enjoyed the warm sun and were thankful to need sunglasses for the first time.
We strolled the flower lined walkways of Tlaquepaque after nap time and Reagan loved "massaging" the flowers. We wonder who buys stuff from this very exclusive outdoor mall of high priced galleries and jewelers; most come to stroll among the stores and 
enjoy to trees built into the buildings. The day ended again with the sun breaking through beneath the clouds to light up one of the more amazing sunsets we've seen. This was the view from the top of the Schnebly Road at a rock outcropping called Schnebly Vista.
