God Created the Grand Canyon, But He Lives in Sedona

I was introduced to Sedona from a friend I met on conservation in South Africa. It's known to be a place of magical energy and vortexes. Vortexes are a hot spot for natural energy and Sedona is known to have many that intersect. I felt goosebumps hearing my friend describe the energetic red cliffs that surround this area, but upon arriving...no words. The red cliffs, sheer drop offs and whimsical townlife is magic. It helps that you come from 7000 feet altitude and within twenty minutes drop down to 5000 ft.  I loved West Sedona and we did a little shopping at first to get a feel for the place. Then...on to the Devil's Bridge. We met three great Americans on the way. We chatted about my travels and our family and hers. She ended up saying it was fate that we met because her son wants to go to Africa to work on a conservation and she'd like to meet someone with a passion for the outdoors and traveling like her son...ahem...

and then later we skyped with family friends who I've known since I was 10 who also wanted to set me up with a certain athlete of a family member...what is with the love in Sedona?!


Anywho, on to bigger things than my (non-existant) love life: on the way up to the Devil's Bridge there was a rock you could go out on and it had a breathtaking view of the valley. Three hundred sixty degrees red rock and pure green around you. Amazing.

First view of the red rocks

A Genki Bar to power my way through the 5 miles.

Friends!

Cliff walk out that was a 360 view

So hard to catch the brilliance on camera.

Look at that red rock and sky.

After that you scaled about 100 cliff steps to land at the actual Devil's Bridge. I conquered a couple little voices in my head when I walked out onto it to have my picture taken, but with the Native American gems I've been purchasing lately I feel that I was protected by some sort of energy.

Headin' to the top baby!

Inuk Shuk extraordinaire

Can you spot me over the "Devil's Bridge" ? It was windy.
Tad scary. But unreal. 

Today I hiked Bell Rock. A spiritual book I've been reading describes Bell Rock as a place where Sedona's four major vortexes meet. It looks like a well shaped bell, reminding you of energy that rises up towards heaven. The legend about Bell Rock is that a Native American holy man is said to have seen the people suffering while he was praying at the top of it and made the following vow before he died, "Let my bones hold up this rock and let my blood make it red so that I can dwell here forever. Let at least the people who pray here be free from illness and the suffering and the misery of life." Bell Rock is renowned for powerful healing energy. To me, it felt like my "church". I climbed halfway up, sat on the edge and let the birds, wind and sunshine take over my heart.

Ridiculous scenic route.

Juniper gnarled trees here represent
the powerful vortex energy that surrounds Bell Rock.

The unreal lookout from halfway up.

Beautiful desert hiking scenery.

We ended the day at Montezuma's Castle.
The things you learn in Arizona...

It's...magical here and mark my words, I'll be back to live.