Bell Rock & Sunset at Sedona

After hiking about 5 or 6 miles yesterday, we decided to start a little later today and just do one hike:  Bell Rock.  It was a beautiful day for a hike.

From the Bell Rock trailhead, we could see the butte on which the Chapel of the Holy Cross was built way off in the distance.  Can you find the chapel in the picture below?

Bell Rock was named for what it looks like:  a big bell.

Like the Cathedral Arch hike on Saturday, this hike involved some climbing.

...but the views made the climb worthwhile.

We reached a point where we could not figure out the best way to go up further.  We tried a couple of different directions and Ken and Chuck determined that this was the best way up.

They made it up fine but the footholds were a little far apart for Bonnie and I was more concerned about coming down than going up so we waited here while the guys climbed up further.

This is how far they climbed up.

Chuck climbed up a little higher but then they decided it was best to come on back down.

Did the guys find a vortex on their hike on up Bell Rock?

I don't think they found a vortex but they said the climb was exhilarating and the views were awesome!  :)

After the guys came back down, we walked around the Bell Rock along this same level that we had climbed up to.  Bonnie said she thought this rock looked like a spaceship.

Chuck said he thought Bonnie was experiencing an intergalactic vortex.  :)

We continued walking around the Bell Rock...

enjoying the spectacular views...

and being amazed by Sedona's beauty.

We each added a rock to the cairn that someone had previously built...

...and then headed back around and down Bell Rock.

After leaving Bell Rock, we rode into town and did a little shopping before eating a dinner of delicious salads at a restaurant called Wildflower Bakery.  After dinner, we walked to a Christian art store that had a spectacular view out their window.

We also spotted Snoopy Rock from the parking lot.  Do you see Snoopy in the picture below?

See if this helps.  (Sorry, Charlie Brown, my drawing is not the best!)

After we left Wildflower, we drove up to the top of Airport Road to watch the sunset.

I'm not sure what was prettier:  the actual sunset or watching the colors and shadows change on the rocks as the sun set.

We stayed until the sun had set behind the mountains and the low-lights of Sedona began to light up.

Another great day with great friends!