4:15 is awfully early for an alarm to go off. But, we had to catch the 5:30 shuttle to the airport, so we dragged ourselves out of bed (after a not very good night's sleep for me. As usual, a strange bed wasn't conducive to me sleeping very well.) However, we got ready and we checked and and caught the shuttle. We had pre-TSA check, so we got to go in the shorter line and keep our shoes on. We only had to wait about 30 minutes for boarding.  There was a little turbulence for a short time, but other than that, it was an uneventful ride. We both managed to get in a nap. 

We landed in Phoenix about 8:45, but it took about 15 minutes to taxi and wait. Once off the plane, we made it down to baggage claim and had a short wait for our bags. We went out to the rental car shuttle bus and it was a like a cattle car with how many people they stuffed in the bus. The car rental companies are all in one location, so they bus everyone to the same building. We picked up our rental car and started off. Sedona is about 2 hours from Phoenix.

The first glimpse of the red rock  came from the Red Rock Scenic Road, which leave  I-17N at exit 298. This route traces one of the oldest routes into the Red Rock Country.In the late 1800s, soldiers from Fort Verde rode to this area to fish and relax. Settlers came and established farms and ranches.

According the the Yavapai Indians, Sedona's red rocks are the bodies and blood of huge monsters. Shaman and hero Skatakaamcha slew the monsters, including a giant bird that lived on a mountaintop (possibly Bell Rock) and attacked those who passed below. 

Sedona was named after Sedona Arabella Schnebly, the wife of the local postmaster, who would always open her home to travelers on the road while they were taking goods to Flagstaff. 

We stopped for lunch at Cantina Rustica and ate out on their open air patio before continuing on. We then drove on and took the turn to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Completed in 1956 at the cost of $300,000, this Roman Catholic Church seems to grow out of the surrounding rock.  The view from their are incredible and I found the church to more impressive on the outside than on the inside.

Continuing on, we stopped at the visitor's Center  for a map and to purchase a Red Rock Pass, which allows you to park in the National parks. We drove to Whole Foods and bought a couple of things, then went to Safeway and bought some supplies and ingredients for 2 dinners. It was then time to check in at our time share, so we drove back to the other side of town and checked in at the Arroyo Roble Resort. We found we will be able to walk around part of the town from here and be able to avoid the weekend parking jam.We are in a nice unit and the cicadas were very vocal in welcoming us. We walked around to get our bearings and then relaxed. I made chili and we ate on the patio.