May 23, 2014 | Sedona, AZ
05.23.2014 Orange and sometimes blood-red sandstone here in Sedona as well as in Arches National Park and many a post-Moab site. The spirit of Antonio Gaudi has been playing in the sandbox of northern Arizona, maybe taking a brief LSD break? Took a birthday biplane cruise over the Grand Canyon today. Didn’t have much hope in visibility after fire has consumed so many thousands of acres of woodland in the Flagstaff area. Human agency, of course…the pyre started in Slide Rock, AZ, and haze has obscured the usual visibility. BUT winds caused by desert, heating sun, and low humidity can make for “pockets” of clarity,. Explored one of while flying over the eastern part of a 37-mile exploratory stretch of the Canyon.
It was a 69th birthday kick to be flying over this stunning part of the Earth. Ditto the 5 (or was it 6?) air sickness bags I used in this two-hour flight. (Memo to Bob: when, indeed, will you ever learn?) By 4:18pm largely recovered thanks to Kleenex, lavender-scented wipes, empty air bags and finally even a light late lunch.
The pilot was a wag. Very sharp, amusing, and informative––reminded me of Jeff Harter. He said the fire was doubling in size daily and that only about 5% has been contained. 20-mph desert winds do not help. All manner of animals, including some bipeds, are leaving their natural refuges. Some parts of 89 have been closed off, so had to take a different route via 17S and 179 yesterday. Today saw the landscape of fire, smoke, and old forest burnings. The small Sedona airport has been co-opted as THE emergency fire-control center, with many planes and maintenance vehicles/crews coming here now. In Phoenix (am guessing on airport here) a DC10 loads up from available time to time to drop 2,500 lbs. of fire retardant into the conflagration.
Tesla Travel 
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