Phoenix and via Red Rock Country to Flagstaff

Early in the morning of the eighth day of our trip, we set off towards the east. After around 6 hours of driving and nearly 400 miles on Interstate 10, we arrived in Phoenix, Arizona shortly after noon. By now, the thermometer was showing 44°C: time for a relaxing afternoon in the beautiful pool area of our hotel (and in the air-conditioned fitness center... :-)). The next day, we headed north through the vastness of Arizona. Halfway through, we left Interstate 10 and drove on Arizona State Route 179 through the Red Rock Country with its distinctive red rock formations to Sedona. There, we took State Route 89a to Slide Rock State Park, where we put on our bikinis and swim trunks and enjoyed the refreshing swimming pleasure on the red rock slides in the beautiful Oak Creek Canyon. From here, it was just a stone's throw to our destination for the day in Flagstaff.