I started camping again in 2020 because I was traveling back and forth between Texas and Arizona a lot to take care of my elderly Aunt and Uncle who live in Arizona with no family around or children to care for them. I figured, since I'm already making the drive, to add an extra day or two to one of my trips so I could make a little fun out of these jaunts since I was going anyway.

My experiences camping solo thus far, were literally at Rest Stops on my drive to and from family, so I wanted my scenery to be a little more attractive, lol.

I went to Sedona.
Where all nature lovers and hikers go to find their souls again!
I had never been and decided to just be free and not even plan where I was going to park to camp while there.

I did, however, plan my trip during the most awesome full moon ever!
I think it was the summer solstice too.
I went to Airport Butte, hiked to the top, and watched the most beautiful sunset....with about 30 others who apparently all had the same idea, lol.
Including, by the way, the guy that everyone saw in the news with a painted face, one of the ones on Jan. 6th....you know what I'm talking about.
Yep, this was way before that event, and he was there at the top drumming and chanting in a shamanic way. (FYI- I am very into American Indian/Mestizo cultures and hold a high regard for shamans, so no disrespect meant by mentioning this- it is simply the truth about what he was doing up there.)
But, yeah, you can imagine my dismay when the following January I saw his face live on TV.
(I'll also say, in his defense, I'm not sure all his screws were tight).

Anyhow, back to the trip.
I watched a gorgeous sunset that was dropping with a 360-degree panoramic view of red rock formations all around....and then waited patiently for the full moon to rise. (the image above was taken on this day).

LOL.....it takes longer than you think.
Out of the crowd that was there, only one family (husband, wife, 3 kids) and I that remained long enough to see the moon finally rise...everyone else faded out waiting and decided to leave.

It was well worth the wait. Unfortunately, my camera battery died just before the best shots could be taken.
So, I decided that moment was simply meant for my soul and I soaked it all in. It was beautiful.

The family and I decided to leave at the same time and take the steep hike back down in the dark together for safety.
I have to say, the dad was so cute, he had been assuring the family the whole time they were waiting for the moon to rise, that it would be OK that it was so dark, because of the full moon. He kept telling them that the moon would be so big and full that we would not even need a flashlight.
So, as we proceeded downward, he wouldn't let his wife turn on the flashlight, LOL!!
He kept swearing we didn't need it.
And when some other people came up on us as they were hiking up to the top and we were coming down, they had flashlights on. And he insisted they turn them off for us so they wouldn't light blind us- AHAHAHAHA!!!!
His wife kept looking at me like, 'OK, he's made this a whole fun thing with the kids, so what can I do?'
As we finally got closer to the bottom, they realized they had parked much further away, so I offered to take the wife to her car so she could drive it around and pick them up. The SECOND her hubs was out of sight, she and I both (without a word being said) turned on our flashlights and laughed hard at each other! It's great sharing fun moments like this with a stranger, it's the ties that bind us together as a whole.

Anyhow, back to my journey...

After I got her back to her car and saw her with her family, I was off to find a place to park and rest for the night.

I had asked around while hiking earlier and was given some vague instructions on some areas I could park for the night but could not find any of those spots.
It was around 10:30 PM at this point, and I was fearing I would have to drive further away than I wanted to find a truck stop or something when I decided to see if any spots were open at a nearby campground; none were available. As I was pulling away, I saw a pullout just down from the campgrounds, so I decided to simply sleep there on the side of the road.
It was hard to see as there aren't any streetlights and the campground was in a wooded canyon on the drive into Sedona.
It was a decent sized pullout though, and so I navigated to a spot at the furthest end and out of the way.

I woke the next morning as the sun was coming up due to an immediate call to nature, in which I expeditiously ran behind a tree that I thought couldn't be seen by the road at the top of a cliff and which faced an opposing much taller cliff wall, to do my business with one of my biodegradable bags.

I was still tired though, so I snugged back into bed once back and just left the window covers on to keep the sun out of my eyes.

I awoke a few times thinking I heard other vehicles parking next to or near me, but was not alarmed as it was already daylight and allowed myself a bit of a sleep in. It was my little mini solo vacay after all. (sleepily grinning with bliss).

So later, when I did decide to finally meet the new day's adventure and get my ass out of my cozy little cocoon I had going (it was also getting warmer), I knew there were probably a few cars also in the pullout. I did not, however, expect the overwhelming number of cars and trucks with entire families unloading their picnic gear, chairs, coolers, and beach towels and walking right by my car where apparently an opening to a very steep and windy trail takes you down to the canyon below.

My first thought was pure horrification, As I perused the scene, I look over and where I had just dropped a load by a tree earlier, was an entire family now posing for a group photo. To top it off, the reason they were standing there is because this was where the perfect canopy framed the opening to the cliff wall.
And this is how I found out that if I had gone a little further onto the overhang with which this particular tree was in front of, and where the canopy opening was, I would have seen that below is the most gorgeous desert lagoon...and to the left, is the ENTIRE CAMPSITE where I had tried to get a spot the night before.
NO!!! No, no, no, no! Oh..... dear God....please tell me nobody saw me squatting over my biodegradable portable potty bag this morning on their morning walk to the lagoon with their coffee!!

After I recovered from my mortification of what could be a worst-case scenario of a small child having a great story for their mama that day; I decided to investigate the newfound canyon with the beautiful lagoon.

The trail down was steep, like I said, but well worth it.
O.M.G.- So gorgeous!! (I'll put video up on my channel).
I had no idea I had actually parked above a hidden treasure in Sedona!!
It wasn't overly crowded, just a few families that knew about it, and it had a small natural beach and creek that poured into the lagoon at the base of the overhang.
The water was clear and you could see the fish as the fishermen were casting in their direction.
It was PARADISE.
I stayed and explored the whole area before finally moving on to the day's actual goal which was to hike Bell Rock.
I will definitely go back to this spot next time in Sedona, it was perfect...though, I'll have my collapsable potty next time in the van, so no indecent exposures. LOL!

Bell Rock was amazing, the day was amazing, my physical fitness was not amazing. I had not been in the type of shape I was used to due to my illnesses in the recent years, so the hike certainly showed me where my physical weaknesses were at the time. There were some real moments of inner turmoil and frustration at not being able to have the strength to do some of the physical tasks I had once been so easily able to do.
Trying to step up onto rocks with one leg at a time proved sadly impossible at times, and I had to bend over and use my hands as an assist. I wasn't used to being winded so easily either. But it felt intoxicating to be outside and exploring a new beautiful area I'd never been before, and I loved every second.

I drove back to the cabin at the end of the day exhausted and completely fulfilled.

I knew during this trip that I had reignited a joy inside that had been dampened for way too long.
I decided it was time to hit the dirt roads regularly now and start camping every place I had ever wanted to visit. I realized there were so many interesting people out there in this world that I'm supposed to be exposed to, and me to them.
I realized that nature is the biggest healer I know. There is something that travel does for the soul...that is only understood when done....so I encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy your journey.

Enjoy your journey!

Lexi Stephens

ChicCamperChick.com