Hoping to do a little sightseeing on the way back we actually leave the motel by 8:30, in the morning! We're going to head south on Rt. 89A, through Cottonwood and Jerome, up and over Mingus Mountain, through Prescott and across the Prescott Valley, over the Bradshaw Mountains and down to Congress where we'll pick up Rt. 71 for a while, then Rt. 60 (in Aquila) which we'll stay on until it runs into I-10, less than 15 miles from the Colorado River and the California border. This route will be a lot shorter than heading back through Phoenix, but will be longer time-wise due to the mountain crossings. However, it should be an enjoyable drive so we've rousted our lazy, on vacation, butts up early enough to go this way and be back in L.A. by 5 PM.

The morning is bright and clear, but cold, near freezing, as we motor out of Sedona and the red rock country.

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