It’s week two of our nomadic adventure, and we’re finally settling into a routine—or at least some well-orchestrated chaos. Our days blend work, generous helpings of hiking and mountain biking, bursts of live music, and the occasional late-night Netflix binge. If this is adulthood without kids, sign us up.
Weekly Highlights
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Four hikes
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One epic cave adventure
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Three mountain bike rides
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Day trip to Jerome
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Two live-music outings
This week, I jumped into Sedona’s legendary Wednesday night MTB ride, doing my best to keep up with the locals. We also squeezed in a Flagstaff day trip to soak up one last round of high-country riding (8,000–9,000 feet) before the leaves dropped and winter started knocking. Want to keep up with our attempts at active living? You can follow our Strava feeds (Kyle) and Katie’s feed for all the action.
Mother Nature also decided to add some excitement, sending tropical storms our way from Baja. That meant dodging rain squalls was an everyday sport. Even so, we explored the Seven Sacred Pools and made it to the “Secret Cave” at the top of Soldiers Pass. Wading through the mud was totally worth it—the cave was this week’s undisputed highlight.
When Sedona’s signature red dirt turned into a full-on mud spa, we made the smart call and pivoted to Plan B: a rainy day road trip to Jerome, Arizona. Perched on the side of a mountain, this quirky old mining town is packed with art galleries, tales of hauntings, and charming cafes. The surprise gem, though, was a kaleidoscope shop—think mesmerizing, high-end pieces of art rather than childhood toys. We spent some time entranced by kaleidoscopic masterpieces, momentarily considering whether “luxury kaleidoscope collector” should become our next nomadic side quest. Trails may have been out, but Jerome's kaleidoscopes guaranteed we still saw something spectacular.
Of course, all this adventure comes with a catch: the age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” Menu planning? That’s for grownups, and we’re not quite ready for that responsibility. Our strategy is best described as “improvised culinary jazz”:
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Breakfast: eggs or yogurt parfaits—usually around 10 a.m.
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Lunch: leftovers, quesadillas, or grilled cheese at 2-3 p.m.
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Dinner: it’s anyone’s guess. Sometimes we treat ourselves to a night out in Sedona (resort town prices, ouch). Other times, exhausted, we default to cookies and ice cream. Occasionally, “no dinner” happens and we just pretend it’s intentional.
Looking ahead to week three, we’re planning (maybe) to cook some healthier meals. Even more exciting: friends Steve and Davi will be joining after their Grand Canyon adventure! We can’t wait to catch up and share the wonders of Sedona’s red rock playground.
Stay tuned for more trail tales, questionable dinner choices, and the inevitable shenanigans!
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