My Favorite Westerns

Category: Sedona

  • Swimming at Oak Creek Crossing …

     

    Sedona Spirit – Keith O’ Sullivan

    Also called Red Rock Crossing.

    Me at Oak Creek Crossing 2000?
    Me at Oak Creek Crossing – 2000?

    Back in the late 70’s (or early 80’s?) I went swimming at Oak Creek Crossing in Sedona, Arizona. But I believe a few people thought I was exaggerating because much of the time Oak Creek Crossing is shallow and there’s no obvious place you can swim.
    Yet I’ve recently discovered several photos that prove my case.

    Don’t forget your sunscreen / Net Photo
    The water can be cool ... but that's good / Net Photo
    The water can be cool … but that’s good / Net Photo
    It’s no secret anymore / Net Photo
    Net Photo

    When I came here back in the 70’s I had Spiritual experiences here – and it was still pretty well unspoiled. I climbed up to Cathedral Rock and I felt like it was a secluded sacred moment – like nobody had ever been up here before. Now there are hiking trails that go up here and people all over the place. The Spell of Solitude is long gone.

    Net Photo

    But it’s beauty and mystique can never be completely destroyed.

    Net Photo

    Someday I hope to return.

    Net Photo

     

  • John Wayne Tree 2013 / Part 2


    Take it to the Limit / The Eagles

    So Nick, our Guide/Driver, says there’s something else he wants to show us close by.
    Lead on …
    He points to a nearby tree and says: “See this tree?”
    “This is John Wayne Tree”. 

    What?! Really!! How so?
    Nick says that back in 1947 when John Wayne was starring in Angel and the Badman
    John had posed by this tree for a photo.
    I now recalled seeing that photo somewhere? but I’ve been able to find it since.
    This did seem seem to be an amazing coincidence though because there’s no way Nick could have known
    that I had a blog called My Favorite Westerns where I had     extensively featured The Duke.

    Nick claimed John posed something like this.
    (Notice how I bear absolutely no resemblance to John Wayne who was without a doubt
    about one of the most photogenic Celebrities who ever lived.)

    But I really had to wonder though at the odds of this??
    We hadn’t planned on taking Jeep Tour at all and these Jeep Tours go to many different locations in the area.
    Yet here we were.
    Pretty amazing.

    Angel and the Badman / 1947

    1947.
    One year before I was born. 

    A John Wayne Production

    John Wayne was 40 years old.
    He was a Star, but had not yet achieved
    the unparalleled heights of SuperStardom
    he ultimately reached.

    Eight years earlier John had Starred the most important Western ever made: Stagecoach.
    Directed by John Ford which raised Western Film from pulp to 
    legitimate Art. 
    This had been also John’s breakthrough role as a Western Hero. 

    Available to watch on You Tube.

    The End

3 responses to “Swimming at Oak Creek Crossing …”

  1. Marilyn Armstrong Avatar
    Marilyn Armstrong

    That’s really beautiful! I think Sedona is one of the few places we missed. We did a lot of traveling in Arizona, but it’s a pretty big state.

    1. jcalberta Avatar
      jcalberta

      It is incredible there. Or it was. It’s an overrun ‘tourist trap’ now. Rose even got sucked into Time Share presentation the last time we were there. Those guys are everywhere. That had a good result though – as we got a free Jeep Tour where we discovered John Wayne Tree. There is a lot to see around there though – just don’t go in the Summer – the heat and sun will murder you.

    2. jcalberta Avatar
      jcalberta

      It’s so gorgeous there. Definitely overrun now though. Yet … still worth a visit as there is so much to do around there. Just make sure you come in the cooler season as the sun and heat can be oppressive to us tenderfoots.

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