Palm Springs to Prescott, AZ

I slept really well and decided to go for a run when I woke. It has rained all night, and the mountains were shrouded in cloud. I like running around towns on holiday, particularly when we aren't staying long, as it's a pleasant way to see a little more.

I ran along the foot of the range, admiring the low built desert houses that look very 1950's in style. As though George Jetson would be happening along in his space car any moment. 

We had a breakfast of strawberries from the farmers market last night, packed up and headed out in search of SIM cards and supplies. 

The sim cards were easy enough to get at AT&T, but I paid USD60 each for 5GB data for a month, whereas the ones we purchased from Melbourne airport last trip were AUD80 for unlimited.

We bought supplies at Walmart - water, hand wipes, fruit, Cliff bars (amazing muesli bars). Dom bought a new map book by Rand McNally. We had a Hema one, but it was very frustratingly not laid out in a rational way. 

We set out from Palm Springs at about 1.30pm, after a quick look at Nordstrom Rack - anyone who has shopped there will understand why we stopped. It's a great place to buy great quality gear for very little. Ray Bans = $80, Coach shoes = $50, 7 for all Mankind jeans = $40. 

Eastwards on the I10, into a rainy afternoon. I don't recall ever seeing it rain on my journeys through the US desert regions but today was overcast and showery for the whole day. Wild flowers were in abundance, and there was a veil of green across the earth. It is usually so dry that they have named their 'ditches' rather than 'creek' or 'river'.

We saw saguaro cactus and wattles in flower, lilies and daisies along the road side, beautiful red flowering desert trees. 

The rock covered ranges were tinged in different hues, and the mountains loomed  in the distance. 

We saw many RV parks, and wondered what people did for a living out here. There wasn't any obvious agriculture or animal farming (we saw 4 cows in total). 

We had hoped to get to Sedona tonight, but the accommodation was prohibitively expensive when we'd just be rolling into town late and out early tomorrow. Once again Sedona goes on the 'next time' list. We decided on Prescott, Arizona, as our destination, and that worked out well. We arrived after 6pm to the Hotel St Michael in the middle of town (booked online after leaving Palm Springs). I'm glad we booked - Friday night and the town is busy. 

We're at 5,400 feet here, after leaving sea level today. It was a beautiful drive, changing from desert to pine treed windy mountain passes.  

Prescott is a very pretty town. We strolled around (it's 10 degrees) checking out our dinner options and sampled the wares at the Granite Mountain Brewing company and then at the Prescott Brewing Company, where we stayed for dinner.