Arizona Setting Sun

Planning a visit to Phoenix or Arizona? Do not forget that one of the best things to do during your vacation would be to catch a sunset! And don’t forget to bring your camera.

Last Sunday eve, I joined some friends and we went to visit a very popular hamburger joint called Greasewood Flat. Located in North Scottsdale, it is the only thing original in the area now surrounded by multi-million developments like Troon and Pinnacle Peak.

Greasewood Flat was originally a stagecoach stop between Ft. McDowell and Phoenix. The 120 year old bunkhouse now houses the establishment that serves their delicious hamburgers. I have to admit, the burgers are good but it is the atmosphere that makes the visit most memorable. You sit outdoors at picnic tables. There was live music performed by a talented one man band (country), and fire pits which are used when the weather cools down in the fall and winter months. (For you Northerners, that would be cool as in the upper 40s to 50s.)

There were no fires this night as it was still in the 90s when we all got there (6:30 P.M.) Greasewood Flats has been in business for over 30 years. I hear that had it not been for the owner’s love for its history and the business itself, this historic place would have long been gone. The land it sits on is rumored to be worth literally millions for a developer.

We, of course, were treated to ANOTHER Arizona sunset shortly after arriving.

It was a perfect day’s end to a fun eve at Greasewood.

The temps are starting to become quite comfortable. I actually have gotten out a bit lately in the evenings for a hike on the camelbacks. I always try to take the camera as the nightly sunsets are stunning — EVERY night. The locals/natives, as I’ll call them, sometimes take these for granted in the same way I used to take the impressive mountain views in Colorado as common place.

This was from a park just north of the 101 on 59th Ave., I think. It was August 31st.

Can you believe I almost missed this one? It was July 2007 and I was coming out of work. I was almost to my truck when I looked up and there it was. I whipped out my cell phone and snapped the picture. That is an Outback Steakhouse and the sky was awesome.

I am anxiously awaiting the coming of cooler temps here so I can get out and not use the 110 temps as an excuse not to hike. I have access to racquetball again and plan ot begin playing. I will have to take that slow as I think outside of swimming, is one of the highest cardio sports there is. Might have to take that into consideration at my age! My problem is that I think I am still 20 or 30.

If you get a chance, check out Telluride Daily Photo by Lisa. (see the blog roll) What a great place. I think I should go to Telluride this winter just before an approaching winter storm! Seriously, that would be so cool. I could wear some of my Colorado clothes/jackets that I haven’t even looked at since moving to Phoenix. I will just have to coordinate the storm with a weekend so as to limit the days I miss from work.

7:55 PM

7:57 PM

8:02 PM

I am taking these pictures with the Canon Powershot SD1000. I had bought this camera for the combination of the quality of the pics and the convenience in its size. It fits comfortably in my pocket. I am thinking of looking for a used digital camera that I can mount to a tripod as the quality of these pictures would dramatically improve.

So it started here:

And then came:

Followed by:

Closer to ending here:

A close up just a minute later:

The grand finale:

How can something so truly magnificent be so silent? I think there is a lesson there. For any who question what this life is all about or if this is all just a happenstance, go watch a sunset —- and listen.