Between 2004 and 2013 I have been to Phoenix seven times. Each time I visited my friend Diana. And each time, she lived in a different home. This trip was to visit her again (first time to see her in three years) plus photograph the Arizona state capitol. It is #32 towards all 50. I have flown into SkyHarbor internation more times than any other airport.

I drove along highway 260 and 87 on either side of the town of Payson in the White Mountains. The scenery was gorgeous with the aspens turning yellow. The drive along highway 87 was especially spectacular with the several multi-mile views and the green covered mountains in the distance. Wow! Highway 87 was mostly four lane (highway 260 was two-lane) but was mostly curvy mountain roads so no chance to take photos along the way. Traffic moved quickly at 65 mph despite it being heavy traffic on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

The drive north on I-17 towards Flagstaff ran through what would be called "high desert" country. Cactus and mostly non-useable land for miles and miles and miles. I found that the state owns most of that type land since no one wants to buy it. By the time I got to Flagstaff at I-17 and I-40 I was at 7000 feet in elevation whereas Phoenix is around 1100 feet.