While in Taiwan we get an invitation from Subaru to attend the Overland Expo West free of charge and this is an invite we cannot resist. Part of the reason for the attraction is a Thursday drive to the End of the World overlook above Sedona that promises to allow us to learn more about our car’s capabilities. Also free camping at the Expo sounds cool with free breakfast and dinner also. So we leave early in the day to drive to Sedona where we have to arrive quite early to catch breakfast.
Finding a parking spot is difficult as the other members of our group have taken most of the available parking places but we make it and enjoy the swag that awaits us, most of it being neatly packed in a Subaru backpack.
The food is buffet style but we like the Eggs Benedict option and fill ourselves as we are not sure when we will be able to eat again.
Most people get walkie talkies, we don’t unfortunately, and a spot in the convoy and then it is time to leave. Almost immediately people get lost so there are a few regrouping stops including one at a gas station for some to top off their gas. And then finally we are off passing through Sedona in a long convoy of 20 cars, quite impressive.
Then we follow the Oak Canyon towards the top of the Rim and Flagstaff. It is a nice drive with lots of switchbacks that allows us to put some separation between the cars.
There is a final regrouping on pavement at the top of the switchbacks and then one more at the start of the dirt road where everyone is deflating their tires. Including our car even though the road doesn’t seem that bad really.
From here we are driving into the forest on a reasonably ok forest road with some stops to view the famous cow man in the wild. Which is in fact one of the drivers with his significant other just fooling around for fun.
And on we go deeper and deeper into the forest but the road really stays of reasonably high quality and while we are more confident with the group it doesn’t feel like something we wouldn’t have tried on our own.
We stop at the End of the World overlook, or one of them, we had no idea that there are multiple overlooks. They are quite spectacular really and we enjoy the views and being able to walk and explore after a bone rattling ride.
There are a few birds here but nothing that surprising, ravens as usual and some swallows.
We are surprised that all cars are able to find parking here, some of them are off kilter but all of them seem to have fun and that is what is important.
We find nearby another overlook, a bit more impressive with an 180 view of the Sedona valley below.
There is also a rock formation nearby that some of the group cannot resist and climb for fun. Everyone signed a liability release and we guess this is the reason why.
And then the time here comes to an end and we drive towards Flagstaff on an even better road to buy gas and then find our assigned camping for the night that we are looking forward too as we are not sure how exactly it will be handled.
