EDITOR'S LETTER

“Do you want to go kayaking with Robin?” That's what Keri Rhinehart asked me a few months ago. Keri's the production supervisor for Arizona Highways Televi sion, and she wanted to know if I'd be interested in tag-teaming on a story about kaya king the Verde River. Robin and her crew would be there filming it for television; I could be there with a photographer doing a piece for the magazine. A few things went through my head as I thought about her question: Has anybody ever said NO to Keri? Is this a good story for the magazine? Which photographer should I bless with the assignment? The answers, respectively, were no, yes and Jeff Kida. Beyond that, there was the obvious: Kayaking with Robin Sewell is good work if you can get it. As host and executive producer of Arizona Highways Television, Robin knows a great travel story when she sees it. Plus, she's smart, she's captivating and I couldn't pass up a chance to see her flip a kayak. Turns out, she's actually pretty good on the water. We didn't encounter any Class VI rapids, but still, she held her own. You can see the video on our Web site (go to www.arizonahighways.com and click the YouTube link). For the print version, look inside. Our river trip is one of several weekend getaways in this month's cover story. In all, we'll tell you about 22 of the state's best adventures, including an oppor tunity to witness the release of an endangered species, a historic railroad that's been resurrected in Globe, and a chocolate shop in Bisbee that's one of only 10 in the United States that makes chocolate directly from cacao beans. If you didn't know, most chocolatiers buy their supplies from large manufacturers, but not the owners of Chocolate. They go through the process of roasting, cracking, grinding, tempering and barring the chocolate themselves. Even if you're not an aficionado, you can taste the difference. But don't take our word for it. Hit the road and experience it for your self. That's what Janet Crook Pierson did. Well, she hit the road, anyway. Not for chocolate, though. Her trip was bigger than that. She was on a mission to retrace her father's footsteps in Monument Valley. Cal Crook, a photographer, first visited Northern Arizona in 1946. In Trip of a Lifetime, Pierson recounts her father's arrival: “Sand and rock shimmer beneath a frybread sun as Cal Crook locks up his '41 Chevy and trailer and climbs onto a pack mule, embarking on an unforgettable journey into the heart of Navajo civilization. With

special permission and escort from Navajo guide Albert Bradley, he secures his gear, including his trusty Exakta single-lens-reflex camera.” Six decades after that trip, Pierson made her own trek to Monument Valley, hoping for even a fraction of the life-changing experience her father had. As you'll see, the car and the camera were different, but the effect of that spectacular place was much the same. And that's not unusual. There's something special about Monument Valley. There's something special about Joseph Brown, too. In a state with a long history of mavericks, Brown, a fifth-generation Arizonan, is one of the most madcap individualists you'll ever meet. Although his name may not ring a bell, you might be familiar with his work. When he wasn't busy being a boxer, Marine, cattle trader, rancher, prospector and whiskey smuggler, Brown was writing books, including Jim Kane, which was made into the movie Pocket Money, starring Paul Newman. Tucson author Chuck Bowden, one of the best writers in America, says The Forests of the Night, another one of Brown's books, “is without a doubt the finest novel ever written in our region.” As glamorous as all of that might sound, life's been rough for the 79-year-old. As Kathy McCraine writes in Not Your Average Joe: “These days, he often speaks softly, with a humility born of hard knocks, in contrast to his rowdy years when he could drink anybody under the table.” Like so many great writers, Brown was an alco holic and paid a price, but he's sober now, and he's determined to write at least 30 more books before he dies. When you read our story, you're going to want to buy his books. And you should. According to Bowden, they're classics. They're also perfect companions for a weekend getaway ... the next best thing to kayaking with Robin Sewell. ROBERT STIEVE, editor If you like what you see in this magazine every month, check out Arizona Highways Tele vision, an Emmy Award-winning program hosted by former news anchor Robin Sewell. Now in its sixth season, the show does with audio and video what we do with ink and paper — it showcases the people, places and things of the Grand Canyon State, from the spectacular landscapes and colorful history to the fascinating culture and endless adventure. And that's just the beginning. “For me, the show is about more than just the destinations,” Robin says. “It's about the people behind the scenes. It's their stories that make the destinations so interesting.” Indeed, there's a reason this show wins so many awards — it's second-to-none, and we're proud to have our name on it. Take a look. For broadcast times, visit our Web site, www.arizonahighways.com, and click the Arizona Highways Television link on our home page.