Petrified... Painted... Pooped!

Sunday, October 15…

LDS Stake Center, Holbrook AZ

I can see the church house from our campground, and could easily have walked except that the road is dusty, dirty gravel (déjà vu).  Good talks, and the small choir (11 voices) did a nice job w/ a piece I’d never heard. Organ pipes – not sure if they’re functional or decorative.

After lunch we headed for the south entrance of Petrified Forest Nat’l Park (which includes the Painted Desert). Lots of stopping points, most relatively short. The Visitors Center did a great job of depicting the various geologic ages, and the film explained how the forest came to be petrified. There’s no forest now, of course, and not even a whole lot of trees, but there’s great vistas and plenty to learn. So, no narrative, just pics to share.

2' Diameter Log

"Agate Bridge" (50-60')
(concrete support a recent addition to counteract erosion)

Blue Mesa Canyon 
(We walked a mile loop trail down and back. Not as bad as it looks.)

Stream of gold coins?

Solitary "coin" (and no gold whatsoever)

Nature sculpts according to its own rules.

Petroglyph (at another stop - see below)

Hiking out (RV indicates parking lot)

We've seen petroglyphs several places, but this was a good overview/explanation.

Puerco Pueblo Foundation Ruins

Remains of the pueblo kiva.

Remains of 1932 Studebaker. From this pull-out, you can see the roadbed and telephone poles that marked the path of the famous “Main Street of America” as it passed through the park.

This is the corner of a 
greeting sign at the first 
stop within the Painted 
Desert. It explains that all
this space is meant to be
wandered. Folks are urged
to shed everyday cares, 
enjoy the beauty, & gain
some needed inner peace.
(not in those exact words) 

Some desert color - an hour later (sunset) I imagine it would have been much richer.

BlogThoughts…  This is Week 43 of the journey. Wow. Just two months ‘til we’re home and real life resumes. Part of me is definitely ready (grandkids!), but I’m also excited about several of the sights and people we’ll see in these next few weeks. All good. 

And three more balloons...