Nature's Artistry Not to Be MIssed

Get to Gallup and continue west. Fighting a head wind with some side gusts, and the windshield very loud, but another 70 miles sounds like the best plan.

We have reservations beginning Wednesday just east of Holbrook, AZ, and figure they'll have space for us a few days early. Don't have to worry about that - Root 66 RV Park is empty. And it is still empty as we just keep on driving. The park is on the off-ramp. Seriously, the back of the "sites" is the freeway fence. 

We figure we could do better. And we do.

OK RV Park in Holbrook is much quieter, cleaner, and feels a lot safer. It's also at the edge of town with access to eateries and stores. Not a lot of them, it's a small, somewhat quirky place.

The popular 1960's wigwam motels of Route 66

Lots of dinosaurs in Holbrook

The spaces are 100 foot long pull-throughs with every-other-one facing the opposite direction. When everyone pulls all the way forward, there's more room for everybody. It's still pretty much a big gravel lot with some small to big trees throughout. FHUs w/50 amp for a small fee, helpful and friendly staff, small store, clean laundry and restrooms. No dog area, but there's plenty of places for Tessa to get out and do her business. They also give the Good Sam discount on top of the reduced weekly rate - so yay!

The pick ups are at the back of us, so more room than it looks

We try to avoid seeing places on Saturdays, so we lay low, clean house, take naps, grocery shop. 

We are excited to see the Petrified National Forest and Painted Desert. It's why we're here. 

With high winds in the forecast for early in the week, Sunday is our day to see them.

Coming from the west side, our first stop is the Rainbow Forest. Small visitors center and a 1/4 mile loop trail with lots of petrified conifers to see and touch. I've seen petrified wood, have owned some nice small pieces. But I've not seen whole trees, and they are incredible.

Large trees-now-rocks

"Old Faithful", millions of years old, and 35 feet tall, was protected from further splitting with a concrete base. It is noted in the guide that the national parks policy has changed, and that now it would be allowed to respond to nature without interference

Buried for centuries, whole trees lie completely exposed today

Some have little wood grain remaining

Not enough, but there are pull-offs along this section to view the deep canyons and wide plains. The park is surprisingly crowded for a Sunday afternoon, then I remember spring break. 

Information plaques note the logs that are still partially buried, and ones that have recently (since becoming a national park) come loose.

Colorful deep canyons cut through miles of grass plains

Many petrified logs are still being "found" as erosion continues

This log fell over 100 feet when its tomb of rock and sand was washed away

While nature still alters the landscape, human impact has been limited through the protection of the national parks system. We are fortunate to see this area much the same as it was nearly a century and a half earlier.

Encouraging

Blue Mesa is an area of badland hills with striking bands of bluish bentonite clay. This layer is over 225 million years old. It literally looks "painted".

The nice trail at Blue Mesa, begins and ends with a very steep trailhead.

Several miles of lavender-blue 

The Teepees area adds more layers of color. Here there are nice pull-outs with information plaques. One of only a couple places without other people so far.

Teepees

Layers of historical information

No words necessary

Newspaper Rock is an archeological site with numerous petroglyphs dating back 650-2000 years ago. There are several children here, looking through the large view finder, following their parent's finger to see the rock art at the bottom of the cliff. It's fun to hear their excitement as they describe what they're seeing.

There is no access to the canyon below the trail. The petroglyphs are well protected here

I'm happy with how well the zoom picked these up in the shadows

Feet and hands help tell this story

At the bottom of the cliff are these stones that look like they are cut and stacked - amazing 

When I see bundt cake in the rocks I know it's time to find some lunch......

Puerco Pueblo (sadly, Pig House), is a well preserved ruin of crumbling walls and foundations, with a nice trail just off the park road. Clean restrooms and drinking water, with large parking for RVs here as well. 

The original structure had up to 100 rooms with hunting, fishing and small crops believed to have sustained a community of over 200 people. Building materials are a combination of stacked stone and adobe bricks.

Adobe walls

Rock and mortar foundations

Stacked stone with mud

I enjoy this more recent study of old places, giving us insight into the culture of belonging.

In addition to the ruins, petroglyphs hug the nearby wall of a small canyon. These are also well protected from human access.

Large water fowl and frog

I thought maybe birds on top. Bill says hammocks :-)

Kachinas

We haven't looked at the time once and when we get to the main visitors center cafe I'm shocked they have just closed - at 3 PM (no wonder I'm hungry). They graciously fix us a couple quick burgers which we enjoy in the shaded patio.

The north end of Petrified National Forest includes Painted Desert National Monument. With all the colors we've already seen, I suspect it will be more of the same. And I am so wrong.

Completely speechless. Nearly cried.

Places like this have us saying "I can't believe this is our life" several times in one day. While other people here are rushing through in RVs, or SUVs packed with suitcases, before returning to jobs and stationary homes at the end of a long drive, we are blessed that this is where we live - that we can stay and enjoy an area as long as we want, or as long as the weather chooses to accommodate us. 

There are more pull-outs in this section, so fewer cars at each one. At a few we have the place to ourselves and it is completely silent. With the warm sun and slight breeze, just standing there and taking in the expanse of incredible beauty is very humbling. 

The sun is fading as we head toward home on I-40. From the freeway there is no indication of all there is to see on either side. One could pass by all of this at 75 mph and never know what they've missed.

Don't. You'll miss so much.