The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert

Saturday 29 Mar 14

Wow, we're "Takin' It Easy" in Winslow, AZ (thank you The Eagles, for that great hit--now I can't get it out of my head).  We had a fun packed day hiking all thru the Petrified Forest.  Let me recap the day for you:

We spent last night in the Apache Indian Reservation at Hon-Duh (pronounced "Honda" like the car).  It had been predicted to get in the 20's overnight.  Lucky for us, it was only 32 at 7am.  We left the RV park around 10:30 and drove up to the south entrance of the Petrified Forest National Park about 20 miles east of Holbrook AZ.  I was totally expecting a "forest" of petrified trees... you know, like looking at stone trees...  Anyway, it was not a forest, it was a desert with petrified logs.  It was not unlike the Mississippi Petrified Forest except this one is so much larger per square mile (lots of square miles of National Park).

1/2 mile hike in Blue Mesa

50 shade of grey...literally

Greg and "ole faithful" petrified log

The reconstructed pueblo that was
600 years old built with petrified logs

We hiked around "giant" logs and then around "long logs" and upto a 600 year old pueblo (which the National Park "reconstructed" in the 1930's).  The whole area was basically a pre-historic log jam caused when the rushing rivers tore down trees from somewhere else and they floated to this area and stayed, later to become petrified.  We hiked about 4 miles total including a 1/2 mile hike down in the "Blue Mesa".  Lots of sandstone here with different colored shadings to show each era of geology.  I didn't really see "blue" sandstone.  It was more grey than anything but different shades....like 50 Shades of Grey...literally....not like the book!  We got to the park at noon and they close at 5.  We made it from the south entrance to the north entrance, even stopping at the historic marker for the old Route 66 that ran thru here, by 4:45.  We could have used a couple of more hours to take longer on the hikes but we knew we were short on time.  It was a truly great way to spend an afternoon.

I get my kicks on Route 66!

Part of the Painted Desert

City Park campground out of Windslow AZ

Grilled Caribou backstrap, mashed potatoes, gluten-free gravy
spinach salad, Hawaiian dinner rolls....YUM

So we're camping about 8 miles out of Winslow on Clear Creek at a city park.  No fee but there's no electric hook ups which is find with us.  We are right on the creek.  We got here at 6:15.  Relaxed with some drinks and appetizers.  Greg grilled caribou backstrap steaks (which he says he never does, usually pan fries them in flour).  It turned out fantastic!  We had a great day.

D&G