10-13-16 - Heat Escape - Day 63

                                                            Ready to ride

We went to the Petrified Forest National Park today.  It was not exactly what we expected.   Who would have thought petrified wood in a desert would be so pretty???  We were pleasantly surprised!

                                                  a little Mother road therapy first

We again waited for the temperatures to rise out of the 30’s this morning before taking off on Amber.  We took the back roads through the Indian reservations.  We passed very few vehicles on a nice two lane road on a gorgeous day.  It was a very enjoyable, peaceful ride.

We stopped for our picnic lunch at the south end of the park and headed north.   The petrified wood here is a lot prettier than the petrified wood in Mississippi.  The wood appeared to be cut with a chainsaw displaying the multiple, beautiful, colors of the wood.   The ranger told us it is the natural petrified process that breaks the wood in pieces.  Mother Nature again amazes me.  After the 28 mile drive of gorgeous scenery, we headed home.

                                                       some route 66 through the park

It took us almost 3 hours to get to the park today; it took us a little over an hour to get back home on I40.  Interstate travel is not our favorite, but we had a choice of coming home on the back roads after dark or getting home before dark.  A no brainer.

                                                                      I40 eastbound

We sat outside for a little while and watched the sun set behind the big red rock.   The temperatures dropped as fast as the sunset did so we are inside with the heater on. 

Tomorrow we plan to make a southerly relocation.


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/EFsA3mF48yhnW89M6

10-12-16 - Heat Escape - Day 62

                                                          some Route 66 this morning

We waited for the temperatures to rise from the 30’s to the 50’s before taking off on Amber this morning heading to Arizona.  We rode by Window Rock then continued to Canyon de Chelly.  After the 2 hour ride, the temperature was in the 70’s. There is nothing like a beautiful sunny day, in a beautiful National Monument.

                                                       Window Rock

                                                             along the hwy

                                                        1st pic of Canyon De Chelly

After touring the North Rim, we stopped for our picnic lunch at Cottonwood Picnic area.  It is a pretty park with the Cottonwood trees just beginning to change colors.  We stopped by the Visitor’s Center and took a guided tour of a Hogan.  I never realized that there were families living in these round buildings we have seen in this area.  The guide explained the spiritual meaning behind the way the Hogan is built. This is a very interesting way of life.  The 37 mile round trip loop of the South Rim was just as gorgeous as the North Rim.

                                                                   picnic area

                                                              Inside Hogan

                                                                   outside

Our 2 hour ride back to camp turned into 2 ½ hours after we got stopped in road construction for 30 minutes.  We made it home just in time to see the sun setting behind us.  The beautiful sunset was the perfect end to a beautiful day.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zFrbMKd5NEJRqaabA

10-11-16 - Heat Escape - Day 61

                                                             On the road

                                                       1 last shot of Shiprock

We relocated 120 miles to the south.  We are staying at Red Rock Park in Gallup, New Mexico for a few days.  We had a beautiful day to relocate, even though it was windy.

The layout of this campground is very disorganized, but it has what we need, water and electricity.  As a bonus, our campsite has a beautiful view of Red Rock.  After a week of camping in the city, we are enjoying the country life.

We took a stroll around the park and to the museum.  There are 2 hiking trails in the park, Church Rock & Pyramid Rock.  We decided to hike Church Rock.  It was a very pretty 2.2 mile trail with 330 foot elevation gain along the red rocks and canyon.  We could see for miles and miles . We had great views of Church Rock, the campground, the train station, and the interstate.  The flat land rednecks that we are, forgot our hiking sticks in the truck.  They would have been handy coming down the steep slick rock trail on the way back.  Oh well, we won't forgot when we do the Pyramid Rock hike which is higher in elevation than Church Rock.

We have 6.5 miles hiking today.  Time to sit back and relax for the night.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/Rxc6fUL5mTQqFTvG8

10-10-16 - Heat Escape - Day 60

We made a quick trip to the River Corridor in Farmington last week.  We went back today and took a leisurely stroll.

The River Corridor is a National Recreation trail.  We started our stroll at the Animas Park All Veterans Memorial  It is a beautiful, touching, remembrance honoring veterans in every war.  This is the best veterans memorial we have ever visited.

We strolled both sides of the river walking along the cottonwoods all dressed up in their fall foliage.   The cottonwoods foliage was much prettier today than a week ago.

After hiking several miles, we took a ride on some country roads through Navajo country.  The walk, the ride, the weather, all was nice and peaceful.

This was a take it easy kind of day.  Tomorrow is moving day. (nope not heading home)

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/2WSxgMt9RxX6a6P59

10-9-16 - Heat Escape - Day 59

We have been procrastinating for about a week to go shopping and do the laundry.  We woke up around 5 am and heard the rain peppering on the roof of the camper.  Time to get it done, ( well, after we slept in).

It was in the 50's with light rain when we went to town.  We got our shopping done, the laundry done, and had a good ole bream fish fry tonight.

It was a boring kind of Sunday.  Guess it was time for one of those days.  By the way, it was also a no picture kind of day.