Petrified Forest, Winslow, Walnut Canyon and Sedona!

Hello from the Petrified Forest National Park. I have to say it's a bit of a stretch to say "forest" but maybe that's because we have come from the redwoods and sequoias that were really more "forest" like. This park was beautiful in it's own way, but the trees are all down on the ground and petrified into a gorgeous array of colors. 

A highlight of our days here was a hike to the Agate house where the park rangers were creating a 3D model of the house to check on it's stability. The area was technically closed to visitors but we happened to be walking at the same time as one of the rangers and engaged her in questions. As builders, we were quite curious. The house had some reconstruction done years ago but it wasn't quite to the original specifications as one room was not square. I volunteered..." I know how that happened, one guy started at one end and another at the opposite end". The ranger replied "yup, that's probably what happened!".

A lot of the park reminded us of the Badlands in South Dakota, well except for it was 104 degrees there and it was bit chillier here in Arizona!

Going through the Petrified Forest is the Old Historic Route 66. This was the Painted Desert Inn, which is now a museum but used to be a soda fountain and a place to rest for weary travelers along the route. I was just bummed there was no ice cream for us!

Driving through the park you see amazing layers of color...

...and some crazy hikers along the way.

More petrified wood and starting to see some cactus, which I am sure there will be more later as we continue to head south.

Sunny, thankfully but the winds were a little chilly!

 

 

And no better segue to our next stop than a handsome Noodle just chillin on the sofa! :)

We had to stop at Winslow, AZ to be "tourists" and of course then couldn't get the song out of our heads for days!!

 

"Standing at the corner of Winslow Arizona, such a fine sight to see, there's a girl my Lord in a flat bed Ford slowing down to take a look at me!"

Lol, you're welcome, now you're singing it too! :)

 

Our next stop was another suggestion from Mom & Dad, Walnut Canyon National Monument. A very cool hike down into the canyon.

You could see where all of the cliff dwellers used to live. Me, I am trying to figure out the different floor plans, Dave is just trying not to get stuck by a cactus! 

It was quite the hike up those stairs, this rock looked like a good place to rest! Once at the top again it was pretty windy so we had to hold on to our hats!

The last leg on this post was for our anniversary we were in Sedona. While it was a lovely place we sure missed our favorite spot at Hippensteal's Mountain View Inn in Tennessee and our dear friends there.

 

 

Dave looking out at the mountains but no Mount LeConte to be found.

The huge Agave plant wasn't the same as the rich reds of the maples and the panorama view from the porch at the Inn...

and while the site was very nice, no eggs Hippensteal appeared in the morning, just our yogurt!

Really no complaining can be done. We had a lovely anniversary dinner out at Mariposa, a elegant Latin inspired restaurant but we did sure miss celebrating all of the anniversary's at the Inn with our friends. 

And now back on the road we go to Saguaro National Park!