Cumulative miles driven: 4,114

Arizona was merely a US State to pass through on our east to west trip having previously been here and as we have done the Grand Canyon what else is there really to see? We popped a couple of nights in the schedule to break the journey up, reduce what would have been another 500 plus mile drive and what a really great idea that was.

Just over the New Mexico/Arizona border we called into the Petrified Forest National Park purley based on a recommendation of our good friends. If we had been passing through there would have been no time for this and even with most of the afternoon available to us we failed to see and do everything we wanted in this National Park. The twenty eight mile drive covered numerous view points and walks in what is known as the Painted Desert as well as the Petrified Forest itself - both of which were impressive in their own right. The fossilised trees which had been buried for millions of years and then revealed by land errosion looked like wood but were solid stone. Amazing.

Our two nights in Flagstaff allowed us to enjoy the town with its many micro - breweries and attractive down town area as well as take a trip to Sedona through Oak Creek Canyon. The bonus was the railway running right through the middle of town with four or five engined trains towing over one hundred wagons of either coal/ore or double decked container wagons every ten or fifteen minutes. This town has something for everyone although it nearly started badly when checking into our motel on the old Route 66. The attitude of the owner when asking for directions using a map taken off the counter was really awful. I had only asked where we were on the map but she seemed happy to tell me to look at the map myself as I had it in my hand. I was a little taken aback and almost ready to go elsewhere but fortunately she saw sense after a little bit of positive advice about helping her guests! That may well be a low Trip Advisor score I guess.

Sedona was well worth the 45 minute drive and somewhere recomended by a number of people. Driving into Oak Creek Canyon involved a two thousand foot descent on a zig zag road that just provided some great views of the red rocks that this area is well known for. The small town of Sedona would be a great place for a few days of walking in the surrounding countryside followed by a bit of gentle eating and drinking. This area is now on our 'return to' list. Whether it would be if we were battling through the three or four feet of snow they normally have in this area in February is a different matter. If you are thinking of coming to this area it may be better to stick to the Spring, Summer and Autumn to be on the safe side - we have again been very lucky!

Our next stop will be Las Vegas, a world away from the fairly quiet and tranquil surroundings of Flagstaff. Maybe we will win a million or two on the 25 cent slot machines or maybe we will still need to be looking for jobs in April. I am pretty sure which way to bet on this, however, you have to be in it to win it so Viva Las Vegas baby!