Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Peter has asked me to send this Blog to Michael,Chris and Julie, and Enid and David as he currently is not on good terms with his computer. You can go back and read earlier posts if interested.
We left Santa Fe and headed for Alburqueque. At This point the interstate highway has been built over the old route 66 and the road passes by many small not so wealthy villages.
Alburqueque looks to be a prosperous town and we enjoyed our time ther. Saw THE WORLD"S LARGEST Road Runner Statue.. Also saw the Red Ball Cafe, home of the original "Wimpey Burger"
From ther we headed out through Isleta Pueblo, an ancient Indian settlement with adobe buildings and dusty streets. There was a lovely mission church but ity was shut to visitors and we were forbidden by Indian Lore from taking any photos.
New across the border and into Arizona home of THE WORLD"S LARGEST Indian Reservation.
All of this region from before Santa Fe through to Flagstaff where we are now is between 5000 and 6000 feet above sea level. Much of the trip to Flagstaff was on Interstate 40 which again follows Route 66 but is built over it. Along this road we follow the rail line and it is amazing to see every 10 minutes or so another freight train heading east. These are seriously large. Usually 3-4 deisel engines on the front and another 2 on the back. On one I counted 125 rail cars each double stacked high with 40 foot shipping containers. In fact another one is rumbling past our motel now.
Our first stop in Arizona was the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. The painted Desert is a crescent shaped arc beginning at Cameron and swinging southeast to the Petrified Forest. This area was inhabited 13500 years BC by Paleoindiand and contains many ancient rock carvings and paintings. The area has been eroded over millions of years by water and the colurs are spectacular.
The Petrified Forest contains literally millions of logs which 20 million years ago was a forest and now cover many square miles. The exact process of Fossilization in this area is not totally understood but obviously heavy sedimentation covered the fallen logs of the forest and instead of the wood rotting, it fossilized. Erosion many millions of years later exposed these logs again.
Obviously this is the site of THE WORLD'S LARGEST Fossilized Log known as Geronimo.
Then on to Meteor City and the meteor crater. This was caused by a huge meteor crashing to earth over 50,000 years ago and forming a crater which is over 700 feet deep and ¾ of a mile in diameter. Most impressive. They had a museum showed a film and we exited via the obligatory gift shop.
We passed by the towns of Two Guns and Two Arrows but were unable to locate the town of Two Dogs.
So we are now in Flagstaff and will continue the journey from here
- comments
Elaine Sounds impressive
Sandra Have read all your blogs. What a great time you are having.
Mac Surprised to hear that the process of fossilisation "is not totally understood ". I can think of two specimens quite nearby who could explain it and demonstrate it perfectly well. May I assist you in negotiating a fee?
Sharon Mac, I don't know you but hahahahahahahaaha!!! Neil, am the loving the biggest list. :-) Biggest Road Runner?!!!!
Enid and David Thanks for the link. Your descriptions give us a good picture of your experiences. Get your kicks and drive safe. Look forward to seeing some photos and hearing more when you get back. Regards