Day #9: Sensory Overload. Sensory Overload.
Today we crammed several weeks of sights into one day. First, we visited the 93,533 acre Petrified Forrest/Painted Desert National Park. We were there at 8:30 to begin the 28-mile drive through the park where numerous plant and animal fossils have been found. Yes, even dinosaur fossils! We probably stopped 20 times along the way and I was amazed each and every time. The Petrified Forrest began approx. 225 million years ago when trees from eroding riverbanks fell into streams and were carried into a swampy lowland, which was then covered in volcanic ash. Slowly, minerals replaced the wood until the logs were virtually turned to stone. The Painted Desert is colorful collection of eroded mountains and canyons.
We even saw petroglyphs in the Painted Desert. Petroglyphs are ancient markings on face rocks and mountains. This brings many questions to my mind. Who made these markings and why? Was he trying to impress someone? Was he trying to tell us something? Was he simply expressing himself?
Next, we stopped in Winslow, AZ to get the oil changed in the Blazer. (Yes, we’ve already been almost 3,000 miles.) Just for the record, I stood on a corner and absolutely nothing happened. Well, I was standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona….
Next stop was Meteor Crater. Along the way, I spotted a snow-covered mountain. Rather odd, I must say, since we were still in the middle of the desert. Anyway, Meteor Crater was unbelievable. The 550 feet deep, 3/4e mile-across crater was formed 50,000 years ago when 150 foot meteorite slammed into the Earth’s surface. (A similar crash at the Yucatan Peninsula is believed to cause the extinction of the dinosaurs.) Arizona’s Meteor Crater is the most well-preserved crater in the word. They said more there is room for more than 2 million people to sit and watch a football game in the center.
Finally, we hit the Grand Canyon South Rim at sunset. If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, it is something you must do before you die. It is truely a world wonder. While I’d visited the Canyon once before, it was just as overwhelming as the first time I saw it.
