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Wandering America & Canada - Part 3
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Jun 12, 2019 15:16:30   #
fbeaston Loc: Vermont
 
This is the 3rd in a series I'm doing with photos from a recent 6+ week trip around the Western US & Canada. Thanks to those of you who looked at Parts 1 &/or 2 & commented. If this is your 1st visit to these posts, welcome. If you're interested, you can see part 1 at: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-595917-1.html.

After the Saguaro Nat'l Park, we did a quick side trip to Tombstone (always wanted to go there) ... it was interesting to see a place I've heard so much about & to visit Boot Hill, but I'm not including any photos from there, choosing instead, to focus on our next destinations, which were the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Nat'l Park followed by Sedona, AZ.

My traveling buddy Chuck, a former college chum, who was navigating, suggested we cut "cross lots" ... I asked him what did that mean & his only response was "Just make sure we have a full tank of gas ... it might be quite a distance between filling stations!!"

We headed North toward Phoenix, with a quick impromptu stop at Pinal Air Park in Marana, AZ (graveyard for old commercial air liners ... interesting, but no photos that compete with those coming up). Near Phoenix, we left the Interstate & got onto Rt 88 going by Superstition Mtn & the old Gold Mine in Apache Jct, AZ ... (photos from both were nice, but again, don't compete with the ones coming up).

Rt 88 quickly turned to dirt, at which point, Chuck informed me it was +/- 45 miles to the next paved road!! But what a wonderful drive it was!!!! Along the way, we saw some incredible vistas with loads & loads of flowers before coming across a scene where I took one of my favorite shots of the trip ... a lone Saguaro Cactus high on a hill (see photo below). From there it was up into the mountains on a very narrow dirt road, sometimes barely a car width wide, before descending to Roosevelt Lake & then on to the Petrified Forest. I have to say, if you have time, are a bit adventurous, & you're in that area, that drive is well worth the time & dust to take. Absolutely stunning.

Then it was on the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert, which I'd visited many years ago as a young adult, but this time, it seemed significantly more beautiful. I have always wondered why it was called the Petrified Forest Nat'l Park instead of the Painted Desert Nat'l Park ... well on this trip, I learned that in fact, the Painted Desert actually covers a huge area of the Southwest whereas the Petrified Forest occupies only a small piece of the Painted Desert, hence the park's name was more accurate.

After a couple of days at the Petrified Forest, we headed West toward Flagstaff for a few days in Sedona.

I hope you enjoy these.

Lone Saguaro Cactus, Apache Jct, AZ overlooking Apache Lake & the Salt River ... this is a really simple shot that has become one of my favorites from the trip.
Lone Saguaro Cactus, Apache Jct, AZ overlooking Ap...
(Download)

Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Nat'l Park ... 6 shot Panoramic which gives a sense of just how beautiful it is there ... but it pales when compared to the beauty of seeing it in person.
Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Nat'l Park ... 6 s...
(Download)

Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Nat'l Park
Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Nat'l Park...
(Download)

Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Nat'l Park
Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Nat'l Park...
(Download)

Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Nat'l Park ... 4 shot panoramic
Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Nat'l Park ... 4 s...
(Download)

Petroglyphs on "Newspaper Rock" ... Petrified Forest Nat'l Park ... created by many generations of ancestral Puebloan peoples between 600 - 2000 yrs ago
Petroglyphs on "Newspaper Rock" ... Petrified Fore...
(Download)

Petrified log (center) ... amazingly these logs were created over 18 million yrs beginning 225 million years ago ... 4 degrees North of the equator & pushed 2100 miles Northward by Plate Tectonics.
Petrified log (center) ... amazingly these logs we...
(Download)

Sedona, AZ & surrounding mountains during a somewhat disappointing sunset.
Sedona, AZ & surrounding mountains during a somewh...
(Download)

Sedona, AZ Oak Creek near Slide Rock State Park
Sedona, AZ Oak Creek near Slide Rock State Park...
(Download)

Sedona, AZ at Crescent Moon Ranch State Park
Sedona, AZ at Crescent Moon Ranch State Park...
(Download)

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Jun 12, 2019 15:27:29   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
Beautiful photos! I love Petrified Forest National Park. Largely overlooked by the crowds and truly fascinating. Thanks for sharing. I used to live in Flagstaff and that was a favorite destination.

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Jun 12, 2019 15:57:02   #
DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca
 
Wow what a great trip and the photo's tell a great tale. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
 
 
Jun 12, 2019 15:57:08   #
fbeaston Loc: Vermont
 
Retired CPO wrote:
Beautiful photos! I love Petrified Forest National Park. Largely overlooked by the crowds and truly fascinating. Thanks for sharing. I used to live in Flagstaff and that was a favorite destination.


Thanks Chief ... appreciate your continued positive comments. You've surely lived in a beautiful place ... although some have become so popular (the cities like Flagstaff & Phoenix) that they are less enjoyable for me these days. I also try to travel to the Nat'l Parks during "off-peak" tourist season for the same reasons.

But thanks for the positive comments. I hope that ankle is healing & you're starting to get out more. I broke my ankle a few years back (far less serious than an Achilles) ... I just slipped on the ice & broke it by landing on it ... it healed fairly quickly, but still bothers me every now & then. Might be a sign of getting old!!!! Best to you & stay strong.

Reply
Jun 12, 2019 15:58:06   #
davyboy Loc: Anoka Mn.
 
fbeaston wrote:
This is the 3rd in a series I'm doing with photos from a recent 6+ week trip around the Western US & Canada. Thanks to those of you who looked at Parts 1 &/or 2 & commented. If this is your 1st visit to these posts, welcome. If you're interested, you can see part 1 at: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-595917-1.html.

After the Saguaro Nat'l Park, we did a quick side trip to Tombstone (always wanted to go there) ... it was interesting to see a place I've heard so much about & to visit Boot Hill, but I'm not including any photos from there, choosing instead, to focus on our next destinations, which were the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Nat'l Park followed by Sedona, AZ.

My traveling buddy Chuck, a former college chum, who was navigating, suggested we cut "cross lots" ... I asked him what did that mean & his only response was "Just make sure we have a full tank of gas ... it might be quite a distance between filling stations!!"

We headed North toward Phoenix, with a quick impromptu stop at Pinal Air Park in Marana, AZ (graveyard for old commercial air liners ... interesting, but no photos that compete with those coming up). Near Phoenix, we left the Interstate & got onto Rt 88 going by Superstition Mtn & the old Gold Mine in Apache Jct, AZ ... (photos from both were nice, but again, don't compete with the ones coming up).

Rt 88 quickly turned to dirt, at which point, Chuck informed me it was +/- 45 miles to the next paved road!! But what a wonderful drive it was!!!! Along the way, we saw some incredible vistas with loads & loads of flowers before coming across a scene where I took one of my favorite shots of the trip ... a lone Saguaro Cactus high on a hill (see photo below). From there it was up into the mountains on a very narrow dirt road, sometimes barely a car width wide, before descending to Roosevelt Lake & then on to the Petrified Forest. I have to say, if you have time, are a bit adventurous, & you're in that area, that drive is well worth the time & dust to take. Absolutely stunning.

Then it was on the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert, which I'd visited many years ago as a young adult, but this time, it seemed significantly more beautiful. I have always wondered why it was called the Petrified Forest Nat'l Park instead of the Painted Desert Nat'l Park ... well on this trip, I learned that in fact, the Painted Desert actually covers a huge area of the Southwest whereas the Petrified Forest occupies only a small piece of the Painted Desert, hence the park's name was more accurate.

After a couple of days at the Petrified Forest, we headed West toward Flagstaff for a few days in Sedona.

I hope you enjoy these.
This is the 3rd in a series I'm doing with photos ... (show quote)


Are you sure about the age of petrified log? The mount Helen’s blow up has created petrified logs in what 50yrs or so

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Jun 12, 2019 15:58:07   #
fbeaston Loc: Vermont
 
DanielB wrote:
Wow what a great trip and the photo's tell a great tale. Thanks for sharing.


And thank you DanielB for stopping by to view & for your positive comment. Very much appreciated.

Reply
Jun 12, 2019 16:02:30   #
fbeaston Loc: Vermont
 
davyboy wrote:
Are you sure about the age of petrified log? The mount Helen’s blow up has created petrified logs in what 50yrs or so


You're right davyboy ... & that was some event, for sure ... I went there a few years after it blew it's top ... amazing the amount of destruction at the time. But even then, it was starting to heal & rejuvenate. However, I'm thinking there was likely some very different physics involved in that event than being buried in the mud. That said, I'll also admit, even as old as I am, that I wasn't around during the time in order to vouch for those #'s ... so we'll just have to trust the Nat'l Park Service for those. ;)

Thanks for the chuckle.

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Jun 12, 2019 16:19:38   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
Great set!

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Jun 12, 2019 16:41:40   #
fbeaston Loc: Vermont
 
Longshadow wrote:
Great set!


Thank you again Longshadow. I appreciate the positive feedback. Best to you.

Reply
Jun 12, 2019 17:30:38   #
UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT
 
Thanks for sharing this wonderful journey!

Reply
Jun 12, 2019 17:32:47   #
fbeaston Loc: Vermont
 
UTMike wrote:
Thanks for sharing this wonderful journey!


You're welcome UTMike ... & I'm grateful for you looking & commenting. I'm enjoying reliving the trip ... so I hope it doesn't become a pain for others. Best to you & thanks.

Reply
 
 
Jun 12, 2019 22:10:38   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
fbeaston wrote:
Thanks Chief ... appreciate your continued positive comments. You've surely lived in a beautiful place ... although some have become so popular (the cities like Flagstaff & Phoenix) that they are less enjoyable for me these days. I also try to travel to the Nat'l Parks during "off-peak" tourist season for the same reasons.

But thanks for the positive comments. I hope that ankle is healing & you're starting to get out more. I broke my ankle a few years back (far less serious than an Achilles) ... I just slipped on the ice & broke it by landing on it ... it healed fairly quickly, but still bothers me every now & then. Might be a sign of getting old!!!! Best to you & stay strong.
Thanks Chief ... appreciate your continued positiv... (show quote)


Yep, you're right. That's why I don't recommend Sedona to any one. When I was going to High School in Flagstaff it was a great, close by get-away. Now it's full of vortex knuckleheads and wannabe Eurotrash with traffic roundabouts and crystal gazers. Oak Creek Canyon is still pretty cool but too small to absorb all the wandering idiots.

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Jun 12, 2019 22:20:26   #
fbeaston Loc: Vermont
 
Retired CPO wrote:
Yep, you're right. That's why I don't recommend Sedona to any one. When I was going to High School in Flagstaff it was a great, close by get-away. Now it's full of vortex knuckleheads and wannabe Eurotrash with traffic roundabouts and crystal gazers. Oak Creek Canyon is still pretty cool but too small to absorb all the wandering idiots.



Well, I'll keep my comments a bit gentler but I will admit I told my college buddy that I wasn't as impressed with Sedona as I'd hoped to be. There were some spots with nice views, don't get me wrong. But I found a great many shots I took had a house in them which I typically try to avoid ... & some of the best views were from downtown ... no thanks ... I like being more remote. But that said, there were some nice views around (Oak Creek being one). But I was thrilled when we saw a huge herd of Elk early one morning, leaving Flagstaff for a sunrise in Sedona. I didn't include it because it didn't come out as well as I had hoped. But it is wonderful country out there ... even with all the people.

Reply
Jun 13, 2019 06:39:48   #
yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey
 
Gorgeous images - well done!

Reply
Jun 13, 2019 06:53:36   #
fbeaston Loc: Vermont
 
yssirk123 wrote:
Gorgeous images - well done!


Thank you yssirk123 ... appreciate the visit & comment. Best to you.

Reply
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