Day 7 Albuquerque to Holbrook

Brief post: got up, had breakfast, drove a lot, got petrified (not just because heidi drove a little), drove a little more, got to hotel, changed, went out for tea, realised it's better to eat during the day at a greasy cafe than go out for tea - in dollar terms at least. Back to hotel, writing this, going to bed.  More to follow in the morning.

Sorry folks for cop out last night!

All well its just Arizona dont follow mountain time day light saving so we lost another hour and we were tired. So now 8 hours behind England and 9 for Spain.

Another day of long roads and beautiful scenery. Lots more mesas in the scenery.

Owl Rock

Stopped for an ice cream at the continental Divide

Also a trading post

Above is a photo of the fake cliff dwellings they used to film " Ace in the Hole" starring Kirk Douglas!

The weather has been comfortable in the high 70's noticed it went up to low 80's in Arizona however the rain clouds over the north were good as forked lightening and thunder could be seen/heard. 

Entered Arizona. The cliff sides have turned a pink colour. It has been interesting to seen the Indian reservations (just like where Jacob on Twilight comes from!) We have driven past miles and miles of reservation land and told to respect it. We are amongst the Navajo Indian Reservation at the moment.

We took a loop to the Painted Desert through the Petrified Forest National Park and so pleased we did although my camera decided to run out of battery at this point, we still had the little one thank god, but I was guttered as what an opportunity to use its functions. We pulled up at the first view point and I thought yeh I can the beauty but when I got out of the car and walked to the point it took my breath away!!! The colours of the desert were amazing thus called the painted desert!

The storm cloud in the distance with lightening coming out added to the drama. Of course Beauty is hard to catch on camera unless its a photo of me!!

This is the petrified forest! Trees from 63 million years ago fell into swamps and got covered by volcanic ash and sodium (or something) got into trees and turned them to rock with crystals of every kind in them. As earth has changed they've come to the top of surface. It's now a protected site as over centuries the forest has been depleted by people taking the wood. 

We took a mile walk which took you into the valley...very surreal. Of course there are no other people in these places its too big!

Piece of petrified wood. Sorry lots of photos but it was a wonder!

Holbrook is a small town with the usual one street. Our view from our room (motel style) is surreal. Over looks the National petrified park miles of desert. 

Off to Grand Canyon today so hoping it has same effect on me as the forest did!! Blues skies too may be in for a warm one!!!