Today was mostly a driving day as we moved out of Santa Fe and on to Holbrook, AZ. But it was still a great experience as we continued to go past interesting country and mountains. We have already gone from the 40 feet above sea of home to an altitude of over 7,000 feet.
Continental Divide
One of the highlights of our driving day was crossing the Continental Divide. Now all the water flows to the Pacific Ocean rather than the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. You would have thought there would have been some official marker, but all we found was this sign at some cheesy souvenir store. I must confess we were on I-40 at the time and may have missed any official sign. These kinds of mileposts are fun. On an earlier trip we ate lunch at the geographic center of North America in Rugby, North Dakota.
Continental Divide
One of the highlights of our driving day was crossing the Continental Divide. Now all the water flows to the Pacific Ocean rather than the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. You would have thought there would have been some official marker, but all we found was this sign at some cheesy souvenir store. I must confess we were on I-40 at the time and may have missed any official sign. These kinds of mileposts are fun. On an earlier trip we ate lunch at the geographic center of North America in Rugby, North Dakota.
Continental Divide
Petrified Forest and Painted Desert
The true highlight of the day was our visit to the Petrified Forest. While the official name is Petrified Forest National Park, more of the experience is the Painted Desert portion with some of the absolutely astonishing land formations and colors we saw.
I wish I could adequately describe this place – it is just not possible. The park is essentially a 29 mile drive through some of the most interesting and stunning landscape you will ever see. Sometimes it is almost other-worldly. Even the close to a gazillion (that’s a real number – I’m a math teacher) photos we took while we were there does not capture its stunning beauty. I have managed to whittle the number of photos down to a reasonable number for the slide show below.
The true highlight of the day was our visit to the Petrified Forest. While the official name is Petrified Forest National Park, more of the experience is the Painted Desert portion with some of the absolutely astonishing land formations and colors we saw.
I wish I could adequately describe this place – it is just not possible. The park is essentially a 29 mile drive through some of the most interesting and stunning landscape you will ever see. Sometimes it is almost other-worldly. Even the close to a gazillion (that’s a real number – I’m a math teacher) photos we took while we were there does not capture its stunning beauty. I have managed to whittle the number of photos down to a reasonable number for the slide show below.
A Petrified Log and Our Tow Car
Painted Desert Teepees
Petroglyphs
The ancients often scratched drawings into the rocks. There are thousands of these in the Painted Desert, but only a few that are available for viewing. The meanings of many petroglyphs are lost, but it is believed that some were to keep records, tell stories or for ceremonial reasons. In the Petrified Forest Park there were two different places where petroglyphs were visible. While I have no idea what any of them mean, I was able to get some photos. One is below along with a short slideshow.
The ancients often scratched drawings into the rocks. There are thousands of these in the Painted Desert, but only a few that are available for viewing. The meanings of many petroglyphs are lost, but it is believed that some were to keep records, tell stories or for ceremonial reasons. In the Petrified Forest Park there were two different places where petroglyphs were visible. While I have no idea what any of them mean, I was able to get some photos. One is below along with a short slideshow.
Holbrook, AZ
This is a classic old town from the Route 66 era. On old Route 66 there are lots of old mom-and-pop motels either closed or just holding on while the chains have built new places closer to I-40. But the town holds on, and there are some interesting bits of Americana there to see.
We try to eat at non-chains when we can, and in Holbrook it was Joe & Aggies – a little Mexican-American restaurant with a map of Route 66 painted on its side wall. If you could read the towns in the photo, you would see St. Loues (sic), Missouri.
This is a classic old town from the Route 66 era. On old Route 66 there are lots of old mom-and-pop motels either closed or just holding on while the chains have built new places closer to I-40. But the town holds on, and there are some interesting bits of Americana there to see.
We try to eat at non-chains when we can, and in Holbrook it was Joe & Aggies – a little Mexican-American restaurant with a map of Route 66 painted on its side wall. If you could read the towns in the photo, you would see St. Loues (sic), Missouri.
Joe & Aggies Cafe, Holbrook, AZ
An iconic part of Route 66 in the 40s and 50s were teepee motor courts – motels with rooms built to look like Indian teepees. The Wigwam Lodge in Holbrook is one of the last of this breed, and it is actually on the National Register of Historic Places. Here is a little piece of the 50s for you in 50s black and white.
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ
One thing I certainly did not expect in a small town in the middle of Arizona was a VW customizing shop. Here are two guys who just enjoy chopping up old “Beetles” and doing crazy things with them. Check out the VW camper below.
VW Beetle Camper, Holbrook, AZ
Crazy VWs, Holbrook, AZ
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