From Arizona to California

The drive today from Winslow, AZ to Williams, AZ was planned to be purposefully short. After cruising all the corners in Winslow, AZ, looking for that flat-bed Ford with, oh my, a girl turning to look at me and finding none, I continued on my way. As mentioned in a previous blog, my destination would take me up toward the Peaks, the highest point in Arizona.

These are sacred mountains.

I researched and found these were once the fiery center of one of Arizona's most explosive volcanoes, the summits surrounding the now dormant inner core stand guard, protecting land that the native people of Arizona consider to be so sacred it is where earth meets heaven. The Navajo consider them to be the most sacred in all the West and their medicine men use the herbs collected from the mountaintop in healing ceremonies. They view the rising peaks as a holy landmark directing others to this sacred place. The Hopi believe the Kachina spirits live at the top of the mountain, gracefully moving through the clouds from summit to summit. The Kachinas are honored and revered here, in hopes that they will bless the crops below with a quiet rain that will ensure strong growth and healthy lives. The Zuni, Havasupai and Yavapai-Apache also consider these graceful remnants of the volcanic highlands to be sacred and return regularly to pray and honor the spirits that dwell there. The drive had spectacular vistas, each worthy of framing. The highest point in the journey was only 7,000 feet.

About the only way to get to see the extinct volcano. Not even
a hiker would be able to get close enough.

After viewing the world famous impact crater, there was another type of crater to visit; a volcanic crater located just over an hour away on my way west. The Sunset Crater Volcano Monument. This crater is a cinder cone, the result of an eruption about 1085 AD. One of many extinct volcanoes in the region, the lava flows are visible on the drive to the summit. Hiking trails are all over but none will take visitors to the actual summit. Because of damage done by hikers, many paths remain closed. The Sunset Crater eruption produced a blanket of ash and lapilli (small stone like debris that falls back to earth from a volcanic eruption) covering an area of more than (810 sq mi) and forced the temporary abandonment of settlements of the local Sinagua people. There were no reported deaths as it was determined that they knew through tremors or earthquakes that it was time to get outta town. They resettled and reaped the benefits of ash laden soil for their agriculture. As I drove, I captured these signs of the lava flows and debris.

Black stone everywhere and very little vegetation.

One of two slopes totally blackened by the blast debris.

After leaving the Sunset Crater Monument, I proceeded south through Flagstaff toward Sedona, 47 miles along SR 89A. That trip alone was worth another blog.

Talk about paying attention to the road...this 47 mile
route goes from 7,000 feet in elevation in Flagstaff to
4,000 feet in Sedona. Winnie handled it well...and the
return trip back to Flagstaff? The Mercedes engine
was up to the task.

Rte 89A made the "Goat Trail"
look like the Indy Speedway.

Sedona this time of the year was bustling with tourists. I spent some time looking for free parking that would handle the size of Winnie. I was successful and walked into town.

Looking south

Looking north

The painter and the little girl photographing are both sculptures. Listen to the street
entertainer in the background. 

Beautiful surroundings

Korean Lunch today.

Bibimbap:
Fresh seasonal greens, sautéed carrots, Korean radish and Mexican
zucchini over our unique rice blend. Topped with roasted seaweed and
comes with our signature GOCHUJANG sauce medium spicy.

I had to try this. No time to visit its source.

With only one table available indoors, I joined a young lady already seated, Isadora, in her late twenties. Recently from California she’s moved into the Sedona area and is a practitioner of Doula. She explained what she does and how she's found her "dream occupation." She is a support person, (who may not have medical or midwifery training), but provides emotional assistance to a mother or pregnant couple before, during or after childbirth. I observed many of the store fronts in Sedona catered to the natural healing, meditation, crystal/gems/stones philosophies and practitioners. After lunch, I enjoyed a scoop of coconut and a scoop of "Butterme pecan" gelato next door at PussyCat Gelato.

And that was my afternoon in Sedona, AZ. Back up Rte 89A Winnie and I went, continued on I-40 to our next stop, The Grand Canyon Railway RV Park, sixty miles further west in Williams, AZ. Desiring to keep this blog short, the next blog will be devoted entirely to the Grand Canyon.

Thanks again for joining me. See you again soon.

Georgetown TX to Corona del Mar CA

SHORT AND SWEET THOUGHTS WHILE TRAVELING WEST

A trip north to Double D RV Park in Texola, OK Population 32

I made this photo larger to emphasize the 6+ hour drive north to Texola, OK. As you know, the spot where the road seems to come to a point is called the horizon. Driving an average of 70 mph, (Speed limit is 75 mph), when you arrive at that point, there's another view just like this one. Repeat this again and again and try not to think of the "What ifs," or "Supposing..." Note there are no signs of civilization like "Rest Stops," or gas stations. Spending the night in Oklahoma satisfies my personal goal of sleeping in every state. Logically, the route should be northwest to New Mexico.

(1) Mississippi, (2) Louisiana and (3) Oklahoma completed.
(4) Colorado, (5) Kansas and (6) Missouri are on my return trip back to New York.

I left Texas at 8:45 am with the temperature at 75º and arrived after some stops for lunch/fuel to an empty campground at 6:00 pm and temperature at 29º. The windchill was at 9º. I was the only one there; a bulletin board outlined procedures for payment. Just making it and in need of diesel, I filled out the information on the envelope, inserted my $28.00 and was prepared to leave bright and early the next morning in search of a gas station.

The campground. Guess the "Double D" refers to "Downright Deserted."

A sunset in Oklahoma.

Two small electric heaters worked through the night keeping
the temperature inside about 65º. Warm clothing, a fleece blanket
and no thoughts of power failure eventually gave me a comfortable
night's sleep. 

Compounding my concern for finding a gas station, there was an "ice storm warning" that was the prelude to the storm system that would eventually make its way into the northeast and provide yet another round of nasty weather back home. Located just off I-40, traffic was flowing normally perhaps a tad slower...no ice storm. I had to head east six miles to fuel up and then return westbound to continue my journey into New Mexico.

I can only imagine what "Happy Trails Campground" in Moriarity, NM, had in store for me.

Another long trip but the weather cooperated nicely; I stopped three times for fuel. The landscape was barren, flat and looking in any direction showed the horizon and nothing else. Where the spotty, small herds of cattle lived remains a mystery; Looking to the horizons, there were no buildings, barns or silos visible all along I-40. Still, there were spectacular sights. A straw colored grassland dotted with mesquite bushes and cedars no more than three feet tall were all to be seen. The enormity of this great country of ours continued to keep me in awe hour after hour along my journey. If I did happen to pass buildings...that were still standing...they were abandoned and dilapidated. All I could think of were the stories that accompanied each structure. Mesas came into view once in New Mexico. 

N-O-T-H-I-N-G

The privately owned campground, Happy Trails RV Campground, turned out to be another campground to be missed next time around; barren, all dirt and gravel. Other RVs were there but no evidence of occupancy. There was no Internet and their website on line indicated that it was "...offline. This account is past due and has been suspended." Fortunately, it was just for another cold overnight. In the morning, I was greeted with an inch or two of snow on the ground and I started worrying about road conditions.

Once on I-40 again, the roads were clear and dry.

Thursday's trip to Meteor Crater RV Campground was spectacular.

An early morning accident cost me 15 minutes. This jackknifed pickup
probably skidded due to the accident about a mile ahead. 

Tractor trailer, pickup and car in accident.

The views have become breathtaking and I've captured quite
a few while moving right along; most by just pointing and
shooting. Even with no traffic to speak of, at no time did
my eyes leave my head or the road.

Located just north of Flagstaff, Arizona on U.S. 180, the San Francisco Peaks soar to heights reaching 12,633 feet and serve as one of the most distinct geological features of the Colorado Plateau. This is the mouth-dropping view I had from I-40. More photos will follow as I approach it. Named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi by the Spanish Friars that settled the area in the 1620's, these scenic mountains are known locally as simply the Peaks. The Peaks collectively represent six summits that circle the caldera of the now quiet volcano. Humphreys Peak, at 12,633 feet, is the tallest in Arizona. Agassiz Peak to the left soars to 12,356 feet, and Fremont Peak climbs to 11,969 feet. Aubineau Peak, Reese Peak, and Doyle Peak complete the ring, creating both a scenic wonderland and geological display of volcanic rock, deep Alpine forest and lava flows. After leaving the campground tomorrow, I will be traveling on US 180 to view Sunset Crater Volcano Monument and the surrounding lava flows. There are over 400 extinct volcanoes in Arizona.

 I planned it so I'd be able to stop at Meteor Crater first before checking into the campground. As it turned out, I had to pass by the campground and go another six miles to the crater. It was very difficult to choose which photos to include in my blog of the 78 taken. 

Aerial photo taken from website.

Astronauts studied and explored the mountain's unique and rugged terrain
to help  them improve their training in space for the moon landing.
They used the crater during training for the first moon landing during the 1960s.

The 1,406 pound  Holsinger Meteorite, is the largest (fragment) ever found at Meteor Crater.
Traveling at speeds of over 26,000 mph, this 150 foot wide iron meteorite weighed
300,000 tons and formed the 550 foot deep, mile wide impact crater.

You get your first view from inside the display hall. Due to the hot, arid climate, it remains
as one of the world's best preserved impact craters.

Outside along the path overlooking the crater, you view a piece of history from 50,000 years ago in awe. After I offered to take the photos of a couple with the crater as the backdrop, the kind folks from Iowa reciprocated the favor.

From these three angles, you get the idea of another of
my "Wow" moments looking at formations one mile across.

One walkway leads down to a lower observation deck where
stationary viewfinders point to features below at the bottom of
the crater as shown in the following video I took.

Another steep walkway leads to the highest point for viewing.
I took two videos; one taking a sweeping view of the crater; the second looking
in the opposite direction at the landscape of  Coconino County, Winslow, Arizona,
in which the crater is located.

Moenkopi Sandstone

After enjoying my "Ooooooo's" and "Ahhhhhssss," it was time to return to the campground at the beginning of this six mile drive to the Crater. These are some aerial views of a very neat, clean campground with a Mobil gas station at the entrance acting as the registration office. These photos are from the Internet; there is no webpage.

A very dirty Winnie enjoyed another chilly overnight...

...but made warm with a Marty Manhattan...

...and a hot shower in a spotless bathroom,
one of six, that completed another perfect day.

Thanks for joining me once again. Tomorrow (2/25th) I take off for the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park with a stop at Sunset Crater Volcano Monument in the morning and a visit to Sedona, AZ, for lunch in the afternoon. See you there.