We are still on the road! It is April 19, 2018. We drove across New Mexico into Arizona and then back across New Mexico. Tonight we are in Texas.  We have seen some of the most beautiful country we could imagine.

We had no idea Arizona had such awesome mountain scenery.

We have driven nearly 4000 miles with no illness or inclement weather.  We  have not driven on any freeway for more than 300 miles. We are side-road travelers as we see so much more and meet so many interesting people. (If you can,, we recommend traveling this way. We have met absolutely awesome Americans. God bless the people, and the places along the way, who are flying our beautiful American Flag.

Wherever we have been, we have found people to be wonderful whether it was three guys sitting at a bar in a VFW in a small town in New Mexico – a town so small it was almost not there. Or Bill in Sun Lakes who opened up his home to us for 4 days and nights as though we had know him all of our life. Or Johnny and Bobby living on the edge of a little town of St John’s who gave us a big piece of petrified wood. Or Fred Fernandez, an American Mexican of 2 generations, who gave us access to his land to look for rocks. In conversation with us, he expressed his disappointment and disgust toward people in his town who think nothing of shooting our American Bald Eagle for sport.

New Mexico – The message the New Mexico State Flag carries is one to be remembered, in my opinion.  The design is red on a sea of yellow. It is a modern interpretation of an ancient symbol of a sun seen on a 19th century water jug from Zia Pueblo. It is called the Zia. It depicts the basic harmony of all things in the universe. Four (4) is the sacred number of the Zia. In years, it is the seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter, in days, it is the sunrise, noon, sunset and night, and it is life in the 4 directions of childhood, youth, adulthood and old age. It also signifies the 4 sacred obligations of strong body, clear mind, pure spirit, and devotion to the welfare of people. Isn’t this a beautiful philosophy?

The Continental Divide – We crossed The Continental Divide in New Mexico. From that point, water east of the Continental Divide runs to the Atlantic Ocean and water west of the Continental Divide runs to the Pacific Ocean. That is probably simplistic, but it is all I know about it.

Our National Parks – We bought ($10) a National Park Passport that we stamped at each National Park we visited. What a nice way to remember our visits to these historic places. Unfortunately, we didn’t buy one sooner so we could have stamped the many Parks we have been to.

The Petrified Forest National Park – The remnants of prehistoric forests, now petrified wood; plant and animal fossils that tell us about this beautiful, wild land where dinosaurs roamed and giant forests toppled. (Can’t find these photos.)

The Painted Desert – It was not what I expected at all. We were driving through it in daylight and I hear the colors are more beautiful at sunrise and sunset. Thus, no photos of any consequence.

Scottsdale, Arizona – We visited Phil’s cousin, Jack, and his wife, Helen. Jack is a World War II Veteran, is almost 93 years old and is the last remaining first cousin Phil has. We went to Chompie’s Deli, liked it a lot and have since found and visited two other Chompie’s.(If only Phil can find a way to get Chompies o open up in Minnesota.) We met Jack’s son, Randy, who is an attorney doing Personal Injury….a really nice kid, but no longer a kid….almost 70.

Army Buddies of 60+ years met again. Tony (on right)  and Phil are both Korean War Veterans and have kept in touch through many years. We visited him and his daughters in Sun Lakes, Arizona…..in southern Phoenix. Tony and Phil did 16 weeks in basic training together….8 in infantry basic and 8 in combat engineer basic.

What a great time we had there. The swimming pool was awesome…..deep (8 feet at one end) and with a small amount of salt….just enough so no chlorine is necessary.  We stayed with a friend of Tony’s and what an awesome host Bill was.  We hope Bill will come to Minnesota so we can return his kindness.

We then drove North of Phoenix to Jerome, Arizona. In the 60’s this was a commune built on the side of a mountain.  The copper-colored, rocky mountain scenery was the most beautiful we have seen. I know a photo does not do it justice, but it is all I have to show you. I had been to this small town many years ago when it was delightful. Unfortunately, it is now a tourist town and the quaintness is gone. It is all about selling things. It was very windy when we were there. Phil’s hat blew off and tumbled down the street. We chased after it and thinking it was gone for good, it had lodged under the wheel of a car where Phil could retrieve it.

 

Sedona, Arizona – We did not spend much time in this town. It was getting late, but the mountain scenery was awesome here as well….not quite what it was around Jerome, but lovely indeed. Beautiful colors.

 

 

Flagstaff, Arizona – We spent 2 nights here driving around on Route 66.  The temperature was cool as it is high in the mountains. We were not terribly impressed with Flagstaff, but the ride up there from Sedona was great.

Walnut Canyon – More than 800 years ago, the Sinagua people lived in this canyon and farmed on the rim above. They stayed for about 100 years. They became known as The People Without Water – a tribute to their ability to turn a relatively dry region into a homeland. They lived in caves sheltered by overhanging rock ledges. We could easily see these caves. They grew corn and other vegetables (i.e., squash) on the canyon rim. The area was abundant with plants and animals so they had medicinal herbs and good hunting. There is evidence that Walnut Creek would provide water in abundance when the spring rains came and the winter snow melted. The people stored it in huge vessels to use throughout the dry season. Unfortunately, when the railroad brought souvenir hunters to the ancient dwellings, most of the artifacts were stolen or destroyed. There is enough evidence left to put together the daily life of these people and how they lived in such difficult conditions. Today Walnut Canyon is a National Monument. We found this Canyon, its people and its history very interesting.

Highway 191 – We were driving on Highway 180 heading south when we missed a turn and found ourselves on Highway 191. WOW! WOW! Absolutely breathtaking scenery, but it too us nearly 4 hours to drive 103 miles. Winding mountain  roads with hairpin turns….mostly driving 15, 20 and 25 miles an hour. Saw several herds of caribou and even a cow walking along the road. It took us until nearly dark to complete the trip, but we will have memories to keep of this beautiful mountain road…but we will never drive it again. It took us 120 miles out of our planned way.

A Confederate Flag – What a surprise it was to see this flag flying.

Clifton Copper Mining – We had never seen mining on a grand scale until we drove into the Clifton area. WOW! The sides of the mountains were cut away exposing colors of copper, pink, red, blue and white. AMAZING. Machines with buckets that were enormous. Rocks moving on conveyor belts to be crushed and the copper removed.  Trucks hauling huge loads of mountain rock. We were told that turquoise is also found in with the copper.  We spent the night in Morencie, sister city to Clifton hat also has dormitories for the mine workers.

A few more photos I thought interesting. Hope you do too.

We are in Texas tonight. Where will we be tomorrow? Well, we really don’t know. We have no definite plans except to return to Minnesota one of these days when the tulips and the lilacs are blooming…..and the grass is getting green and the snow is gone. We travel on!