Friday, October 5, 2007

We flew from Jackson, arriving Albuquerque about 9:15 a.m. and after gathering our luggage, Jerry went to get the car while I waited on Carol and Anna Marie who arrived about 10:00 a.m. After gathering their luggage, we loaded the car and headed west for the Grand Canyon, some 400 miles down the road.

As we were on I-40 we were basically following the old Route 66 and stopped at one point for pictures of the old highway sign as well as pix of the Continental Divide. Then back on the road. Just so happens we passed right by the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest and decided to stop. It was well worth it. I had not seen the Painted Desert since I was a kid and the colors were absolutely gorgeous!!! The Petrified Forest is also a part of that park, just a few miles driving down the park road. The colors of the minerals in the petrified logs were amazing! The minerals are what filtered down and replaced the decaying wood of the trees leaving the logs "petrified". While the Petrified forest was beautiful and impressive, we all agreed that we liked the Painted Desert better.

Our stops put us into Grand Canyon later than we thought, in fact after dark. We enjoyed a glorious sunset on our way into the park, but our first glimpse of the great hole in the ground would have to wait until tomorrow.

We got checked in to Yavapai Lodge which is in the park but not on the rim and went to the cafeteria to have a late, light supper. Then to the rooms and to bed.