The Painted Desert Loop: Day 3, part 2

 

                                                                            

The Painted Desert Inn


Heading farther down US 191, we finally made it to Interstate 40 and headed west. Our next stop was Petrified Forest National Park, embedded in the Painted Desert. Signs described the desert itself as over 700 square miles. It takes up a good chunk of northeastern Arizona.





The Painted Desert Inn started out as a private enterprise but was taken over by the US Government when the park was created. It was renovated in 1934 by the CCC. A ranger told me the CCC areas were littered with whiskey bottles. It looks like they spent their scant wages on booze.


                                                                          



I told the ranger some of those bottles might be collectible. Her answer was that they were considered "historic trash" and had to left in place. That term was new to me.


                                                                  More Historic Trash




The original Route 66 ran through the national park, so this old Studebaker remains as a point of interest.



More man-made artifacts are on display further along. The Rio Puerco Ruin dates from about 1250 CE.


                                                                               


Most of the structures have been covered up to protect them. These foundations are the exception.

                                              There are plenty of petroglyphs, though.


                                                                             




Overall, this park was very cool and we hadn't even gotten to the area with the high concentration of petrified trees.



                    South of the ruin is a four-mile loop around Blue Messa that is mind blowing!



Scattered through the badlands are probably thousands of petrified fallen trees that range in size from a few feet to nearly 100 ft.

                                                                              



One of the largest is called "Agate Bridge". Thay claim it is 100' long. It was reinforced with concrete years ago, but they say it will collapse eventually.


                                                                                    



I was formerly unaware of this park. It's truly worth visiting, whether you are experiencing the high desert or Route 66.

Leaving Petrified Forest, we ventured on to Holbrook, famous for tacky Route 66 stops. Our choice was the Wigwam Motel, but more on that later. Rejoin me late today or tomorrow morning. Ciao!

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