The Painted Desert.

There is a side to my personality that wants to push the limits of my endurance. After Gene and I arrived in Chicago from India, I chose to drive to OKC, a twelve hour journey! This was after a long international flight. When I woke up this morning, I had a chat with myself--- no way was I going to drive straight through to OKC. I woke up late deliberately; that's not too hard to do! Then, I drove slowly, that was a bit more difficult. Then, I made myself take the exit for the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. Even though I have seen this beautiful park before, I knew the only way I would not test my endurance was if I simply didn't have enough time to make it to OKC in one day from Winslow.

I am glad I took my time today, I drove slowly through the Painted Desert, it always reminds me of spumoni the delicious Italian ice cream dessert. I almost want to take a spoon to the delicious looking mounds. Fear not, I only think about it!

The Petrified wood really fascinates me, I want to take a big chunk home with me, but I resist the strong urge. Instead I took pictures of the colourful trees. As you exit the park the rangers ask you if you enjoyed your drive through and then politely ask if you removed any petrified wood? I am sure no one is going to admit to taking anything, yet the park has been pillaged since it's discovery. I am reminded of a policeman who stopped me from picking up a stone from Mount Rushmore. He eloquently said "Young lady, I am as serious as a heart attack, you can't pick up a rock from here. If I let you take a rock, then everyone else will want one too, and pretty soon we won't have a mountain left". Those were the days when I used to pick up rocks as souvenirs, I ain't like that no more! I am a reformed rockoholic.

After my side trip to the Painted Desert, I drove on through. It was hard to say goodbye to Arizona.  New Mexico is interesting too, I find Arizona's beauty in a class by itself. Tomorrow  

I will be home, and I would not have pushed the limits. It will be an easy drive from Santa Rosa to OKC. There are no more road trips in the near future for me. I guess I need to start planning where I will drive to next summer. Nova Scotia has been intriguing me of late!