Friday, May 5, 2017--Gallup, NM, Petrified Forest National Park to Flagstaff, Arizona--232 miles

     At 8:30 this morning when we left Gallup, NM (elevation 6564) the temperature was 35 degrees. We were sailing along I-40 (Old Route 66) through new landscapes and the Navajo nation (Tony Hillerman country).

     Suddenly we noticed we were about to go through the Petrified Forest National Park. We have been near many national parks we have not visited on this birding trip, but we  could not pass up one that we actually were in. 

     There was a 45 minute/28 mile auto loop and we decided as we only had 190 miles planned for today we could spare an hour or so.

     We were intrigued by the Painted Desert Inn, trading post turned museum with its beautiful architecture and built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. There were many one-of-a-kind handcrafted details.

     Original fountain menu from Painted Desert Inn

     There were more colorful painted deserts and flowers

     more flowers and a walk to ancient pueblo ruins

and many petroglyphs. The ancient ones certainly captured a likeness of the White-faced Ibis in this rock art.

     We enjoyed an occasional bird.  We tried to make this into a Chihuahuan Raven, but it appears to be a very fluffy Common Raven

     A Rock Wren and a Say's Phoebe also entertained us.

     One of the Tepee formations and Painted Hills

     An antelope guarding his mate

     Petrified logs sat upon the Painted Hills and the Blue Mesa

     A petrified log bridge. The concrete support was put under it to preserve it 100 years ago. So far it is working. 

     More petrified logs

     Our 45 minute auto tour took 4 1/2 hours! But it was very enjoyable and interesting. Then we continued westward and were rewarded by the changing landscape coming into Flagstaff, AZ, elevation 6923 feet, with snow on the mountain. As Arizona does not subscribe to Daylight Savings Time, it was an hour earlier.

     Tonite we are staying in another La Quinta motel--campgrounds are hard to come by here and we are all enjoying the space and comfort.

Today Our Eyes Were On

Many colors and shapes of geology and geography and Southwest architecture

Westward progression!