5/09/-5/13/2007

5/09/2007
We were up early this morning getting ready to leave the Coconino Forest for Phoenix. At about 7 o'clock we got some unexpected visitors. First off to the east I saw two green balloons that looked like they were landing just over the ridge. While I was watching them one of our neighbors came out a said look behind you and this is what I saw. There were two of these balloons getting ready to land in our camping area. I want to keep reminding you that you can click on each picture to enlarge it. Also these are only a few of the pictures. You can click on my picture albums for more.
This was the first one to land but he was farther away.

This was the second one to land and he was only about 50 yards from the motorhome.

It certainly was interesting watching them land and deflate the balloons and roll them up and stow them in the trucks. They had two chase trucks with them and about 5 ground creww for each balloon in the chase trucks. When the balloons got close enough to the ground the men on the ground grabbed the ropes and the baskets and pulled them down while one of them pulled what I called the "stopper" out of the top of the balloon to let the hot air out. Some of the people that rode in the balloon said they had been waiting for 3 days for a windless morning so they could go up. They said they saw deer, rabbits and javelins and of course a great view of the area. They took off at 6 o'clock and landed at about 8 so there ride was only about two hours. They said it cost $150.00.

After they left we headed for Phoenix (actually Mesa) and the Ambassador RV Park. Fortunately it was only a block from the repair shop.

5/10/2007

The next day we took the motorhome for repairs. While they were working on the motorhome we had to go to Glendale to pick up our catalytic heater which was also being repaired. I didn't realize how big the Phoenix metro area is. It was over thirty miles to Glendale. Actually there are many suburbs of Phoenix; Glendale, Mesa, Scottsdale, Apache Junction, Tempe and some smaller ones. They are all side by side. Thankfully, they finished the work on our motorhome. We stayed one more night at the RV park.

5/11/2007

We are finally on our way to traveling again or are we? On the way up the mountain to Flagstaff the motorhome started to over heat. The Cummins engine usually runs very cool, less than 1/4 on the gage. Thankfully it would cool down if we weren't pulling a steep grade, so we were able to make it to the Meteor Crater RV park. It's about 30 miles east of Flagstaff on route 40. I made some calls and have an appointment Monday to check the motor. I'm hoping that it is just a clogged air filter. The air filter is about 4 years old. In the mean time we are getting to visit the sites in this area.

5/12/2007

The Meteor Crater is only six miles down the road from the campground. We got up Saturday morning early to try to beat the heat. We got to the Crater at 8:15 and were just getting ready to buy the tickets when the guard came over to Peggy and told her that she would not be able to go on the guided tour because she had on open toed shoes. Peggy usually carries an extra pair of hiking shoes in the car. Naturally today she had neglected to put them in. So we had to go back to the motorhome to get her another pair of shoes. Fortunately we got back in time for the 9:15
guided tour. It was a mile long over some very rough rocks. The guide warmed that if you had heart trouble or were not use to they altitude (it is at 5300 feet) you might not want to go. We decided to try it. We actually made it out and back. They didn't have to send a rescue party. :-)
The crater was created by a meteor about 50,000 years ago. It was originally 750 feet deep but erosion has reduced it to about 500 feet deep. It is about 4000 feet wide. That's why I couldn't get the whole crater in, in one picture. They say you could put 200 football fields in the bottom of the crater.

This was one of our stops on the guided tour. The young lady on the left is the tour guide and the gentlemen on the right is one of the persons on the tour and I don't know the lady in the middle. :-)

5/13/2007

Today we went to the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. They were about 70 miles east on route 40. I didn't realize that they are connected but the Petrified Forest is the part on the south side of route 40 and the Painted Desert is the part on the north side of route 40. You can get to the south entrance by taking route 180 at Holbrook, which is what we did. So we started at the south end and worked our way north.

The Petrified Forest visitor center is just inside the park and has a great trail in back of it. It is covered in petrified trees and parts of petrified trees as you can see.

This is another area of the trail behind the visitor center.

These colors come from the different minerals that were absorbed to make this petrified wood.

This area is called the Jasper Forest and at one time was covered with petrified wood. However before the area was protected people would come out and haul the petrified wood away by the wagon load. Even after it was suppose to be protected but before there was any one here to protect it, it was still being stolen. Even today when it is illegal to remove any thing from the park, they estimate that they lose tons of it.

This area is called the Blue Mesa, this part is still in the petrified forest. Certainly is unique.

This is part of the Painted Desert. I must admit that after seeing Sedona I wasn't as impressed with this. It is pretty but Sedona's reds are deep and more impressive to me.

We ate lunch at the visitor center on the north end and then headed back to the motorhome. Had to fill up with gas at the Flying J in Winslow at $3.05 a gallon. Also stopped at the Wal-mart in Winslow for a few groceries. Tomorrow I'll take the motorhome into Flagstaff for the bad news.