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After the Petrified Forest we headed east toward Pennsylvania. It was a long, tiring, and fortunately uneventful ride. Some hi-lights(?):

New Mexico - Delicious smoked ribs that were definitely "fall off the bone".

Oklahoma - Windmills that extended in every direction for miles.

Arkansas - Dottie's favorite way to travel.

Tennessee - Can you sleep like this?

Tennessee - Interesting place to stay!

We spent two weeks in PA visiting family and friends, relaxing:

picking blueberries:

touring a local winery:

attending our hometown's Old Home Day festivities:

and watching fireworks:

We returned to Florida in time for doctor appointments, lawn and garden maintenance, family activities, entertaining unexpected guests, and just plain everyday life.

More downed branches

Our banana plant. Unfortunately we didn't provide it with extra support soon enough
and the plant  tipped over and broke.  No bananas!

Our granddaughter, Sarah, at an Oviedo HS football game.
She performs with the Marching Band's Color Guard.

Our unexpected guest. Apparently he didn't care for the accommodations as he left shortly after.

What can I say? Retired life is exhausting!

Our Last "Scenic" Stop - Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert

As we had to be back in Florida by the end of August it was time to start heading east. We weren't looking forward to the long days of driving so we made one last stop in Holbrook AZ to explore the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert.

Having lived in Florida for almost 30 years I am very familiar with Disney's "imagineering". When I walked out the door of the visitor's center Disney was the first thing that popped into my mind. The landscape looked too perfect, almost surreal.

It was hard to believe that these "rocks" were actually trees that lived 225 million years ago and remain today approximately where they originally fell. 

The colors in this chunk were gorgeous and glistened in the sun.

A large tree trunk. It had been cut in several places. Not sure if by scavengers
before the land was turned into a national park or by park rangers later.

On some chunks the colors were exposed . . .

. . . and other chunks were completely encased in the original bark. 

Some logs were very light in color and others much darker. Perhaps different kinds of trees?

The floor of the valley was littered in wood "rocks". Erosion has caused them to fall out of the surrounding bluffs.

Just to the north of the petrified wood deposits is the Painted Desert.

Tepee formation

Desert view. The colors are much more vibrant when seen in person.

Another view. Can only imagine how colorful the landscape must be at sunrise or sunset. 

Between 1250 and 1380 A.D. a Puerco Pueblo Village occupied this site.

They left behind the remains of their villages and many fine petroglyphs.

Back in Holbrook, in a rock shop, we found this pond made from petrified wood. It was ironic that while browsing the shop our son called to tell us that a very large tree branch had fallen into our pond back in Florida!

The next day we headed for Pennsylvania.

Lake Powell . . . Here We Come!

After recuperating in St George, we packed up the cats, pulled in the slides, and headed for Lake Powell.

First view of Lake Powell

We had an excellent site at the Lake Powell Marina and RV Resort . . .

. . . with a fantastic view.

One day we took a boat tour of Lake Powell and some of the adjacent canyons.

Lake side view of Glen Canyon Dam

Venturing into a canyon.

Tower Butte with Navajo Mountain in background.

Can you see the frog?

Another day we made a day trip  to the Navajo Bridge which crosses the Colorado River at Marble Canyon, southwest of Lake Powell. The original bridge was opened in 1929. A new bridge, built next to the original bridge, was opened in 1995. The original bridge is now used only for pedestrian traffic.

The new span is on the left.

The original span 

Marble Canyon and Colorado River

Below is a view of Glen Canyon Dam from the other side.

A view of the Colorado River downstream of the Glen Canyon Dam

There is so much to see and do in this part of the country but unfortunately it was time to start  heading east.

Next stop: Petrified Forest