Day 68- Into New Mexico

Total Mileage: 7,910

Song of the Day: "Middle of Nowhere" (Hot Hot Heat)


Car's fine.  Petrified Forest was lame.  In New Mexico.  Hotel has the worst internet connection since dial-up, so might not be able to put up any photos of the Painted Desert.  Feeling kind of bleh.  Musing on denominational stuff, and that's probably not helping much.  Should really get around to finalizing my Texas schedule since I'll be there in a few days.  Hmm . . . maybe I'll go ahead and do that too.  Denominational musings coming soon.

Peace and Blessings,
Tom





PS-- Some pictures from the drive today:

On my way to the Petrified Forest, I managed to find the geographic middle of nowhere.  This was actually a really cool spot because, when I got out of the car, it was completely silent.  There wasn't even traffic noise or any wind-- just total silence.  Also, the road vanishing into the horizon like that was just an awesome sight to behold.

Apparently, there are dinosaurs at the Petrified Forest or something.

The sign promised "Free Petrified Wood."  At first, I was thinking that I could grab a big chunk of the stuff to put in my mom's garden back in Memphis.  What they gave me instead was a tiny pebble hot-glued to a piece of paper.  What a gyp.  This did not set a positive tone for my Petrified Forest experience.

I feel really bad for the rangers who work here: seeing people coming in all happy and then seeing them leave with that forlorn "That was it?" expression.  I made a point of smiling extra big at those poor rangers.  I don't envy their jobs.

A section of the Painted Desert.  Honestly, it looked a little more impressive off in the distance while driving on I-40.  Paying $10 and seeing it up close kind of killed the mystique.

Then again, maybe it just felt less impressive because I was at the Grand Canyon yesterday, and when it comes to desert land formations, you just don't really top the Grand Canyon.

Decided to have some more fun with the camera timer.  Figured I'd go for the moody and reflective vibe to reflect the fact that I was feeling moody and reflective.  High points of the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert: I got to buy more postcards to send Erin, and I managed to listen to the entire Tron soundtrack twice.  Low points: feeling like I just paid to make my drive to Albuquerque twice as long and far less eventful.  Won't be coming here again.