2014XC: Day 28, July 9 – Meteor Crater, Arizona to Grants, New Mexico

Packed up to leave our campground and headed for the “Meteor Crater”. We heard it was cool but it was a little pricey for a view of a big hole in the ground so we nixed it. As we were driving towards our next destination, we saw these “teepee” motels on the side of the road – they looked so cute! It reminded us of the “Cozy Cone Motel” in the Disney “Cars” movie we watched the other night while staying on historic Route 66.

The Arizona “Petrified Forest” was on our way so we stopped there. We went to the Visitor Center first and watched an informative video to find out how the forest came to be. Years ago when the area was first discovered, founders thought that the petrified logs had been carried there by water, a river or whatever. But they soon realized that instead the logs were just buried under water, and the eventually under silt and mud, then the minerals in the soil changed the composition of the wood. Years later, when the water receded or dried up and layers of the ground above it eroded away because of the rain, the now-petrified remains of a forest began to emerge. Pretty interesting stuff! On closer look, you could see all the different mineral growths in the wood-turned-to-stone. I don’t think the kids found this as interesting as Steve and I did, but oh well. Back on the road.

Continue through Arizona to Grants, New Mexico…

Stop for the night at the “Bar S RV Park” – nice clean place. 🙂