Post Eclipse - the Road Home

I fully expected the large amount of eclipse traffic to put a strain on the limited resources of Bluff, Monument Valley and Kayenta.  With that in mind our return did not include Mexican Hat and Tuba City, but Mexican Water and Canyon de Chelly.

Canyon de Chelly is not as impressive as the Grand Canyon, but never a disappointing stop.

The canyon was strutting a green layer during this visit. 

Spider Rock

There are working farms on the canyon floor.

A beautiful place to try to make a living

We hiked the trail to the White House on our last visit.  Both the overlook and trail were closed this visit.

The following morning we entered the east side of the Petrified Forest National Park.

Colorful mounds of the Painted Desert.

Lots of ‘glyphs at Newspaper Rock, but the shadows made them hard to photograph.

Is that a shore bird catching a frog, or a stork delivering a baby?

A large Kiva

Fran catching some shade at one of the old  hotels.

A petrified log with a concrete support over a seasonal creek.

There are lots and lots of petrified wood and logs on the western section of the park.

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From the Petrified Forest we continued west to Winslow, AZ.

The Eagles song ‘Take it Easy’ created instant fame for ‘Standin on the Corner in Winslow Arizona’.

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The first time we stopped here this was a ‘Flatbed Ford’, with a mannequin in the driver’s seat.  The 'stake bed' must have been added for safety reasons.

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I read Jodee and Bill’s blog ‘On the Road Abode’.  It was from Jodee that I learned the Fred Harvey Hotel La Posada was in Winslow and had been fully restored.

Built in 1930, La Posada is the last of the great Fred Harvey hotels built along the Santa Fe Railway.  La Posada means a place to rest, or resting place in Spanish.  It is defiantly that.

We wandered the halls for a bit

and the gift shop, before continuing our homeward journey.

Our last night on the road found us in Quartzite and Silly Al’s Pizza for dinner.

We ordered a large half Al’s Combo and half Vegetarian.

Although we’ve been to Quartzite before, this was our first time to dine at Silly Al’s.  Our opinion is the roasted cashews on the vegetarian are unnecessary and do not add anything.  The crust is very good.  The ingredients on the combo also were very good.  But the cheese … What’s with the cheese ??? No matter how long we chewed on it, it only took the texture of soft bubble gum.  I doubt that we’ll be there again, but if so, we’d order the pizza without cheese.

As we left in the morning we stopped and paid respects to Hi Jolly

The Army’s first camel wrangler.

And Celia.  To me her Rainbow Garden also represents the strength of community and the power of a young girl to bring it together.

Fran did select an Inspirational rock which will remain in our travels.

It’s my birthday! and brother Marty treated us to lunch in Old Town.  He and Juanita will share a medium margarita.

While looking over the menu.  

Fran and I each had the small house margarita with lunch.

The official Dia de los Muertos is November 2nd.  It is celebrated differently throughout various parts of Mexico.  In Old Town the decorations go up on October 1st and remain until at least November 3rd.

The female skeletons are called Catrina, while the male are called Catrin.

I did a full blog on the Day of the Dead last year.  Rather than repeat that info, you can find that blog HERE.  This year I’m looking only for a Barbie Catrina.   Surprising I only found this one.

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On a sad note, the Royal Rooster has closed :(  Cory Rapp, head chef and owner, simply said ‘it s time for me to leave’.  We will continue our visits to Aquarius and wait to see who takes over the Royal Rooster.

Fran’s Jeep is going to have a couple tough weeks ahead, as Aj wants to learn to drive a stick shift.

Gotta love the burning smell of the new clutch ….