June 14 - Flagstaff AZ

Very interesting day.  We took the Wypatki loop road 545 off Hwy 89 north of Flagstaff.  We saw painted deserts, ruins, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument.  Sure glad I had my lifetime pass to National Parks and Federal Lands.  It will make a very big difference on this trip!

It felt like we were on another planet at the Sunset Crater Volcano. It is so unique and spectacular that words fail to describe it.  The drive to the volcano allows you to see the lava flow beside the road.

Wupatki! Here in one of the warmest driest places on the Colorado Plateau, with little obvious food or water, people lived and others visited from far and wide. Trade items from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico have been discovered here. Spectacular ruins at the Wupatki Pueblo just take your breath away. This ruin is one of the most impressive masses of aboriginal masonry.  It is visible for many miles.

We also got to stop at a couple of smaller ruins along the road and saw the most beautiful Painted Desert as we came around a corner.  As usual, when driving in Arizona, the scenery changes completely every 15-20 minutes.

Our ceiling air conditioner will be replaced on Monday so we’re in Flagstaff until then but there is so much to see and do here that we will definitely not be bored; if anything it will be difficult to choose where to go in our limited time here.  Since it’s at 7,000 feet, it’s also relatively cooler; high in the low 80’s so not too bad at all.  We are at the Flagstaff Grand Canyon KOA last night and tonight but will move to another campground for Saturday and Sunday just for a change.