"A few minutes of solitude in majestic nature is bliss and is food for the soul. Lucky are the ones who can have it, for they have indeed enriched their souls. People too busy to take time out for these moments to connect with their souls through nature have definitely suffered unknowingly. So take heed and take time out each day to connect with nature, for that is food for the soul." - Sohail Mahmood
After my unfortunate and intense last day at Apache Junction, I was happy to be on the road. I got a late start but took full advantage of everything along the way. It was supposed only to be a 3/1/2 hour drive from Apache Junction, but I took my time and enjoyed the scenery's beauty. I followed the Superstition Mountains along Highway 87 for a while; they were majestic and stunning, so much so that I had to take a picture of Fern with them.
It was a serene and peaceful windy drive through the mountains, and I enjoyed every minute of it and got lost in my thoughts. So many thoughts... 😊
I pulled over for a while to stretch my legs and hiked around this big guy. It was a perfect day for a hike, and I was happy to be out of the car for a while. I don't think Fern minded staying behind for a while.
I wish I could have stayed longer, but I hoped to reach our destination before dark. Fern requires some attention to settle in for the evening, and it's easier to do in the daylight.
I passed by this lake and had to turn around to see what it was about. This is Saguaro Lake, and it's stunning, nestled in the Superstition Mountains just twenty minutes from Mesa, Arizona. This picture doesn't begin to do it justice. As the name suggests, the shores of the lake are studded with the majestic Saguaro cactus. I was tempted to ask these people if they would mind an extra passenger in their boat. lol
It was stunning to drive by and see all of the Saguaros on the mountainside. It's not a great picture out of my window, but how many there were was unbelievable! 🌵
This was a fantastic stretch of highway outside Holbrook. The picture is blurry, but the sunset lit the sky with stunning colors. I felt so grateful to be witnessing it. 🌅 I didn't want the sun to set so I could enjoy it as long as possible.
We got to our campsite after dark and settled in for the evening.
I woke up early the following day and set out for the Petrified Forest National Park. As you enter the park, you are met with some multi-hued badlands. They were nothing like I had witnessed previously on my trip, but I could certainly appreciate their beauty, and I am always in awe of what it took for them to form.
These petroglyphs were created by the ancestral Puebloan people living, farming, and hunting along the Puerco River between 650 and 2,000 years ago. It was amazing to see this in person.
I just thought this was a cool picture, and it reminds me how brutal the desert can be. Unfortunately, it also reminds me of my dry skin now that I'm going through menopause. 🤨
I loved this portion of the painted desert and had to get out and walk around for a while. It reminded me of driving through the Marble Canyon.
This beautiful park is 28 miles of vibrant badlands, painted desert, rolling hills, and places to pull over to see stunning historic petrified wood and petroglyphs. You can get through it in an hour, but I suggest taking your time and soaking it all in.
This guy was hanging out, hoping to distract everyone from reading the sign. Honestly, I think he could have come up with a better strategy.
So here's the story of the petrified forest. It is thought that over 225 million years ago, an enormous forest of sequoia trees up to 200 feet tall covered this area. They think several volcanic eruptions destroyed the area, and the trees were covered with water, ash, and mud.
This was the breeding ground for the petrified logs and other fossils. Silica replaced most of the organic wood and caused crystallization in various stages in the wood. Because of the silica, the trees were preserved and turned into quartz. Later when the desert landscape was formed, and the Southwest became higher through wind and water erosion, the petrified logs returned to the surface. These trees could be 211 to 218 years old!
There is a myth about the Petrified Forest. In the 1930s, visitors reported being cursed with bad luck after taking pieces of petrified wood from the park. Apparently, the curse continues today and is part of the park's history.
There is a room dedicated to people who have returned pieces of the petrified wood they took from the park with notes of their confessions and tales of their tragedies. It's called the Rainbow Forest Room. People have written that their lives have been totally destroyed. They thought if they returned the pieces, their luck would change. Unfortunately, the pieces cannot be returned to the park because they are out of scientific context.
Needless to say, I did not physically touch a piece of rock or take anything out of the park with me. I don't need to take any chances!
This stretch of the Blue Mesa was beautiful and not far from the painted desert.
It was leaving the Superstition Mountains, driving through the Saguaros, and spending time in the Petrified Forest National Park that I reflected on several things I had discovered about myself on this trip. One thing I have experienced was a sense of pure freedom. It has been an opportunity to feel the lightest I have ever felt with no possessions to anchor me down. I have let go of obligations, expectations, and lists of things to do. Perhaps I needed to be free of all these things to dive inward and fully let go of everything holding me back from the past.
I had to sit with all of my insecurities and be the most vulnerable I have ever been with myself. Ultimately, it was a raw, natural, peaceful, and magical experience. Maybe this was the point of my trip.
Next stop... White Sands National Park in Alamogordo, New Mexico
Stay Wild 🌿
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