Holbrook, AZ and the Petrified Forest

June 11 - 12, 2018:

The ride today could have been all I-40 at 70 MPH, but instead I slowed it down by taking historic route 66 for about 35 miles.  It wasn’t really a very interesting section of the Mother Road, but it was a more relaxed ride.  Of course, coming into Gallup, New Mexico I had to exit I-40 and take route 66 through the downtown area.  I could have stopped for hours and wandered around, but I’ve done that before and I don’t want to leave Twinkles waiting too long for me in Holbrook.  After Gallup, it’s back onto I-40 west through more Indian country, past several roadside Trading Posts, the Petrified Wood National Park entrance and to our destination in Holbrook, New Mexico.

Remains of an old Trading Post on route 66

I just can't resist train photos in front of mountain views

The El Rancho in Gallup is where the stars hung out

Many Indian souvenirs can be had along this route

I went into this shop at the Continental Divide and bought a soda 

We have been to Holbrook a few years ago staying at the same OK RV Park.  We’ve done and seen about everything here, but it’s still nice to come back to familiar places.  The petrified wood here is incredible, it’s everywhere.  We’ve been to many places where they are excited about a few logs, but here the streets are lined with it, if you dig a hole here, you probably hit petrified wood.  We always go to Jim Gray's Petrified Wood where they have a huge lot filled with huge petrified logs of all sizes for sale.

I thought about getting one, but they weigh tons and cost thousands

There is a huge inventory

The Rock Shop is one of the most interesting in Holbrook,
but always appears to be closed

A building built from petrified wood

Holbrook is a most interesting town with its route 66 nostalgia, its wild shoot em up cowboy history, the Indians, the Railroad, the gateway to Petrified Forest National Park and adjacent to I-40 with several Hotels and dining options.  I believe this is the 4th time I have visited over a period of 8 years and not much has changed over the years.  The historic downtown still appears depressed and half vacant and the newer business district isn't much better.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holbrook,_Arizona

It's very quiet these days on the Bucket of Blood Street 

I keep expecting some revival of this store, not yet

  

One of my favorite murals in Holbrook, on the side of
Corral Bar 

Probably the most photographed view in Holbrook

Along with this one of the Tee Pee Motel

I keep waiting for someone to do something with
this historic area and the original Bucket of Blood Saloon 

We go for dinner at Romo's Mexican & American Cafe which was very good and as we were sitting there we saw Indian dancing going in the park across the street.  It was very nice, there were many dancers, of all ages in great costumes.

Romo's is one of the top rated restaurants in Holbrook

We’ve been to Petrified Forest National Park a couple of times and it’s still amazing to see.  The colors and textures along the Blue Mesa Trail are the best for me and in spite the 95 degree temperature we do it again.  The Painted Desert Inn is always great to and the Painted Desert view from Tawa Point is incredible.  The ice cream at the Painted Desert Inn sure was good in the 95 degree heat.

It all began about 225 million years ago when when this area was located near the equator with a tropical climate.  The trees fell, became buried and eventually became petrified. After much tectonic continental movement and uplift the wood and fossils were exposed by erosion.  I wonder if this cycle is continuing now ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrified_Forest_National_Park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_Desert_Inn

That what it looked like 225 million years ago

This is a huge tree which has been reassembled for display

The colors vary much depending on the minerals they
were exposed to

There are many great views along overlooks in the park

A sign on the Blue Mesa Trail

The colors and layers are incredible

Twinkles looking at it all in amazement

The Painted Desert Inn was built by the CCC in 1937 - 1940.
It was a Harvey House Restaurant from 1947 - 1963

Great Hopi Indian murals inside painted by an Indian 
artist Fred Kabotie 

A better view of the Painted Desert Inn

The actual Painted Desert

I feel like I an doing a farewell tour, first Santa Fe, then through Gallup to Holbrook and now on to Globe, all places we have spent considerable time at.   

The next and last stop is Globe, Arizona before we return to Tucson;

Twinkles and Slick