After leaving the snow covered campground behind, we retraced our route through the San Franciscan Peaks – mountain range right outside of Flagstaff – and headed east for our last few days of camping. There was another park en route to the petrified forest and painted desert with more native American ruins we decided to visit. This ancient (abandoned) pueblo is part of an ongoing research partnership between national parks and the Hopi tribe, investigating the lives of the Homol’ovi, a nomadic people whom the Hopi consider their ancestors. Bought a book of Hopi oral history and legends to try to piece this all together when I get home. The wild (actually feral; they left the reservation years ago and live on the open range alongside grazing cattle) burros below crossed the road in front of us on our way back to the campsite. The horned lizard crossed the footpath on the way to Homol’ovi II, one of the dig sites.
We stayed for two nights and drove to the Petrified Forest NP. Took the easy way and did most of the sights from the 20 mile drive through the park, only stopping now and again to take some photos.
The Ultimate Road Trip 