“Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
First Come the Reds
A colorful landscape as far as the eye can see. — Photo by Pat Bean
Getting off Interstate 40 to follow the Mother Road, Route 66, through Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park made for a fantastic 25-mile detour.
Red was the dominant color in this section of the Painted Desert. — Photo by Pat Bean
Journey with me this week and I’ll share the treasured eye jewels. I hope you enjoy the vivid landscapes as much as I did.
Today’s photos of the Painted Desert were taken near the northern entrance to the park.
Bean’s Pat: Molly’s Story http://tinyurl.com/7p5aq78 A heart warming story about a horse that had a will to live and survive.
*This daily award is this writer’s opinionated choice for best blog of the day. There are no requirements for accepting it.
Pat Bean's blog 
I have pictures taken by my dad of this area when he traveled through there from VT to CA to work in an airplane factory during WWII. However, they are all in B&W so can’t see the colors. I do have a piece of petrified wood he picked up then too.
Digital cameras make photographing easy and cheap. It’s one of those things that has made my life more colorful. I wish I had gone to it sooner. But your black and white photos are probably pretty special, especially these days when film is getting hard to come by. Thanks for commenting Deborah.
I really miss this part of the country. Just beautiful colors and such a sense of peacefulness there. I loved the petrified forest – my husband was properly bored while I ran around oohing and awwing at the trees.
Thanks for coming with me on my journey Bella.
It is truly a colourful landscape.
What fun- your blog is like a road trip for me without leaving home.
I’m glad you’re accompanying me.
Breathtaking… loving the trip, thanks to you.
Love the name & the colours – “Painted Desert”, beautiful.
I once had a photo from I40…it was an overcast day and the red desert was refecting on the dark grey smooth sky…ahhh, talk about wanting to stop and see it through. I want to one day wonder and wander like you are doing!!!..and spend the TIME needed …you are so blessed to have the life you have! Do you ever worry about safety or is that just really a fruitless fear?
After being a journalist for 37 years, with daily deadlines, I love having time to wander and wonder. I’ve not had a single, scary moment regarding my safety in eight years. I travel in daylight hours only and spend my nights in state and national parks, or secure commercial parks, and lock my doors at night. I feel I’m as safe, if not safer, than I would be living alone in a home and driving to the grocery store. I would love to stay at less expensive, or free, forest service lands, and occasionally do, but for the most part find them a bit too isolated (unless they’re well used and have campground hosts) for my peace of mind. It’s my strong belief that people need to take care for their safety, yet at the same time not give the world over to the bad guys. Besides, while I consider myself a tough old broad, others often see me as the little old lady they want to help across the street. Thanks for commenting PJ. And I hope your future holds much wandering/wondering time.