Arizona & New Mexico

After leaving Sedona we headed off to the east and visited the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park. There is a 28 mile loop that you drive through with vista turnouts and signs explaining the phenomena in front of you. The colors and variation of the hills was remarkable, ranging from hues of pink, orange and purple, to black, grey and white.
From here we went south to Duncan, AZ winding through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (which is remarkably beautiful, but also extremely long and slow going). Unfortunately at the end of this amazingly picturesque journey is one of the biggest mines Pierce or I had ever seen. We did some research and found out that it is in the Clifton-Morenci district in Greenlee county and is the largest copper mine in the state of Arizona.
We finally pulled into Duncan around 8pm to find that no one and we mean no one was awake. every one's lights were out, no cars driving on the roads, it was eerie. We found a nice dark spot to park and hit the hay, when we woke up the next morning around 6:30 there was still no one to be seen. Needless to say we got the hell out of Dodge (or Duncan).
Next stop Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, fortunately for us there happen to be Gila Hot Springs in-route, so we stopped off for a soak and a little scrub (much needed). The guy running the place, Jim, was unreal. He has for the last 10 years worked as a guide at the cliffs and a local for many years. Pierce and I had a great time chatting with him and learning all about the surrounding area, both historically and agriculturally. Once up the Cliff Dwellings we had a nice 3 mile hike around and through the dwellings (a beautiful spot to build a home or religious gathering sight). Needing another soak and a rinse (solar showers are awesome!!!) we headed back to the hot springs and gave our new friend Jim our car plant (sorry Jen, it just wasn't gonna make it and we knew he would be the one to take care of it).
Socorro, New Mexico was our next stop, not only to check out The Capital Bar (one of the oldest in Texas) and to get dinner, but also to restock our food supply. Wal-Mart parking lots are a great spot to take EVERYTHING out of your van to repack it (definitely a necessity, my husband was going to lose his mind if he couldn't find one more thing). (Mind lost-PMK) We met a very nice couple from Seattle when we were at the San Miguel Mission taking pictures and wouldn't you know it they both work for REI and the guy, Adam, is a Field Test Analyst (in charge of giving products to everyday people to try out). How perfect is that? We exchanged info and Pierce and I are hoping to see them in Seattle and figure out how he got the greatest job in the world. It is like my brother Dennis getting paid to sample chocolate.
SURF'S UP- LOVE TO ALL.