After a late start, we drove from California to Williams Arizona, where we stayed overnight so we could sight see the next day. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the early start I’d hoped, and if you’ve ever been to the Grand Canyon, you’ll know it’s not exactly a place you can absorb in a couple of hours. There’s a lot to do there. Dad wanted to do everything, and I had to keep reminding him how long certain activities take to do – especially with both of our back problems. In the end we caught a couple of buses to a few places around the park, took lots of pictures; Dad, ever the socialite, chatted up so many people that it was nice when it was just the two of us again. I love hanging out with my dad. We get along really well and aside from religion, we share a lot in common.

Realizing what time it was, we decided to head out on our way to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest hoping to make it before the sun set. The Impact Crater didn’t happen. We drove up to it, decided the Petrified Forest was more important, grabbed a brochure and turned around. Unfamiliar with the park and the area, we passed the Petrified Forest and started at the Painted Desert – which was beautiful. Then we drove down the windy road from the North of the park to the South, where the Petrified Forest is. By the time we got there, the sun was behind clouds on its way to setting. My camera ran out of batteries on route. Super Lame! I had to share, Dad’s – which wasn’t a serious loss – just annoying. At least we got in a few pictures before it got dark enough to encourage mosquitoes and we retreated to the car. After hopping back in our car and back through the park we were back on track toward New Mexico.

The next morning we drove from Gallup, New Mexico to our house in Denver, which needless to say is a very long trip. One thing I discovered along the way were bear crossing signs at the boarder of Colorado and New Mexico. My first bear crossing sign. I love checking all the different animal crossing signs in different states. After an entire day of non-stop driving, we made it home to see Crow, but by then the stars were out.

Regardless, this was a great opportunity for Dad to meet Crow. They hit it off so well that the next day, Dad got so absorbed in hanging out that we didn’t leave the house until almost sundown. It’s great to have a partner that your parents approve of. I’ve dated my fair share of crap, and it’s a nightmare to date someone your parents hate. Even if you’re only doing it because they keep insisting you break up (yeah, I did that). So at least the late start was for a great reason.

By the time we made it into the mountains, and then our destination of Breckenridge, it was dark. But finally it was a chance to completely unload the car. The next journal will cover my week in Breckenridge.