One week, two AZ National Parks

This past week I celebrated my 43rd birthday!  I can't think of a better way to spend it than visiting a National Park that is especially special to us - Petrified Forest.  Long ago - gee, 23 years ago to be exact, when Husband and I moved to AZ, we stopped at this park to stretch our legs and see something of this new Western land we were calling home.  It was a hot day and we were two Michiganders out of our element in a foreign land.  We've visited a number of times since then, but each time it is different because we are different.  While it is amazing to see new sights, sometimes "old" sights are impressive for different reasons.  We can live in both the past and the present as we consider how humanity has changed, how we have changed, how our family has changed, and we can imagine the future.

Every National Park experience has the potential to transport you beyond yourself.  You get to time travel - in this park the kids pursued the Junior Paleontologist badge and were transported back millions of years. We also love to consider that this region of the country once had a climate like Costa Rica when it was part of Pangea.  The long arch of pre-history is alive here.  More recently Ancient Peoples called this home and made rainbow homes (Agate House) from all of the hardened timber.   

This park is about an hour from our land and we too have found evidence of ancient people in pottery shards and spear points.  It is likely the same ancient peoples lived in and carved the petroglyphs near the Puerco Pueblo (below).   

Lastly I was so impressed by the many wildflowers in this harsh high desert.  I don't think we have ever visited at this time of year and it was really beautiful.

The day after we  visited the park we drove down the mountain so that Husband could work his two in-person days.  What we did not expect was a freaking blizzard on the way down!

Nevertheless, we arrived in the valley safely and because it was so cold in the mountains the valley was cool and enjoyable in the mid 70s.  

The kids and I spent a nice day visiting friends on our first day.  On the second day we visited Casa Grande National Memorial.  Again we have visited this park before, many times, but the last time Sister and Brother were both a year younger.  Sister is getting a lot more out of the Junior Ranger program - so we decided to complete a second badge!

The Ancient People of the Sonoran Desert built an impressive compound and system of canals which fed the agricultural efforts of the community.  Apart from the vandalism of visitors past, the structures are well preserved and protected by the NPS.  According to the video in the visitor center the NPS has forged partnerships with the Native descendants of the community who hold ceremonies and festivals at the sacred site.  I found this aspect of the living history of the place very positive.       

The last thing to mention is that when we returned to Snowflake and our trailer - our heat wouldn't work.  We ended up calling a mobile repair service and he was able to fix it after one cold night.  Life is unpredictable and when you are living in an RV you have to roll with it!  So... that is a report of our busy week!  More adventures are on the horizon!