Painted Desert area is in north of the park.
We originally thought that this park was everything about
dry-out woods (that was what we interpreted "petrified forest") but turned
out the desert view here was the first surprise of that day.
Painted Desert
(Click for enlarged view 72K)
Painted Desert is literally as its name. It was so
colorful just like painting. It is quite natural that grey or maybe brown can be seen in
a typical desert. I couldn't imagine that red, green, yellow and white can also be
mixed to paint the ground.
on our way to the park we saw dust storms a couple times
on I-40. It got worst as we reched the park. The heavy clouds with powerful blowing
winds blew the sands and dusts that shaded the whole area with grey veil.
We arrived here around 4:30 in the afternoon. It was
so windy that we were afraid that a heavy strom might strike us soon.
I forgot to ask the park ranger if that was the normal weather here.
Should there be anything desired other than the weather, it
certainly was the time. We got here too late and we had to get back to Sedona (about 120
miles away) for booked lodging so it left us no choice but rushing all the way.
It was not in original plan so there was nothing to complain.
Should I come back next time I will walk down closer to the desert and feel the whole
environment.