Spring Break Trip - Day 7

Up pretty early again, but kids now getting used to time-zone... Left before 0900L and drove towards New Mexico. Stopped a little while in Winslow, AZ - famous from the "Eagles" song "Take it Easy." The smart folks there have built a tribute park - complete with guitar-playing hero (statue) and a window-reflection view of the "girl, my Lord" and her flat-bed Ford. As we drove out of town, the tourism channel was playing the song... Next stop was Subway for lunch. We spent most of the rest of the morning and early afternoon at the Petrified Forest National Park. In addition to the obvious attractgion, it is really the only park in the area that features great views of the Painted Desert. I made a mistake and didn't enter on the south side (off US-180) - that would have shortened the day a little... Still, we saw some really big tree sections (very colorful) and took a few short walks in valleys covered with petrified wood. There was a good museum about the animals who lived in the area many years ago - lots of fossils there too. Rest of the day was spent driving to Albuquerque. Not too bad of a trip - without snow! We were lucky, too, because as we reached the western edge of town the rain began and the temperature dropped below freezing. I-40 closed east of town and I was glad we already had our hotel from last year reserved. Had dinner at Burger King - with an indoor "play-place" jungle gym. At the hotel we barely had time for showers before bed (time zones again...). Tomorrow: Ellen and David!