IT WAS ALL MY FAULT....MAY 04 2012......

Thursday we left Gilbert heading north to Page, where we would spend the night.  It was 70 degrees.

As we drove north the temp dropped, by the time we were an hour out of Flagstaff it was raining (in the desert yet), upon arriving at Flagstaff for lunch guess what - IT WAS SNOWING.  Yes, there was snow mixed with the rain, temp 37 degrees.

The game plan was after eating we would visit Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki Pueblos.  If we had to do it in the snow, so be it.

Just as we arrived at the park entrance, the rain/snow finally stopped.  Just for us!  But the wind started blowing, really blowing.  So as we did our walking tour of the park, it was really cold.  Luckily we all had jackets with us, just in case.

Today I will share Sunset Crater with you.

Roughly 900 years ago, not really all that long, the eruption of this volcano reshaped the surrunding landscape, forever changing the lives of people, plants, and animals.

Walking trough the park we discovered the colorful ruggedly dramatic geological features, co-existing with twisted Ponderosa Pines.

Sunset Crater National Monument was established by President Herbert Hoover on May 26 1930 to protect its geologic formations. In 1990 the name was changed to SUNSET CRATER VOLCANO NATIONAL MONUMENT.  It covers 3,040 acres of ground, surrounded by the Coconini National Forest.

This was an awesome day.  We walked on the volcanic ash, (just like in Hawaii), photographed the mountains in the background covered with snow (just like in Alaska), we weren't sure just what state we were in.

Upom completing our tour of the crater, we proceeded to the Wupatki area to visit the pueblos.  I will go into that part of our day tomorrow, hopefully.

Now you can see why Linda called home to bossman informing him that he had better be at the airport first thing in the morning as they were shipping me home - the weather was all my fault!

Now, places to go and things to do.  Hope your day is good and God Bless.