Wupatki and all

Well now we are home and settled in to routine stuff. Coz back at work, does very odd shifts weekends and all and Rob busy on computer.

So we shop at Safeway, prices very equivalent, lots of new things to look at and try. Do not like chillies tho.

Bookmans have new and used books, mags and games, bought a couple of cassette audio books.

We have cable set up, eighty odd channels to scroll through, many advertorial ones.

Trying new food, Mexican great long as I avoid chillies. Everyone cooks versions of mexican, but they tone it down for me :-), we have had meals at Rob's Mum and Dads and at Laura and Mike's, all very yummy.

We had everyone over here for dinner on Tuesday night, a sort of election thing, the result was announced so early, everyone happy, this is the Democratic part of a very Republican state from what I can gather.


Halloween is massive here, I even got sort of dressed up, but the shops were stuffed with spooky stuff. All gone now, Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up.

Weather definitely cooling down, about 7 C today, very minus at night, light snow on peaks on Monday.

So to catch up on some adventures.

On Tuesday 21 Oct, Coz and I went out to see sights, first was the Sunset Crater Volcano site, a relatively recent event the area is still full of cindery stuff. Some of the other areas have been mined for cinders for use in building etc.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano was born in a series of eruptions sometime between 1040 and 1100. Powerful explosions profoundly affected the lives of local people and forever changed the landscape and ecology of the area. Lava flows and cinders still look as fresh and rugged as the day they formed. But among dramatic geologic features, you'll find trees, wildflowers, and signs of wildlife – life returns. (http://www.nps.gov/sucr/)

Onto -

Wupatki National Monument

Less than 800 years ago, Wupatki Pueblo was the largest pueblo around. It flourished for a time as a meeting place of different cultures. Yet this was one of the warmest and driest places on the Colorado Plateau, offering little obvious food, water, or comfort. How and why did people live here? The builders of Wupatki and nearby pueblos have moved on, but their legacy remains.

(http://www.nps.gov/wupa/)





Amazing area, apparently there was a bit more water around when these areas were inhabited, had to admire the way the buildings were constructed with and as part of the natural landscape.


Then I drove to lunch at the Cameron Trading Post, a souvenir shoppers paradise, but with so much to choose from it all was too much so we left with just the meal-this time.

yummy Navajo burger, hmmm fry bread

Drove the 53 miles home, the semi's here are huge and go on forever, overtaking them on the right is just weird but starting to feel rather normal. I have driven a bit since, but have to remember that the light switches are on the left otherwise one turns on the wipers, and the gear stick and park brake are on right, remembering to stay on the right side of road seems the easy bit!