Day 9 (4/30/22): We were Petrified!

Begin:                               Holbrook, AZ

End:                                  Chambers, AZ

Miles:                               45

Elevation:                        1,850 feet

It was relatively easy pedaling today, but it was probably one of the more interesting, rides as the day centered around Petrified Forest National Park.

I rode about 2 hours to the park in the morning and caught up with Tish for a walking tour of the many, many examples of petrified wood.  It’s really hard to explain so there are some pictures in the gallery, but essentially (and as many of you know, I’m no scientist), time, pressure, and sediment deposits turn a fallen tree into solid rock.  The formations were very cool as was the geography throughout the park. 

We had lunch as we were walking, and then I rode the rest of the park (more very cool petrified wood and geologic formations) and Tish did more touring and took in the museum.  We met up at an overlook of the pained desert which was stunning.

As has been the case since we started this journey, every day is different than the rest.

Some random observations

• I saw the greatest epitaph on a plaque on our tour for Stephen Mather who helped found the National Park System. I read, “There will never come an end to the good that he has done”. We all should do so well.

• Look at today’s Google Doodle. Unbelievably appropriate.

• For a forest, there was very little shade.

• We found my electric razor this morning.  This was a very big deal.  I had promised Tish I would not grow a beard during the trip, and we were to the point where she told me I’d be using shave cream and one of her prehistoric Bic razors.  Phew. 

• I know tumbleweeds are very “weterny”, but they’re big trouble for cyclists.  They quite thorny which can only prove problematic for tires.  I had a small one blow into the bike the other day, but have managed to avoid flats to this point.

 What I’m Grateful for Today

• Mrs. Heyman—more specifically, Mrs. Heyman’s 12th grade AP English class in 1981-82—for the group of friends that came together and have managed to stay connected (as best we can) over the years.  A lot of us knew each other leading up to our senior year, but somehow in September and October in 1982, we gelled into a very close group of 20 or so kids who had the time of our lives as we rang out our youth.  Our crew included folks who weren’t in Mrs. Heyman’s class, but somehow that seemed to be the spark that not only led to a great year, but also lifelong friendships (more on that in the future).  I’m really proud to be part of this group for the people they have all become.  Among us are doctors, attorneys, business executives, writers, engineers and of course fantastic husbands, wives, mothers, and fathers.  This group made me a better person in so many ways, and I’m so glad social media allows us to stay more connected now more than ever. 

  Big day of riding tomorrow with a full pack. Not sure I’ll get to blog.