Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Our first sightseeing stop for the day was Meteor Crater which was about twenty miles west of Winslow, Arizona.  The exit off Interstate 40 was designed solely for this tourist attraction.  We followed the directional signs to the crater creating a long and straight drive.  In the distance, the road gradually inclined to the rim of the crater.

At the entrance, we paid senior citizen’s rate ($14 each), rode the elevator up to the top level, and stepped on to the mezzanine.  There was an official NASA space capsule on exhibit.  We entered the museum and then took the path to the rim.  The wind was very gusty that Tom almost lost his hat.  The crater was a mammoth hole in the ground with the rim extending to about one mile in diameter. The 360 degree panoramic view that extended for miles from the highest lookout was stunning.




Cyndie at Meteor Crater



Tom at Meteor Crater





           



              

We returned to the rig and headed for the interstate.  We proceeded through Flagstaff because we wanted to beat the snowstorm predicted for the area. 
The landscape in the Flagstaff was a dramatic change.  The elevation was higher and mountainous.  Ponderosa pine trees covered the mountains and gave a Rocky Mountain stereotype.  It was beautiful.  In contrast, the topography of the surrounding area was different consisting of flat plains with scrub grass and juniper bushes dotting the land.  The various types of vegetation provided an interesting comparison.

            




Ponderosa Pines at Flagstaff



East of Flagstaff









         

We made several stops because Tom was tired fighting the gusty winds.  Finally, we parked at a Shell station for the evening in Seligman, Arizona.  Alas, it was not a Wal-Mart parking lot.