America the beautiful. This set is from my drive through Arizona earlier this month on Route 66.
The posts of the drive across the state with all the old cars and motels will follow soon (although there is one old car in this set, too). This post is about the utter beauty of the Arizona desert. (Photographer’s note: it was mostly clear blue skies on the days I was in Arizona, and hence I deliberately did not include too much of the uninteresting sky in the pictures.)
Only the first grouping is actually on Route 66. We start in the Painted Desert in eastern Arizona not long after crossing the state line from New Mexico. These photos are from the other worldly Petrified Forest National Park. It is is the only park in the US National Park System containing a section of Historic Route 66. There’s a pullout in the park near the Mother Road where the NPS has placed a donated 1932 Studebaker. The NPS is a lot of things – a true national treasure – but not usually whimsical; it is a nice touch.
There is also some impressive architecture in the park. First, some fine mid-century architecture: the Painted Desert Community Complex (designed by Richard Neutra and Robert Alexander in 1958). Read more about it here. Next, the pueblo revival Painted Desert Inn – on Route 66 and opened in 1940 and initially managed by the Fred Harvey company. The Harvey Company’s distinguished house architect, Mary Jane Colter, had significant involvement in its interior design. It was almost demolished in the 70s but thankfully has been saved. Read more about it here.
Next, a side trip to Red Rock Country. It is said that “God created the Grand Canyon but He lives in Sedona.” It is truly stunning. Wow. No words. The Sedona grouping begins just after the three photos of the Painted Desert Community Complex. The first two were taken on the scenic byway drive to Sedona. There was an observation deck at the hotel where I took the sunset shots.
Meet one of the volunteers at Slide Rock State Park (on the road to Sedona). He and two others restored those tractors from the old apple orchard there. He is from Syracuse NY originally but that was many years ago. Lived in Half Moon Bay for 15 years but now calls Arizona home.
On the drive back to Flagstaff from Sedona I stopped off at the Montezuma Castle National Monument near Camp Verde. Meet one of the park rangers who had encyclopedic knowledge of the site. It is said to be one of the best preserved cliff dwellings. I also finally stopped to try the frybread after seeing stands at so many places. It was delicious. Meet, too, the chef: his mother is Navajo and father Apache. He served in Desert Storm (Artillery) and was also stationed in Germany for several years – mostly Bamberg. He knew Wiesbaden where my grandmother is from and where my aunt and cousins live. Small world. We had a good chat. It’s a family stand. I thanked him for his service and the delicious frybread.
Another side trip (from Flagstaff) was the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. In winter snow. Also stunning. I stayed right in the Village at the canyon rim. It’s cold but otherwise a fantastic time to visit. I did not hike down and did my photography from the rim at various points. The late afternoon and sunset shots were from Mather Point and Yavapai. The one dawn shot in the set is from Yavapai. The views were incredible. The people dangerously taking selfies at the edge were let’s just say a bewildering (and scary) wonder to watch. Is that selfie that important that one risks one’s life? A park ranger told me that 25 people died at the Grand Canyon last year; I certainly saw quite a number of this year’s candidates. Darwin in action.
The other photos were taken at the Village and then at Yaki Point and various other places along Desert View Drive during a long morning photo shoot. Read about the history of the various park buildings here (a number of which were by Mary Colter as well). The train station is where the trains from Williams arrive. (I sure would like to try that another time and on the day they run the old steam locomotive. More here.) The small building just before the picture of the Desert View Watchtower is the Tusayan Museum by the Tusayan ruin.
On the drive back to Flagstaff I did two stops. First, I pulled over at the Little Colorado River Gorge on Navajo Nation lands. Pictured is the Navajo artist from whom I purchased a handmade bracelet for my granddaughter. I was thankful for the warning sign about the wildlife on the walk. Next, the ancient pueblos at Wupatki National Monument.
Finally, the last four pics were taken in the far western part of the state in Mojave County on the Oatman Highway from Kingman through the Black Mountains: a couple of shots at Sitgreaves Pass and then one last shot on the western side of the mountains not far from the California state line. A very different look and topography. The desolation of the Mojave Desert on Route 66 in California cometh…but that’s another post.
