We got on the road a little later today thanks to an extended visit to Camping World!  We got a few necessities then went to the other side and checked out a bunch of RV’s and campers.  At that point we had been there long enough to get free hot dogs and chips for lunch (score!).  The drive from Albuquerque to The Petrified Forest was the most beautiful drive yet.  Every turn was more beautiful than the last.  It made the drive go quickly despite more rain! (Isn’t this supposed to be a desert??).  We did a brief tour of a Uranium mining museum and learned a bit about mining. *yawn*. It was a nice break from the ride but I may have enjoyed this more…

  
Upon arriving at the Petrified Forest we stopped and got Jr. Ranger books for the kids.  They were excited until they realized they had to write.  Too bad.  This is counting as school!😜 We were super impressed by the Painted Desert.  Kids really wanted to hike, but it was the first stop on a 28 mile drive so we said no.  We got tons of pictures (too many, I’m sure, but tough to limit it!).  We stopped at just about every turn out on the route and didn’t regret any!  The hike through the Blue Mesa was particularly lovely. By the end of the 28 miles we were wishing we had more, but the rain made us skip a few things at the end.  (Again… A desert?) There was a bunch of Petrified wood by the ranger station so kids had a chance to check it all out before they became Jr. Rangers.  Then we saw a rainbow.  The whole thing!  Pretty cool.