pictures!

A slideshow of medieval chess pieces! Here's one now:

Paintings of neurons! Here's one now:



Bus stops in the former Soviet union! (maybe this one doesn't really deserve an exclamation point) Here's the ugliest one:



A mutant blue lobster!

An "invisible bridge":

A better look:

California bound

[Click on any photo for a full-screen view]

The day before heading out to the Mohave Desert we went up the Apache Trail. Because of the dirt road, I had never been past Tortilla Flat before.
















This time I had a rental car and got to see some cool scenery:


















The Mojave National Preserve is a sanctuary for the elusive Joshua Tree:





























The Preserve's main junction, Kelso, holds a nicely restored train depot:















The weather between the two parks (about an hour from one to the other) was iffy:













But it cleared up soon enough:

















On Death Valley's main road I saw something in the road about 60 yards ahead -- it got up and walked to the shoulder:




















It hid behind a bush as we slowed down and came out after we stopped. I think it poses for photos knowing that it will get food from the visitors. Of course, we didn't feed it; as we drove away it flipped us off.

First stop: the lowest point in the western hemisphere:




















And its attendant salt flats:



















Another (partial) look the flats and and the northward expanse of the valley, taken from Dante's View:















Ubehebe Crater was formed from a volcanic steam explosion about 2,000 years ago:















We stayed in Furnace Creek, within sight of the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes:















Zabriskie Point...













where everyone photographs the sunset:















Among Death Valley's most impressive features are the multi-colored rocks and hills:












































This is especially true at the formations comprising Artist's Palette:














After almost three weeks (three whole weeks!) of Southwestern exploration I believe America's 'jewel in the crown' is the National Park Service.

Up north

[Click on any photo for a larger image]

Our first stop was Jerome:






































On the road out of town:

















We stayed overnight in Flagstaff during a cold spell. Here's something I don't
often do in Phoenix:
















My favorite Flagstaff road sign:
















We paid a visit to the Museum of Northern Arizona:

And drove by the San Francisco Peaks:














The next night was spent in El Tovar at the Grand Canyon:













This was the first time I've seen the Canyon in winter:
















From the rim throughout the day:


























































At the park's east end is the Watchtower:


































The interior is decorated with Navajo motifs:
















Got into Santa Fe rather late, here's our appropriately furnished room:
















If you get over there, here is a great breakfast/lunch joint (El Tecolote):
















Eggs Benedict, carne adobada, and French toast (the trip's best meal):
















St. Francis Basilica:
















A strange (and suspiciously happy) statue of the saint himself:




















Museum Hill:













































Ruins at Bandalier National Monument:



































Sunset on the Turquoise Trail:












The next night was in an old Gallup hotel:






























On Navajo route 12:








































Canyon de Chelly:



























































































An arty shot:
















After a night in downtown Kayenta, we were off to Monument Valley:































And the Goosenecks State Park in southern Utah:
















The next night and day were on the Hopi nation. We got there in the late afternoon:










Just in time for the sunset:
















And a traditional Hopi dinner (fry-bread, beans, mutton and hominy stew):




















We drove back to Phoenix that evening.