All photos copyright Kerry Gleason 2010

It was a full day of travelingand as usual, featured several highlights along with spectacular visuals.  I met some very nice people everywhere I went, including my new friend Leslie in Prescott, all the fine people at the various coffee shops, my Super new friends Pam
 and Nicole (Go Saints!) and Norma from Safeway, who watched me working late hours outside the closed Starbucks kiosk, and then told me "You WILL get a Safeway member card.  Oooo, that sounded threatening, didn't it?"  She saved me some money and I admired how nice she was to all the customers and not just me.  Most importantly, I'm appreciative of all of my dear friends and readers who commented, emailed and let me know that my blogs and photos meant more to them than just another travelogue.  I'll do a wrap-up blog that might provide some great insights.  For today, just spectacular photos from yesterday's travels from Sedona to Durango.  Really spectacular!


The view from the Motel 4 outside the Safeway market.  It was nice when it snowed.



On this day, God painted the trees and mountains pure white with glistening snow, providing yet another gift of beauty and another glimpse of ways this part of the world can thrill just by being.  "To be," just to be in and of this world, is a treasure we often overlook on our daily path keeping schedules and arbitrary business. 


Perhaps my favorite landscape photo from the whole trip, purely for the aesthetic value.


Sliprock Creek, Sliprock State Park near Sedona. 

The last three pictures came from the Cacaninny National Forest, no, wait — the Coconino National Forest in Arizona.  I'll be criticized for that I'm sure.   This trip was about finding laughter and joy, or bringing it.


A little blurry, from the moving car on Rt. 89A North.  The sun had just stretched its early morning rays around some heavy clouds, illuminating just the tops of the trees on the mountain, creating a halo effect.  It made me smile.



Much of my day was driving through Navajo Indian territory.  I captured some neat photos out the car window along Rt. 160 East.  One of the billboards touted the "Interactive Navajo Experience" at a museum.  I envisioned myself staggering out, three arrows in my back, my hair haphazardly scalped and tomahawks whizzing past my ears.  All because I forgot to remove my Cleveland baseball caps with smiling Chief  Wahoo from the rear window.  I was glad to see the Red Mesa High School emblazoned with its Redskin team name and logo.  I think the political correctness people have gone way too far, and many of the sports teams with Indian names are paying tribute, and not denigrating Native Americans and their contribution to history.  On the other hand, Chief Wahoo kinda crosses that line, although he's too much a part of history now to ignore he exists.


The weather was funky this day.  Snow conflicted with parched desert, sun with clouds, warmth in the lower elevations with chilly cold higher up.


Through the windshield.   The rocks look like a throng of people.  This is called Baby Rock.



Between Cortez and Durango, this was a beautiful mountain concealed by the clouds.  I found a safe road to turn off and got out of the car.  I climbed down the roadside, and learned a valuable lesson.  The snow at roadside may be 12", but off the road it can be three feet or more.  The bunny tracks on top were deceptive. 

Next:  Durango pics and then a trip wrap-up