Petrified Forest National Park

Before we started this blog, Ryan and I would sometimes bring a journal on our trips to the National Parks so we could remember our visit.  On July 27, 2013 we went to Petrified Forest National Park, our first park since we started on our journey to visit all of them.  Here is an excerpt from Ryan’s journal entry.

Danielle and I were able to visit our first National Park today since our decision to visit all 59.  What an inspiring park to start with.  This place has so much variation, from petrified wood, to badlands and the painted desert.  This was a great reminder of the vast landscapes this country has to offer and I cannot wait to witness them all.

Not only was the park inspiring, but it also made me feel like a kid again.  Not because I was running around joyfully (which did happen), but rather because it made me feel so small and raised more questions than I had answers.  Such as, ‘Where did this wood come from?’ ‘How come its only here in the desert?’ ‘Why is the painted desert so colorful?’ and, ‘What kind of wood was it?’  The list goes on and on…I enjoy these questions and hope to find the answers.  The engineer in me is always asking why, hopefully all of these questions don’t drive Danielle crazy.

Whenever Danielle and I go camping (usually in Flagstaff,our favorite place) I always say, “This is God’s country.”  Visiting the National Park, this phrase has never been so true.  Whether He placed this here from the very beginning or laid the foundation for this to occur over thousands of years truly shows God’s wisdom, creativity and love for mankind.  

We have one week until our grand trip for the year,and I couldn’t be more excited. Sequoia, King’s Canyon, Yosemite and potentially Pinnacles (if there’s time) will be truly awe inspiring.  If this recent trip made me feel like a child, I suspect this upcoming trip will make me feel like an infant (especially next to a giant sequoia).  Here’s to next week, adventure is out there.

It’s kind of funny to look back and read this now, almost two years and sixteen parks later.  While we had a fun day at Petrified Forest when we visited, it is currently on the bottom of both Ryan’s and my park ranking list.  I think it’s safe to assume it will stay that way.  All that being said, our visit to Petrified Forest National Park is still a fond memory for us and it’s what got us started on this awesome adventure in the first place.  Adventure is out there!