Oct 5, 2011  In route from the North Rim to the Petrified forest on Hwy 89A we are treated AGAIN to a view filled “by way”.  On the side of the road we spot huge balancing stones and an ancient stone house.  Of course we have to stop.  This is not a tourist trap.  There isn’t anyone collecting fees. You just walk through the house and around the balancing stone, take as many photos as you want.  There is a family of Navajo Indians selling a few handmade trinkets.  They have a van and a table. They are wonderful  to talk to and “barter” with. I “negotiate” the purchase of five beautiful handmade dream catchers for the grands.  I was very excited because I had almost purchased “made in Taiwan” dream catchers at a gift shop. These are beautifully crafted and “authentic”.   The price was all the cash I had in my pocket.  I wished I had more to give.  These were such nice people and from some of the poverty ridden areas that we had traveled through I appreciated their friendliness and their skills.

I  write about all the beautiful places and sites, but there are some that are not so nice and very sad.  In such a wealthy Country,  it’s hard to believe people and animals have to live in such hardship.

We stop for the night in Holbrook, Arizona just a few miles from the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert.  We pay too much for the OK RV Park (this is the real name of it) $27.53.  There is nothing here, but it’s close to the Hwy.   The up side is the take out Mexican restaurant across the street.  The building looks like a McDonalds that went out of business.  We’re tired and hungry, so David walked across the street and came back with DELICIOUS homemade Mexican dinners. The two meals were enough for 4.  We’re glad we stayed here. Next Stop Petrified Forest.