The actual traveling involved in our recent vacation

So there have been many photos and stories already from out recent vacation to Utah and Arizona, but for those that are interested, here is the route we took plus most of the small day trip destinations as well.

Trip Map (click me!)

Lookit, I made a thingy!!!

So for my birthday my mum got me a fancy sewing machine and until now I hadn't done anything terribly exiting with it, unless you count figuring out how to thread bobbins exciting. When we were at Zion there was a a quilt patch with some directions for a tote bag and so my mum and I choose some fabric and last night I made my first sewn item (since that quilt I made when I was like 8). I am excited about this tote bag for several reasons:
1) it is actually functional as a bag
2) nothing went terribly wrong
3) my stitches are relatively straight
4) as far as first projects go, this was pretty quick and painless
5) the fabric we chose reminds me of the petroglyphs and the ponderosa pines from our trip!
6) Look how much yarn it holds!!!!

Last Day of the Vacation

For our last night in Flagstaff we stayed in a fabulous B&B called Conifer House Bed and Breakfast. It was a great way to relax and finish off the vacation, and this place had the bet 2 person jacuzzis in the rooms... we lounged in ours for an hour!

Walnut Canyon

Also in Flagstaff are the Walnut Canyon Cliff Dwellings.

There are ~5 cliff dwellings in this shot, how many can you see?

Wupatki National Monument

While in Flagstaff we visited Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater. Wupatki has some of the best Pueblo ruins I've ever seen!

Viva Las Vegas

This was the first place we went on our drive from LA to Zion... it's a little late but whatever... blame the management.

There's always time for Optimus Prime!

The Mirage Volcano Erupting

Pew pew!

Petrified Forest and Meteor Crater

Tuesday we drove out to Petrified Forest (lots of old Triassic trees) and Meteor Crater, the first confirmed meteorite impact on earth.

Jason has a whole folder of squirrel photos!

Doesn't look like a fossil does it?

Collared Lizard

All the brown stuff is petrified wood!

Lovely colours... Meghan, I got you some for jewelry making!

Serena checking out the Agate House, a Pueblo (reconstruction) made entirely of petrified wood!

Painted Desert

Petroglyphs

Meteor Crater is big...

Really Big

Monument Valley... HiHo Silver AWAY!

On the Utah/Arizona Border is Monument Valley of Wild West Fame! This is where the Lone Ranger and many John Wayne Films were shot (directed by John Ford).

Our master phototographer

The Mittens (Left and Right) and the road down into the Valley

The Totem pole

The Window

Looky what I'm going to make!