Wupatki National Monument

Pueblo Ruins

Pueblo Ruins © 2007

Wupatki National Monument, just twenty minute drive north of Flagstaff, Arizona, was established by the National Park system to preserve Native American archeological sites dating from the 1200s and the surrounding lands.

The area has geological formations and abrupt elevation changes that, within only a few miles, provide six different eco-systems, and a wide variety of habitats for plants and animals.The effects of elevation are visible along the 36 mile loop road connecting Wupatki with Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument to the south.

Desert in Bloom

High Desert Grasslands in Bloom

A drive along this road isa journey from desert grasslands (at less than 5,000’ elevation) to Ponderosa pine forest (near 7,000’). In October, the desert floor springs to life with flowers and new growth. Rabbitbrush glows bright yellow against the black cinders, remains from the nearby volcanic eruption, the red rock in the distance, and the blue sky.

Nebraska – From East to West

Nebraska Shed and Skies

Nebraska Shed and Skies ©2008 Bo Mackison

The skies are wide, the grasslands rolling a bit, lots of rural buildings in Eastern Nebraska, and we keep heading west. Always west.

Orange Train Engine

Orange Train Engine ©2008 Bo Mackison

Not only are we heading across Nebraska. The trains are traveling too. Every half hour or so, one comes hurtling down the tracks, mostly heading east with full cars of coal, or occasionally heading west with empty grain cars, soon to be filled with this year’s harvests.

Goats in Nebraskas Sandhills

Goats in Nebraska’s Sandhills ©2008 Bo Mackison

And how many of you are as surprised as I am that part of Nebraska looks like this! Yesterday afternoon  we drifted off the Interstate so we could see more of the back country – and we found this. As we drove near Broken Bow in western Nebraska, the land turned into sandhills covered with grasses and we saw a herd of grazing goats. We also saw plenty of beef cattle on the grasslands, and on the sides of the road there were a few sandhill cranes, pheasants, hawks. Even five white-tailed deer that ran right in front of our car. Seems no matter where we go, the deer consider our car a moving target worthy of aim.

Another hundred miles of Nebraska today (Sunday) and then we head west across Colorado where snow is expected in the upper passes of the Rocky Mountains. Hopefully we will just run into rain.