Day Six

After heading out of Santa Fe, NM bright and early this morning, Tarona and I found ourselves with 466 miles of open road, desert, and the most breathtaking landscapes we've ever seen.

The Painted Desert in Arizona.
On the way to our next stop, we detoured a bit to drive through the 28 miles and 93,533 acres of the Petrified Forest National Park off Rt 40 West and couldn't believe that nature could create such an amazing piece of land. It was overwhelming and powerful and we were both happy we took the time to check it out.


Volcanic ash and a multitude of eruptions permeated the air and ground of the Petrified Forest with dissolved silicon which, over a million years or so, replaced the molecules of the wood of the trees, turning wood to solid silica, then solid quartz, then solid stone.
This evening was spent at the Watkins Shelter in Phoenix, AZ, which provides a safe haven for homeless families and women. Each person staying at the shelter receives a bed with blankets, hot shower, hygiene items, storage for belongings, clothing, a hot meal in the evening, and coffee and rolls in the morning. On every Wednesday evening, Pamela Straughn, a project leader for Make a Difference, conducts the "Read to Me" program where volunteers sit with the children of the shelter for an hour and read to each other from books in the shelter's library. Both Tarona and I read with two of the most adorable little girls and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

After the reading session, the children continued their evening activities in another room before heading to sleep. Meanwhile, Tarona and I sat and chatted for quite a while with both Pamela and volunteer Rebecca Phillips Harper, who explained their love of donating their time for such wonderful programs as "Read to Me" and other local organizations. They were both a true inspiration. On our way out, Tarona and I agreed that our experiences on this trip are getting more and more rewarding and we can't wait to see what the next ten days hold for us.

Rebecca Harper shares her volunteering experiences.
(audio only)

Dina, Pam, Rebecca, and Tarona in a group hug at the
Read to Me program.
And praise Arizona! Gas prices are down to $3.45/gallon here.

A little bit of luxury at Hotel Indigo, Scottsdale, Arizona.