Stopped midday between Albuquerque and Phoenix at Petrified Forest National Park, when we realized we would be passing right through it anyway, and spent an hour “on Mars”. Outrageously beautiful (running out of adjectives for this trip…need to get more creative) painted desert vistas along our drive through the park and wild history from the Triassic preserved in the silica petrified trees. Nearly baked during our ten minute stop at ‘Crystal Forest’, where hundreds (thousands?) of petrified trees are sprinkled along a short walkway. Nothing like being in the desert in the middle of the day to make me feel like a pasty weakling. Saw a young couple that looked to be on a road trip like us, except we decided they totally sucked because they defied park rules and left the path and disturbed the petrified trees, possibly tainting the amazing history left for all to see, BOOOOooooOOOOoooooOOO! I get really excited about following all guidelines within national parks, and, bitch, I will call you out if you’re the jerk who’s feeding the animals or disobeying the sign that’s only there to preserve beauty for future generations. I’m all “live and let live” until we’re in the national parks and then I’m not fucking around. Yesterday, Ryan told me I sprayed my toothpaste (a “Leave No Trace” tactic, to minimize toothpaste spitting impact) with a lot of gusto, and I’ve never been more proud, thank you very much.