On day 6, we set out for the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. I had last visited this park when I was 7 years old. I remembered the Petrified Forest and being interesting and the Painted Desert as boring and disappointing. 7 year old kids can be idiots.

The Petrified Forest is, well, interesting. The "wood" is beautiful and well worth the visit.

However, The Painted Desert is not only beautiful, it is overwhelming in its size.

It was also, as I had expected, hot as hell. After a few miles of hiking, I was spent. And we still had a drive onto Chinle. When we got there, we finally availed ourselves of the hotel pool. We needed it.