After Grand Canyon: Meteor Crater and the Petrified Forest

So after I left the South Side of the Grand Canyon I got to the Highway 40 via Flagstaff.  I headed for the Petrified Forest but first I came, I noticed that Meteor Crater was along the way.  Seeing as how never been there, I decided to take a quick trip to Meteor Crater.

It was barren, nary a tree to be seen.  It was a bright and clear day and none too hot being late March.  As I approached the Crater it appeared to be a newly constructed building atop a large hill.  The hill itself was the rim of the crater.  Inside, there was the Apollo test capsule, a large gift shop and a museum that was quite informative.  They did guided tours out along the rim and they had quite a few observation points along the rim of the crater.

Now I wasnt sure of exactly what I was expecting.  In all the pictures I have seen in the past, it seemed to be much more larger than I was expecting it was to be.  Shibuya Crossing in Japan was the same way.  Here I was expecting it to be much larger that it actually was.  In fact the only that kinda blew me away in terms of size was the Grand Canyon.  That was big.

So after Meteor Crater I went to the Petrified Forest.  I was kinda rushed and I did miss some of the finer points of the Painted Desert.  But seeing as how I have been here before, I did not feel that bad.  I wanted to rush by and collect the stamps for my National Parks passport; and get my pin and iron on patch (as of today, I have gotten seventeen patches.  Not bad considering I have only started of March this year!)  I will have to get a picture of my coat.

After this, Carlsbed Caverns and the Howard Museum.