Category: Laura’s Journals

Laura’s Journal: Casa Grande National Monument

April 24, 2021

We’ve visited several historic pueblo sites now, and every of them has been impressive for how the architecture of stone and mud has held up over the centuries, but this one is the first we’ve visited made entirely of adobe, with no stone cores in the walls. I couldn’t stop staring. This incredible structure is three stories tall. The only wood in the whole structure is in the ceilings/floors between levels. A three story building made of hardened mud. Still standing after 700 years. By comparison, how’s the last mud pie you baked holding up? … More Laura’s Journal: Casa Grande National Monument

Laura’s Journal: Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

April 22, 2021

How can I have gone so long without any idea how volcanic the Southwest is? I suppose it isn’t newsworthy since none of the volcanoes is active (at least not within the last thousand years), but just about all the geology down here is volcanic, and as a volcano enthusiast, I feel indignant that no one thought to tell me. 😋 … More Laura’s Journal: Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Laura’s Journal: Tonto National Monument

April 21, 2021

My first cliff dwellings! Tonto National Memorial is a bite-sized park way out in the desert boonies. From Cave Creek, it was a little more than a two-hour drive, but the drive was so beautiful. Red flag warnings went up all over the state today as an immense dust storm blew into the area. Majestic mountain ranges (which I didn’t even know existed until a few days ago) turned into atmospheric ghost ranges. … More Laura’s Journal: Tonto National Monument

Laura’s Journal: Cactuses!

April 20, 2021

Let’s talk about CACTUSES!

Look. I know it’s “cacti.” I’ve known that since I was, like, three years old. But from the moment we rolled down out of the mountains into the Sonoran Desert where every bit of landscape is spiked with saguaro, I just can’t stop thinking of them as “cactuses.” (I blame the book I recently read about octopuses. That is a correct plural.)

… More Laura’s Journal: Cactuses!

Laura’s Journal: Petrified Forest National Park (at a trot)

April 19, 2021

A transcription of the photographed journal pages can be found at the bottom of the post! (journal photos will be followed by a text transcription, in case the photos are difficult to read) Monday, April 19, 2021 PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK When we set out on this adventure, the only thing I knew I wanted … More Laura’s Journal: Petrified Forest National Park (at a trot)