We left Socorro and headed West on US 60. We stopped at the very large array radio telescopes
and were lucky enough to meet up with a special tour of high school kids so we managed to see more than the average visitor. 
The 27 dishes the size of base ball diamonds are arranged in the shape of a “Y” and can be moved to different positions.
Very interesting two hours. Afterward we finished our drive to St Johns, AZ by turning North on 191 outside of Springerville. We will be stopping for a few days in St. Johns staying at Moon Meadows RV park space 102. After setting up we went to see my friend Helen for a couple of hours.Drove 190 miles today.
Day 35 Thursday April 14
Judy and I drove out to my property here near St. Johns. I found a nice place with a view and buried Beaner the Cat’s (aka real name Ju Ju Beans) ashes making a marker out of petrified wood.
We spent the morning roaming around with me showing her some of the special places, the petrified wood, and pretty rocks.
We ate lunch at the shelter I had made several years ago, and it was still standing.
We went home in early afternoon and made a dinner to fix over an open fire. So we drove back to the shelter, built a fire and cooked our dinner and watched the sun set. It was a very nice day.Day 36 Friday April 15
We did laundry in the morning then headed off to the White Mountains. Big Lake is about 9000 feet up and there were still snow patches on the shady sides of ridges. On the way up to the lake we saw a heard of five pronghorns, a prairie dog and a coyote. We ate lunch there in 50 degree temperature watching one group of kids and their dad catching nothing and the other family pulling them in like crazy.
After lunch we took the back road to highway 191 and on the way Judy spotted three elk off in the distance.
They were nice enough to stick around and let me take a picture. In Springerville we stopped at Bashas grocery store to pick up a few things. Cooked dinner on the BBQ as it was not windy tonight.Day 37 Saturday April 16
Today we went to the Petrified Wood National Park and the Painted Desert. On the way we saw some pronghorns and again on the way home. In the park, we stopped at all the sights along the road.
The formation in which the petrified wood was formed in the park is the same one as my property near St. Johns. I believe the reason my wood is not as colored as in the park is that the local environment has a very important roll. High water levels above the log is a reducing environment giving colored metal salts of iron and possible mine area was in shallow water. Mine also appears to be more black which is attributed to manganese rather then iron. Besides petrified wood, we saw a pueblo, pictographs,
and pretty vistas of Chinle formation. At the Painted Desert Inn we had a personal talk with the artist in residence who was a photographer.
Very fun day, warm and not too windy. Ate out at a restaurant named Corky’s and had a Navaho taco.Day 38 Sunday April 17
We went to the property and played around. Picked up petrified wood and pretty rocks. Ate lunch at the shelter.
Did a little clean up of a small area where previous owners lived.-nails, screws, burnt cans, etc.Fun day. Took time to do some planning for the next week ahead.
Day 39 Monday April 18
We left St. Johns and headed North on 191 to Sanders and I-40 and the road was very rough. Headed East on I-40 to exit 16. We went to USA RV Park on old Route 66 taking spot 32. After setting up and eating a leisurely lunch we drove into downtown Gallup to look at a few of the 100+ trading post stores specializing in local native jewelry. We went to the famous Richardson trading post which has been in existence for 97 years. The owner who we saw was 5 years old when his parents started the trading post. They have lots of old pawn jewelry and are still taking pawn from local native artists. Judy's eyes were sparkling. Sooo beautiful.
Drove 100 miles today.
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