From Holbrook to Kingsman, Arizona, we speed along Route 40.

Just how far away can Brookings, Oregon be?

 

Approaching Flagstaff, some distant mountains we see.

San Francisco Mountains they turn out to be.

With snow covered tops and lots of pine trees,

Those clouds above them will make the night rainy.

 

This is Hopi Indian territory where you can shop for the whole family.

The billboards say, “Come right this way for handcrafted finery.”

Rugs and dolls and jewelry, too, maybe an Indian blanket or two?

 

Travel north to see the Grand Canyon, travel south to Camp Verde.

All around us are national forests preserving our natural history.

Beyond Flagstaff, the green turns to brown and trees grow no more,

But, there’s sagebrush and cacti and tumbleweed galore.

A dirt devil blows around furiously while we look both left and right,

Mountains of rocks piled so high they might touch the stars tonight.

 

Every now and then we see some sheep or cattle grazing,

But there’s little grass to eat here under a sun that is blazing.

This desert land is good for prairie dogs, lizards, and snakes,

Critters who like to snooze in the sun but prefer to live in the shade. 

 

We’ve reached our destination where it’s about 97 degrees,

Tom hopes the A/C will work or he’ll be sweating like you wouldn’t believe.

We’re camped in a valley surrounded by mountains made of dirt,

Perhaps Tom would be cooler if he would just take off his shirt.

 

Yesterday, I decided to name our new Ford truck Ruby.

Although she’s green in color, she is a worker bee,

Like the character that I liked so much in the Cold Mountain movie. 

 

Tomorrow, we continue on and more desert we will see.

California’s next on this trip west, and then home soon we will be.