Enjoying the Valley of Fire!

Yesterday we took a drive in the park.  We hiked back to the "Mouse Tank".  It was named this because of a renegade Paiute indian who caused great trouble for other indians and settlers.  He used this area to hide because of all of the nook and crannies.  There is a "tank" made from a stream worn basin which traps and holds water for long periods of time!  We were surprised at how much water was being held in this rock. 

Along the way we saw many petroglyphs.   There are some writings that we couldn't figure out how someone could have climbed up to write on the rock face!

We also hiked to the "petrofied logs" that were found in the park.  There was a forest several miles from the park made up of Pine trees.  From the "age of reptiles" over 150 million years ago the floods carried the trees to the park.  They were buried under sand, silt and seawater.  The water around the logs deposited the minerals in the logs crevices.  The pretty colors were caused by oxides of manganese or iron.

This morning we left Nevada and are in Bakersfield tonight.  We will spend tomorrow night in Fresno.  I need a haircut and we will see the guys!  We will be back on the 12th to spend more time with them.

Seeing the sights of the Valley of Fire..."Ain't Life Grand!"