The cheaper way costs $10.68 including tax, and

The expensive way cost $325 plus tax plus you get a free bracelet.

Get the drift?

My husband and I had been wanting to visit the Petrified Wood forest so we took advantage of the tail end of the warm weather to visit the place. There were only two entrances available to get to the place; the south side and the north side.  We entered the north entrance. The inspection lady at the entrance asked us if we had any petrified woods that we might have bought from somewhere prior to going in.  We said No! She reiterated that if we had them in our possession, she would like to put them in a brown bag and label them accordingly and hold them for us. Also, she gave us adequate warning not to pick up rocks, petrified woods, plants, or animals inside the territory.

Which got us to thinking.

We drove about 25 miles into the road, and saw tons of petrified wood scattered all over. Petrified wood is a wood that turns into rock through the process of petrification and it dates back millions years ago. If you look closely at the pictures, the original cell structure of the woods is retained; grain is very visible.  Petrified wood can be made into jewelry, and beautiful ornamental and decorative nicknacks and furniture like coffee table with prices ranging from $500 to $5,000.

In one instance, I had to make a little detour and walk closer to the wood to get close up pictures and to satisfy my curiosity if, indeed, the wood is as hard as rock by touching it with my bare hands. It was solid rock, alright, and very heavy. I was fascinated just thinking of the million of years it took for the woods to get petrified.

We saw rocks of all sizes. There were shattered logs here and there from the side of the road that one can easily get tempted to pick, and take them home for souvenirs.  And there were not a whole lot of people to deter one from picking one either. There were no barbed wires to stop people from walking close to the rocks. One can easily succumb to temptations at any given time.

The devil tried to persuade me, but the angel convinced me otherwise. All I took out were tons of pictures.

As we are nearing the exit gate, about 5 miles away, I saw a sign that said, “vehicle inspection ahead.” Had I picked one, I would have thrown it right away to the side of the road right there and then. I didn’t want to get caught with those rocks in my possession and go through all the humiliations, paying a harsh penalty, and maybe go into my record for federal offense.

We stopped at the gate, and expected to be searched rigorously by the guard. But, he just looked and smiled  at us, and said “have a good day!” Huh? How would they know we were not hiding something? That baffled me.

After we passed the gate, I asked my husband to stop at the gift shop, just so I could look at the gift items available for sale. I went in there with burning question in my mind as to why they didn’t search me. I posed that question to the sales lady at the gift shop. She said, “if you are not reported, they will not apprehend you.” “You mean, there are hidden people who are watching everybody in there?” I asked. “Yes, using all kinds of detectors and satellites, and what not”, the lady answered.  We were not informed about these surveillances. The visitors’ honesty was really tested, and in many cases greed wins out as the lady said that they nab gobs of people everyday. The government is finally running their affairs profitably, I must say…he he.

Phew! If you ever visit the Petrified Wood National Park, be aware of the costly consequences plus the humiliation, and the hand cuffing involved……even for a piece of little dark rock that is of no value.

By the way, I bought that piece of petrified wood that you see at the top of the page as souvenir. If someday, I acquire lapidary machines, I will have my husband carve it into jewelry.

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