Shiprock from 34,000 Feet

New York to Los Angeles again, this time for Christmas.  We booked late for some reason and when it came to seating, the only seats left were on the left side of the aircraft. For some reason I always pick the right hand side of the airplane, and of course, only a window seat.  So believe it or not, everything looked different on the same trip we have made so many times.  The main reason was the sun was shining on the landscape from "behind" meaning that everything had a shadow and was more dramatic.  As we flew through New Mexico, I saw this black pointed object, and it hit me: "Is that Shiprock?"  I have photographed  this astounding feature which is made from lava that hardened in a volcano and then gradually the outer part of the volcano was eroded, leaving just the hard lava. And there are also two "dikes" leading away from the plug.  They were openings in the ground - cracks - which also filled with lava.  When I saw them I was sure it was in fact Shiprock.  What a thrill to see this monumental geological feature from the air for the first time!  It dominates the landscape from the ground and you can see it from miles away. If I was home, I would have found my print of this from the ground to show you what it looks like as I have known it.