New Mexico, September and October 2018 Part 1 (Santa Fe)
September 22, 2018--Drive from home to to High Plains Camping,, Oakley, KS, overnight, 345 Miles
September 23, 2018--Drive from Oakley, KS to Pueblo South/Colorado City KOA, Pueblo, CO, overnight, 297 miles
September 24, 2018--Driive from Pueblo, CO to Santa Fe Skies RV Resort, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 261 miles
September 24, 2018 to October 4, 2018--Santa Fe Skies RV Resort, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 11 days
October 5, 2018--Drive from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Albuquerque KOA, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 37 miles
October 5, 2018 to October 7, 2018--Albuquerque KOA, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 3 days
October 8, 2018--Drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Carlsbad KOA, Carlsbad, New Mexico, 278 miles
October 8, 2018 to October 9, 2018--Carlsbad KOA, Carlsbad, New Mexico, 2 days
October 10, 2018--Drive from Carlsbad, New Mexico to Boothill RV Park, Alamagordo, New Mexico 168 miles
October 10, 2018 to October 11, 2018--Boothill RV Park, Alamagordo, New Mexico 2 days
October 12, 2018--Drive from Alamagordo, New Mexico to Butterfield RV Park, Benson, Arizona, 309 miles
October 12-13--Butterfield RV Park, Benson, Arizona 2 days
October 14, 2018--Drive from Benson, Arizona to Rincon Country West RV Resort, Tucson, Arizona for the winter! 48 miles
September 23, 2018--Drive from Oakley, KS to Pueblo South/Colorado City KOA, Pueblo, CO, overnight, 297 miles
September 24, 2018--Driive from Pueblo, CO to Santa Fe Skies RV Resort, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 261 miles
September 24, 2018 to October 4, 2018--Santa Fe Skies RV Resort, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 11 days
October 5, 2018--Drive from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Albuquerque KOA, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 37 miles
October 5, 2018 to October 7, 2018--Albuquerque KOA, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 3 days
October 8, 2018--Drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Carlsbad KOA, Carlsbad, New Mexico, 278 miles
October 8, 2018 to October 9, 2018--Carlsbad KOA, Carlsbad, New Mexico, 2 days
October 10, 2018--Drive from Carlsbad, New Mexico to Boothill RV Park, Alamagordo, New Mexico 168 miles
October 10, 2018 to October 11, 2018--Boothill RV Park, Alamagordo, New Mexico 2 days
October 12, 2018--Drive from Alamagordo, New Mexico to Butterfield RV Park, Benson, Arizona, 309 miles
October 12-13--Butterfield RV Park, Benson, Arizona 2 days
October 14, 2018--Drive from Benson, Arizona to Rincon Country West RV Resort, Tucson, Arizona for the winter! 48 miles
September 22, 2018, First Day on the Road, Destination, Santa Fe
inAfter weeks of planning, making reservations, and two long days of packing the Motorhome we are finally ready to start our trip. Our mileage reads 35,649. The night before we discovered we were having problems with not only the canopy but the levelers on the motorhome. Mike got the leveler problem fixed this morning and the canopy can wait until we get to our final destination of Tucson.
Even with all this we still managed to leave by 7:15 this morning. Our first stop was for breakfast at 9:30 am at a rest stop near Maple Hill, KS. We ate coffee cake that we had baked a few days before. We got gas at Salina Flying J, mileage 35, 811, $3.19/gal, 43 gallons, costing us $137.94. Ouch!
We ate lunch at 1:00 pm at Wakeeney, KS rest area, a nice rest area that we have been to before. It was still a little cool in the upper 60s so we stayed in the coach and ate lunch of sandwiches. After lunch we drove to High Plains RV Resort in Oakley, KS where we were spending the night. We arrived at 3:15 pm. Mike and I have decided that at our age it’s better to drive less miles and shorter days and thus be more rested instead of wearing ourselves out.
After setting up the RV we rested, watched some TV, and then went to an on site restaurant, Cap’n Jack’s Pub. It’s a little hole in the wall but the food is very good. We each had a cup of shrimp and crab bisque and shared a shrimp platter. The food was delicious and we had plenty; we even had food left over.
We took a short walk before returning to the coach where we planned for the next day. Our mileage for the day was 350 and we were on the road about 8 hours.
Even with all this we still managed to leave by 7:15 this morning. Our first stop was for breakfast at 9:30 am at a rest stop near Maple Hill, KS. We ate coffee cake that we had baked a few days before. We got gas at Salina Flying J, mileage 35, 811, $3.19/gal, 43 gallons, costing us $137.94. Ouch!
We ate lunch at 1:00 pm at Wakeeney, KS rest area, a nice rest area that we have been to before. It was still a little cool in the upper 60s so we stayed in the coach and ate lunch of sandwiches. After lunch we drove to High Plains RV Resort in Oakley, KS where we were spending the night. We arrived at 3:15 pm. Mike and I have decided that at our age it’s better to drive less miles and shorter days and thus be more rested instead of wearing ourselves out.
After setting up the RV we rested, watched some TV, and then went to an on site restaurant, Cap’n Jack’s Pub. It’s a little hole in the wall but the food is very good. We each had a cup of shrimp and crab bisque and shared a shrimp platter. The food was delicious and we had plenty; we even had food left over.
We took a short walk before returning to the coach where we planned for the next day. Our mileage for the day was 350 and we were on the road about 8 hours.
September 23, 2018, 2nd Day on the Road, Destination Santa Fe
It felt funny since Mike and I seldom do this on a driving day but we slept in a bit since we knew it was going to be a shorter drive today. We had breakfast of coffee cake in the RV and were still able to leave around 8:23 am despite having trouble with the levelers again. We said we were lucky that the first time we had trouble with them we were at home and had time to figure out the solution. High Plains RV Resort roads are narrow and Mike and I think that the park is going downhill since we were here last year. I’m not sure I would recommend the park but there’s not many other places to stay in the area. We might try Whistle Stop in Colby, KS next time. It’s cheaper but doesn’t have the best reviews.
We got gas before leaving Oakley, KS from JJ Oil Gas Station, near the RV Park. Mileage this morning read 35, 995, $3.19/gal, 23 gallons, $73.10.
We didn’t make many stops because there weren’t many places to pull over. We had a time change near the Kansas/Colorado border where we gained an hour. Today even though the distance was less than the day before it seemed like a longer drive because of the roughness of the highways, the wind, the heavier traffic, and the fewer stops. We drove I-70 to Limon, CO, Highway 24 to Colorado Springs, and I-25 to the RV Park. We’re really glad we drove through Colorado Springs on a Sunday when the traffic is lighter than on a business day!
We arrived at South Pueblo/Colorado City KOA at 1:15 pm. Of course that would have been 2:15 our time. We hadn’t had any lunch so we snacked in the afternoon and rested. Today we had driven around 300 miles and were on the road for about 6 hours.
We took showers at the RV Park’s shower facilities in the early evening and also stopped by the office to get ice cream and a marijuana t-shirt for me. (Only in Colorado!)
As we walked back to the RV we stopped and talked to our next door neighbors who were from California. They were eating a light supper and asked us to join them. We warmed up the leftovers that we had brought from Joe’s KC and all of us enjoyed some BBQ. We had a nice evening with them talking about all of our travels. They are full timers and have been in 39 states since July. Wow, that’s a lot!
We looked at the map tonight as we should be in Santa Fe tomorrow. We can’t wait!
We got gas before leaving Oakley, KS from JJ Oil Gas Station, near the RV Park. Mileage this morning read 35, 995, $3.19/gal, 23 gallons, $73.10.
We didn’t make many stops because there weren’t many places to pull over. We had a time change near the Kansas/Colorado border where we gained an hour. Today even though the distance was less than the day before it seemed like a longer drive because of the roughness of the highways, the wind, the heavier traffic, and the fewer stops. We drove I-70 to Limon, CO, Highway 24 to Colorado Springs, and I-25 to the RV Park. We’re really glad we drove through Colorado Springs on a Sunday when the traffic is lighter than on a business day!
We arrived at South Pueblo/Colorado City KOA at 1:15 pm. Of course that would have been 2:15 our time. We hadn’t had any lunch so we snacked in the afternoon and rested. Today we had driven around 300 miles and were on the road for about 6 hours.
We took showers at the RV Park’s shower facilities in the early evening and also stopped by the office to get ice cream and a marijuana t-shirt for me. (Only in Colorado!)
As we walked back to the RV we stopped and talked to our next door neighbors who were from California. They were eating a light supper and asked us to join them. We warmed up the leftovers that we had brought from Joe’s KC and all of us enjoyed some BBQ. We had a nice evening with them talking about all of our travels. They are full timers and have been in 39 states since July. Wow, that’s a lot!
We looked at the map tonight as we should be in Santa Fe tomorrow. We can’t wait!
Colorado State Line KOA RV Park in the evening KOA RV Park in the Evening All the RVs at the KOA Park
September 24, 2018, 3rd Day on the Road, Destination Santa Fe
We got up this morning anxious to get to our destination of Santa Fe, NM. We had trouble with the levelers again but we’re getting used to it by now. Once we get to Tucson we’ll be working on them. We got gas at the Corner Store near the RV Park. Mileage this morning read 36,290, $3.07/gal, 37.44 gallons, $115.28. We are getting about 8 miles a gallon which is a little disappointing but we are fully loaded so we will have to be satisfied with that.
We stopped to eat breakfast (coffee cake again) outside at Trinidad, CO rest area. It was nice weather and already 83 degrees, perfect for eating outside.
The drive was uneventful but as usual I was nervous as hell when we reached the steep and curvy roads. It was also windy so that didn’t help. We arrived at Santa Fe Skies RV Park around 2:15 pm, making it a 6 hour day. Because of the roads Mike was only driving at 55 mph which is why the day was a little longer.
We were glad to get here, check in was easy, and then it took a little bit to get all set up and organized for the 11 days we were going to be here. The park is fine, a little crowded but we’re away from the coach a lot of each day with activities anyway.
Since Mike and I hadn’t had any lunch we left at 4:30 and ate a great Mexican meal at the Pantry Restaurant. We ate here last year when we drove through Santa Fe. It was great then and was great again, plus the service was really good. It’s an amazing place. We may have to come back here for breakfast one morning! On our way back to the RV we decided to drive through Trailer Ranch RV Park just to see what it was like. We almost made our reservations here. We liked it really well, lots of shade trees but everyone was crammed in just like the park we’re staying in. The advantage is that it’s a lot closer to old town Santa Fe and it might have been a little more convenient.
By this time,
Mike and I were dragging so we called it a night, watched some TV, and worked on my journal, and facebook posts. It’s been quite a day and we’re ready for an early bed time.
We stopped to eat breakfast (coffee cake again) outside at Trinidad, CO rest area. It was nice weather and already 83 degrees, perfect for eating outside.
The drive was uneventful but as usual I was nervous as hell when we reached the steep and curvy roads. It was also windy so that didn’t help. We arrived at Santa Fe Skies RV Park around 2:15 pm, making it a 6 hour day. Because of the roads Mike was only driving at 55 mph which is why the day was a little longer.
We were glad to get here, check in was easy, and then it took a little bit to get all set up and organized for the 11 days we were going to be here. The park is fine, a little crowded but we’re away from the coach a lot of each day with activities anyway.
Since Mike and I hadn’t had any lunch we left at 4:30 and ate a great Mexican meal at the Pantry Restaurant. We ate here last year when we drove through Santa Fe. It was great then and was great again, plus the service was really good. It’s an amazing place. We may have to come back here for breakfast one morning! On our way back to the RV we decided to drive through Trailer Ranch RV Park just to see what it was like. We almost made our reservations here. We liked it really well, lots of shade trees but everyone was crammed in just like the park we’re staying in. The advantage is that it’s a lot closer to old town Santa Fe and it might have been a little more convenient.
By this time,
Mike and I were dragging so we called it a night, watched some TV, and worked on my journal, and facebook posts. It’s been quite a day and we’re ready for an early bed time.
Finally, New Mexico! On the Road to Santa Fe. Eating Dinner at The Pantry, Delicious!
September 25, 2018, Museum Hill, Canyon Road and the Plaza in Santa Fe
It was supposed to be a nice warm day today so we decided to go to Museum Hill in Santa Fe. We started our day by visiting the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and purchased a Cultural Pass which will get us into a number of local museums. The first thing we did at the museum was walk through the outdoor sculpture garden where I took numerous photos. The sculptures were amazing. I was glad I took so many photos outside because we learned that indoor photos were not allowed in order to respect the heritage and history of the Native Americans. The museum was really interesting with displays of pottery, baskets, and videos about Native Americans. Mike and I spent about two hours at the museum. We would have spent more time but we had seen a lot of the same things last year when we were at Mesa Verde in Colorado.
Since we had time we decided to drive to the Plaza area in Santa Fe. It took us quite a while to get a sense of the area in what they call Old Town Santa Fe with lots of shops, restaurants, and museums. We took the free shuttle and made the historic district loop helping us get a sense of where everything is. We walked around the plaza area and then drove back to the coach. We’re hoping to come back to the area and visit some of the historical buildings and museums. It has begun to rain and the wind has really picked up. The weather is supposed get really cool so we may have to adjust our plans for tomorrow.
September 26, 2018, the Plaza in Santa Fe
We waited this morning for the RV to be washed. Our RV was a mess after the drive to Santa Fe so it was nice to have it clean again. We left while they were washing the RV and decided that our car needed to be washed also. After the car wash, we decided to spend the day at the Plaza Area and it was a whirlwind of a day!
We went to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and it may have been one of our favorite museums. We saw a video about the life of Georgia O’Keeffe who was quite an interesting character. Her artistic talent was recognized early on. She left home at the age of 12 to continue her education in art and never returned home. In the video and pamphlet she says that the art in her head was nothing like what she was being taught. She stopped painting in a traditional manner and started painting what was in her head. In 1924 she married Alfred Stieglitz, who had been responsible for exhibiting her early artwork. They remained married until his death in 1946. O’Keeffe had visited Santa Fe through the years and permanently moved here in 1949. She is known for her modernism art. Georgia O’Keeffe lived life on her own terms, creating abstractions inspired by the natural world. The artwork displayed at the museum was amazing and included some photography by her husband, Alfred Stieglitz. Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed the museum. We learned that the museum sold one of O’Keeffe’s more famous paintings for over 44 million! We can’t imagine what the museum and its paintings have to be worth!
We went to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and it may have been one of our favorite museums. We saw a video about the life of Georgia O’Keeffe who was quite an interesting character. Her artistic talent was recognized early on. She left home at the age of 12 to continue her education in art and never returned home. In the video and pamphlet she says that the art in her head was nothing like what she was being taught. She stopped painting in a traditional manner and started painting what was in her head. In 1924 she married Alfred Stieglitz, who had been responsible for exhibiting her early artwork. They remained married until his death in 1946. O’Keeffe had visited Santa Fe through the years and permanently moved here in 1949. She is known for her modernism art. Georgia O’Keeffe lived life on her own terms, creating abstractions inspired by the natural world. The artwork displayed at the museum was amazing and included some photography by her husband, Alfred Stieglitz. Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed the museum. We learned that the museum sold one of O’Keeffe’s more famous paintings for over 44 million! We can’t imagine what the museum and its paintings have to be worth!
Our next stop was at the Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi. Although we weren’t expecting much we were pleasantly surprised and it was free. There was no mass being said so we were free to wander in the church. In the center of the church is an 8 sided baptismal font, with continually flowing water. It’s quite impressive. Along each side of the church are stained glass windows that were made in France. The docent told us that it was the first red stained glass ever used and people used to come from far away to see it.
At one of the chapels is a small wooden statue of Mary from 1625, the oldest statue of Mary in the United States. She is referred to as “La Conquistadora”. The docent told us that she has around 280 outfits that are changed according to the liturgical calendar. The last outfit made was from a bride’s gown that was donated. There were a few docents inside the church and they were very informative. One told us about the outside garden that had sculptures of the Stations of the Cross. Those sculptures were amazing and Mike and I really enjoyed our walk through the garden. We learned that the Stations of the Cross started with St. Francis of Assisi. The artist of the bronze statues in the garden made Pope John Paul two smaller copies of his statue of Christ on the Cross. When Pope John Paul became frail the artist made him two crosses from paper mache so the pope could continue to carry the cross.
At one of the chapels is a small wooden statue of Mary from 1625, the oldest statue of Mary in the United States. She is referred to as “La Conquistadora”. The docent told us that she has around 280 outfits that are changed according to the liturgical calendar. The last outfit made was from a bride’s gown that was donated. There were a few docents inside the church and they were very informative. One told us about the outside garden that had sculptures of the Stations of the Cross. Those sculptures were amazing and Mike and I really enjoyed our walk through the garden. We learned that the Stations of the Cross started with St. Francis of Assisi. The artist of the bronze statues in the garden made Pope John Paul two smaller copies of his statue of Christ on the Cross. When Pope John Paul became frail the artist made him two crosses from paper mache so the pope could continue to carry the cross.
Next we visited the New Mexico Museum of Art. This was included on our Cultural Pass otherwise we might not have gone there. It just wasn’t our thing and by that time we were getting a little tired, too many museums in a day! Half of the museum was closed for setting up a new art show in the building so we didn’t spend much time here. I guess we don’t have much appreciation for a lot of art.
Next we visited the New Mexico Museum of Art. This was included on our Cultural Pass otherwise we might not have gone there. It just wasn’t our thing and by that time we were getting a little tired, too many museums in a day! Half of the museum was closed for setting up a new art show in the building so we didn’t spend much time here. I guess we don’t have much appreciation for a lot of art.
We went to the New Mexico History Museum, which was also included on our Cultural Pass. In retrospect we should have saved this for another day. We were too tired to really appreciate the museum. The attached Palace of the Governors was closed for renovation and we had really been looking forward to that. We enjoyed the top floor which was all about atomic energy. The main floor was all about New Mexico history. It was all very interesting but we had seen too many museums, all in one day!
Our next stop was the Loretto Chapel. I had heard so much about this that I was disappointed. It is basically a small chapel with the miraculous staircase. There was a fee at the door of the chapel and it seemed to us like a money maker. The Loretto Chapel was the first Gothic building west of the Mississippi. It was paterned after Sainte Chappelle in Paris and built at the request of Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy between 1873 and 1878, The chapel is best known for its choir loft staircase called miraculous due to its two complete spirals without center or side supports (defying engineer logic) and due to the legend of its construction.
Before we quit for the day we took a quick walk around the Plaza at Old Santa Fe. We really enjoyed the Plaza and it was an interesting place with all of the museums, shops, restaurants, and bars. In the middle of the Plaza is a park and a monument which commemorates the heroes who have fallen in various battles with Indians in the territory of New Mexico. These battles included northerner against southerner, Indian against white, and Indian against Indian,
Before we left the Plaza area we stopped at 109 East Palace where a building is located that used to be the office for the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. There really wasn't much to see except for the plaque but it gave me chills thinking about the history that took place here. The sign reads: "All the men and women who made the first atomic bomb passed through this portal to their secret mission at Los Alamos. Their creation in 27 months of the weapons that ended World War II was one of the greatest scientific achievements of all time."
We are going to come back to the Plaza another day so we returned to the RV where we chilled out the rest of the evening.
September 27, 2018, Pecos National Historical Park
On our way to Pecos National Historical Park this morning we stopped at Café Fina for breakfast. I’d read about this café on Trip Advisor. This probably was one of our best meals so far. We shared a breakfast burrito and it was wonderful! I had the Mexican hot chocolate and it was great too even without whip cream!
After a wonderful breakfast we went on to Pecos to the Park. It was a nice change from the hubbub of downtown Old Santa Fe. We really enjoyed the short, easy hike to view the ruins. The trail was only about 1.2 miles round trip. We also enjoyed climbing down a ladder into a reconstructed kiva. Humans have lived in the Pecos Valley for at least 12,000 years. The 15th century pueblo, Cicuye, had over 2000 residents. During the 16th and 17th centuries Franciscan churches were built and rebuilt here under the direction of the Spanish. By the 1780s disease, raids, and drought had decimated the population. In 1838 the last 17 inhabitants moved to Jemez to live with their Towa-speaking relatives.
After walking the trail we went to the Visitor’s Center. For a small Park this was a really nice VC. There was a short film on the history of the Pueblo. In addition there was a very nice small museum, and a super nice gift shop. We bought a couple of magnets and a hat for Mike.
After walking the trail we went to the Visitor’s Center. For a small Park this was a really nice VC. There was a short film on the history of the Pueblo. In addition there was a very nice small museum, and a super nice gift shop. We bought a couple of magnets and a hat for Mike.
The VC Ranger told us about the Glorieta Pass Battlefield Trail nearby. It was a permit only hike and he gave us the pass code to get in. The trail was about 2 ½ miles long and had information on placards along the trail about the civil war battle. It was a nice hike but it was beginning to get warm. This battle was called the Gettysburg of the West since it kept the Confederacy out of the southwest. Things might be completely different had the Confederacy won this battle.
It was getting mid afternoon and Mike and I thought we would stop at one of the local restaurants but discovered a lot of them close for a few hours in the afternoon. I guess maybe for a siesta. We drove home, had a small snack, and ate dinner in the RV.
It was getting mid afternoon and Mike and I thought we would stop at one of the local restaurants but discovered a lot of them close for a few hours in the afternoon. I guess maybe for a siesta. We drove home, had a small snack, and ate dinner in the RV.
September 28, 2018, Valles Caldera and Jemez Falls
We meant to get up early today but I didn’t wake up until 7 am and then woke Mike up. We rushed around, ate breakfast in the RV, dressed, and still were able to leave by 8 am. Our plan was to go to Tent Rocks today so we dressed in our hiking gear. The road to our destination was scenic but it was also extremely steep and curvy. Boy, are we glad we’re not in the motorhome!
The day didn’t go according to plan to say the least. We lost our way about three times and finally realized we had to be on the wrong road to get to Tent Rocks. That’s what you get for depending on GPS. Not only were we on the wrong road but we had a friendly camper tell us we were about an hour away going back where we’d been. He said GPS had sent numerous people to this location. We adjusted our plans and decided to go to Jemez Falls and maybe Valles Caldera since we had passed the Caldera on our way.
Again, we had trouble finding the Falls but we stopped at a Ranger’s Station where they gave us a map. On our way to the Falls we happened to see a nice pull out and discovered it was a pretty cool place, named Soda Dam. The dam is a 7,000 year old mineral deposit from a hot spring which dammed the Jemez River so that the river flows through a narrow opening. It was rather a strange looking rock formation. We spent a little time here scrambling on top of the rocks.
The day didn’t go according to plan to say the least. We lost our way about three times and finally realized we had to be on the wrong road to get to Tent Rocks. That’s what you get for depending on GPS. Not only were we on the wrong road but we had a friendly camper tell us we were about an hour away going back where we’d been. He said GPS had sent numerous people to this location. We adjusted our plans and decided to go to Jemez Falls and maybe Valles Caldera since we had passed the Caldera on our way.
Again, we had trouble finding the Falls but we stopped at a Ranger’s Station where they gave us a map. On our way to the Falls we happened to see a nice pull out and discovered it was a pretty cool place, named Soda Dam. The dam is a 7,000 year old mineral deposit from a hot spring which dammed the Jemez River so that the river flows through a narrow opening. It was rather a strange looking rock formation. We spent a little time here scrambling on top of the rocks.
Shortly after that we found Jemez Falls, not much of a hike and we were disappointed with the Falls. We’ve been spoiled by seeing some amazing falls especially in Yellowstone. We took time to sit by the falls and have a few snacks.
We thought we would drive to Valles Caldera and hike a short trail and then head on home. There was a visitor’s center in the Caldera and we discovered that we could drive a rough road with a permit. We got the last permit of the day as they restrict the number of permits allowed to 35 per day.
The caldera was formed by enormous volcanic eruptions 1.2 million years ago. It’s approximately 12 miles in diameter. The eruption threw out 65 cubic miles of debris. That’s enough to bury the state of New Mexico with 3 feet of rock. Some geologists warn that the Jemez Mountains could become volcanically active again. The reason this area has hot springs is because of the magma near the surface.
Mike and I decided we’d drive the road through the caldera that was lined by several extinct volcanoes. The road was extremely rough and 12 miles long. After the first half it got a little boring. I guess people can pull off to the side of the road at any time and hike through these fields. It took a lot longer than we thought it might, about an hour to get to the turnaround point and another hour to get back to the visitor’s center. Because the drive was so long we didn’t have time for the short hike near the visitor’s center. It was 4:00 and we still hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
We headed back to the RV and fixed homemade pizza. We had laundry to do so spent part of the evening doing our wash. I’m hoping tomorrow’s plans go a little better than today’s did!
The caldera was formed by enormous volcanic eruptions 1.2 million years ago. It’s approximately 12 miles in diameter. The eruption threw out 65 cubic miles of debris. That’s enough to bury the state of New Mexico with 3 feet of rock. Some geologists warn that the Jemez Mountains could become volcanically active again. The reason this area has hot springs is because of the magma near the surface.
Mike and I decided we’d drive the road through the caldera that was lined by several extinct volcanoes. The road was extremely rough and 12 miles long. After the first half it got a little boring. I guess people can pull off to the side of the road at any time and hike through these fields. It took a lot longer than we thought it might, about an hour to get to the turnaround point and another hour to get back to the visitor’s center. Because the drive was so long we didn’t have time for the short hike near the visitor’s center. It was 4:00 and we still hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
We headed back to the RV and fixed homemade pizza. We had laundry to do so spent part of the evening doing our wash. I’m hoping tomorrow’s plans go a little better than today’s did!
September 29, 2018, Los Alamos
9-29-2018—Today our plan was to go to Los Alamos to go to the Bradbury Museum which is all about the production of the first atomic bomb and Manhattan Project also known as Project Y. We got gas and got to the museum by 10 am when they opened.
Before we entered the museum we were talking to a couple who were waiting to take a bus tour of Los Alamos. The couple, Jesse and Sheila, had just moved to Santa Fe from Washington DC. He was head of security at Los Alamos Laboratories and a retired MP army colonel. They said they couldn’t afford to live in Los Alamos so they were building a home in Santa Fe. We really enjoyed talking to them.
Mike and I decided we had time to take the same bus tour. It was more of a van and there were only 6 of us and the guide. The guide was a local and she was very knowledgeable about the area. Not only did she give us information about the Manhattan Project but she gave us information about the community of Los Alamos. We really enjoyed the tour and would do it again. Los Alamos is located on the Pajarito Pleateau of the Jemez Mountains. Puebloo ancestors and later homesteaders used the plateau for farming and grazing. In 1917 Ashley Pond Jr purchase Los Alamos Ranch and started Los Alamos Ranch Schook, a prep school combining academics and a physical curriculum. During WWII, the Army Corps of Engineers took over the plateau and sealed it for a secret mission to end the war: The Manhattan Project.
After the bus tour we had a quick lunch at a nearby Subway. After lunch we went to the Bradbury Science Center. It was a great museum, not particularly large but very informative and interesting.
Before we entered the museum we were talking to a couple who were waiting to take a bus tour of Los Alamos. The couple, Jesse and Sheila, had just moved to Santa Fe from Washington DC. He was head of security at Los Alamos Laboratories and a retired MP army colonel. They said they couldn’t afford to live in Los Alamos so they were building a home in Santa Fe. We really enjoyed talking to them.
Mike and I decided we had time to take the same bus tour. It was more of a van and there were only 6 of us and the guide. The guide was a local and she was very knowledgeable about the area. Not only did she give us information about the Manhattan Project but she gave us information about the community of Los Alamos. We really enjoyed the tour and would do it again. Los Alamos is located on the Pajarito Pleateau of the Jemez Mountains. Puebloo ancestors and later homesteaders used the plateau for farming and grazing. In 1917 Ashley Pond Jr purchase Los Alamos Ranch and started Los Alamos Ranch Schook, a prep school combining academics and a physical curriculum. During WWII, the Army Corps of Engineers took over the plateau and sealed it for a secret mission to end the war: The Manhattan Project.
After the bus tour we had a quick lunch at a nearby Subway. After lunch we went to the Bradbury Science Center. It was a great museum, not particularly large but very informative and interesting.
We then walked to the Los Alamos National Historic Park which is actually just a small building. The ranger gave us more information about Los Alamos and gave us a walking map of the town and the historic buildings associated with the Manhattan Project. Mike and I did a portion of the walking tour since we had seen a lot of it from the bus tour. We walked to Ashley Pond, Fuller Lodge, Bath Tub Row, Oppenheimer’s home, Los Alamos History Museum, Romero Cabin, the Big House, and ended our walking tour in front of the statues of Dr Oppenheimer and General Groves.
Ashley Pond began as a natural depression in the landscape. It was named for Ashley Pond, Jr., the founder of the Los Alamos Ranch School. The boys used it for summer and winter sports. Fuller Lodge was built in 1928 as the Ranch School dining hall. Named for Edward Fuller, a staff member at the Ranch School, it is made of 771 massive pine logs. Bathtub Row is a street with cottages that were built for the Ranch School as residences and classrooms. Having the only bathtubs in town, these home quickly acquired the name "Bathtub Row". Robert Oppenheimer lived in the house at the corner of Bathtub Row and Peach Street. The house is owned privately. Los Alamos History Museum was built in 1918 as an infirmary and later used as a guest cottage for the Ranch School. During the Manhattan Project (1943-1947) the cottage continued to serve as guest quarters. Romero Cabin was built by the Romero family in 1913 on a nearby mesa. Like all homesteads on the plateau, it was acquired by the US government for the Manhattan Project. In 1984 the cabin was moved downtown. The Big House is across from the Romero Cabin and was the original mail building for the Ranch School. Students slept there year round as part of a physically, as well as academically, challenging education. Our last stop was in front of statues of Dr. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves. Oppenheimer was the American physicist who directed the Los Alamos, New Mexico, laboratory during the development of the first atomic bomb and Groves was the commander of the Manhattan Engineer District. I find it interesting that after WWII Oppenheimer became an advocate for the peaceful use of atomic energy and opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb.
After our walking tour we drove back to our RV in Santa Fe. As we were leaving town we drove by the replica of the gate house used during WWII for entry into the site.
Ashley Pond began as a natural depression in the landscape. It was named for Ashley Pond, Jr., the founder of the Los Alamos Ranch School. The boys used it for summer and winter sports. Fuller Lodge was built in 1928 as the Ranch School dining hall. Named for Edward Fuller, a staff member at the Ranch School, it is made of 771 massive pine logs. Bathtub Row is a street with cottages that were built for the Ranch School as residences and classrooms. Having the only bathtubs in town, these home quickly acquired the name "Bathtub Row". Robert Oppenheimer lived in the house at the corner of Bathtub Row and Peach Street. The house is owned privately. Los Alamos History Museum was built in 1918 as an infirmary and later used as a guest cottage for the Ranch School. During the Manhattan Project (1943-1947) the cottage continued to serve as guest quarters. Romero Cabin was built by the Romero family in 1913 on a nearby mesa. Like all homesteads on the plateau, it was acquired by the US government for the Manhattan Project. In 1984 the cabin was moved downtown. The Big House is across from the Romero Cabin and was the original mail building for the Ranch School. Students slept there year round as part of a physically, as well as academically, challenging education. Our last stop was in front of statues of Dr. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves. Oppenheimer was the American physicist who directed the Los Alamos, New Mexico, laboratory during the development of the first atomic bomb and Groves was the commander of the Manhattan Engineer District. I find it interesting that after WWII Oppenheimer became an advocate for the peaceful use of atomic energy and opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb.
After our walking tour we drove back to our RV in Santa Fe. As we were leaving town we drove by the replica of the gate house used during WWII for entry into the site.
We got back to the RV around 4pm, freshened up, and out again to meet Jeff and Patty for dinner at the Plaza in Old Santa Fe. We ate at Plaza Café where I had the mole enchilada which was delicious. Mike had a carne asada burrito which he said was just ok. We visited with Jeff and Patty for a few hours. It’s always good to hook up with friends. They’re from Surprise Arizona and we’ll be visiting them again once we get to Tucson.
On our way back to the car I passed a small ice cream shop, Haagen Dazs, and had a small cup of Carmel Cone ice cream. It was great and a good way to end the evening. We liked the plaza more in the evening than we did during the day. It has a different vibe. It was a Saturday night; there were a lot of people in the restaurants and bars and we could hear the music playing.
We drove home; I worked on my photos from the day and called it a night.
On our way back to the car I passed a small ice cream shop, Haagen Dazs, and had a small cup of Carmel Cone ice cream. It was great and a good way to end the evening. We liked the plaza more in the evening than we did during the day. It has a different vibe. It was a Saturday night; there were a lot of people in the restaurants and bars and we could hear the music playing.
We drove home; I worked on my photos from the day and called it a night.
September 30, 2018, Turquoise Trail
This morning we got gas before we drove the Turquoise Trail, a 50 mile scenic byway between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. We drove to the furthest point on the trail, Sandia Crest. It was another steep and curvy road to the top. At the top is a nice gift shop and a small café. Sandia Crest is considered the highest point on the Turquoise Trail with an elevation of 10, 678 feet.
Mike and I visited with a couple and their elderly mother who were planning on hiking one of the easier trails. We had a nice conversation with them about all the trails. Mike and I didn’t realize there were so many great hiking trails up here and were disappointed we wouldn’t be able to hike the trails as we weren’t dressed for it. There were other places we wanted to go on the Turquoise Trail so maybe we can get back here another day. We went to the observation deck and the views were incredible. We noticed there was a Nature Trail so we decided to take that. It was about a mile round trip and we really enjoyed it.
Mike and I visited with a couple and their elderly mother who were planning on hiking one of the easier trails. We had a nice conversation with them about all the trails. Mike and I didn’t realize there were so many great hiking trails up here and were disappointed we wouldn’t be able to hike the trails as we weren’t dressed for it. There were other places we wanted to go on the Turquoise Trail so maybe we can get back here another day. We went to the observation deck and the views were incredible. We noticed there was a Nature Trail so we decided to take that. It was about a mile round trip and we really enjoyed it.
After driving down to the main road our next stop was at Golden. Golden was originally a gold mining town and was called El Real de San Francisco de Paola. When years later the post office arrived there were too many other towns named San Francisco so it was renamed Golden. There are only two places to visit in Golden. The Henderson Store, an historic trading post that was closed so we went to the San Francisco de Assis Church. The Church is one of the most photographed buildings along the trail. It is a beautiful adobe that dates back to 1830. While there, Mike and I ran into a young couple who had also stopped to see the church. They told us about a lot of missions in the area and also gave us information about other things to see and do in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. It’s always amazing how easy it is to strike up a conversation with people you don’t know when you’re traveling. The church was locked but we admired the building itself and the graveyard next to it was interesting.
Next stop was Madrid. Madrid is another mining town established in the mid 1800s. When coal use declined the town declined and became a ghost town. In the early 1970s artists and craftsmen arrived. They converted old company stores and houses into small galleries. The road through the town has lots of restaurants and small galleries with lots of beautiful jewelry, pottery, and various crafts. It was almost overwhelming, and most of the artist’s crafts are too expensive for us. Our favorite place was Maggie's Diner. Maggie's Diner is NOT a diner. It was used as the diner in the recent movie, Wild Hogs, that was filmed in Madrid. They have an array of different shirts, patches, and motorcycle wear. It's full of leather and Harley Davidson gear and although we're not Harley people it was a fun place to visit. Mike bought a t-shirt and a few stickers.
Mike and I were hungry so we stopped at The Mine Shaft to eat lunch. We split a chili cheeseburger, fries, and a deep fried Hatch pepper. It was delicious. After lunch Mike and I walked the town. It was really busy with tourists this day. After Madrid we drove to Cerrillos where there was a few shops. Mike and I didn’t see anything that interested us so we drove on and got back to the RV park. It was nice to have an early day for a change.
Mike and I were hungry so we stopped at The Mine Shaft to eat lunch. We split a chili cheeseburger, fries, and a deep fried Hatch pepper. It was delicious. After lunch Mike and I walked the town. It was really busy with tourists this day. After Madrid we drove to Cerrillos where there was a few shops. Mike and I didn’t see anything that interested us so we drove on and got back to the RV park. It was nice to have an early day for a change.
We called the kids to check in. With the time difference we always have to consider that when calling so we don’t interrupt the bed times with their kids. After that we took a small walk around the RV Park. It’s a nice park with a lot of antique machinery and metal artwork along the trail. We got back to the RV and ate a late supper of leftovers from the night before.
October 1, 2018, Bandelier National Monument
I’ve been having problems with my mouth/teeth hurting around my implant so last night did not sleep well, woke up around 3 am, gargled with salt water and took Tylenol. I kept thinking about how our plans might change and what we would do if I was developing a tooth ache. Because of that we slept in even though our original plans were to get up early so we could drive to Bandelier. I was surprised that when I woke up I was feeling a lot better. Could the old treatment of salt water really have helped that much?
We made it to Bandelier National Monument a little after 9 am, too late to drive into the park so we were forced to take the shuttle. In the end it really worked out well. Mike could look around at the scenery instead of having to concentrate on his driving and we had some nice conversation with fellow travelers.
The shuttle left at 9:30 from White Rock Visitor’s Center and the ride to Bandelier took about 25 minutes. Once we got there we got some information and a map for a self guided tour of the main trail from the Bandelier Visitor’s Center. The main trail was pretty easy although there were a few steep areas. Mike and I used the park map to give us information at each marked stop. There were short ladders we could take so we could look at the holes and rooms in the rocks. I’m not sure whether it was lack of sleep, the altitude or what but I had no energy today. I had to sit at the benches at each stop and was beginning to think my hiking days were over.
We made it to Bandelier National Monument a little after 9 am, too late to drive into the park so we were forced to take the shuttle. In the end it really worked out well. Mike could look around at the scenery instead of having to concentrate on his driving and we had some nice conversation with fellow travelers.
The shuttle left at 9:30 from White Rock Visitor’s Center and the ride to Bandelier took about 25 minutes. Once we got there we got some information and a map for a self guided tour of the main trail from the Bandelier Visitor’s Center. The main trail was pretty easy although there were a few steep areas. Mike and I used the park map to give us information at each marked stop. There were short ladders we could take so we could look at the holes and rooms in the rocks. I’m not sure whether it was lack of sleep, the altitude or what but I had no energy today. I had to sit at the benches at each stop and was beginning to think my hiking days were over.
Once we had gone to all the stops on the map we could walk to large cave known as Alcove House, set under an overhang high up in the cliffs. To get there you had to climb a series of tall ladders. I wasn’t sure I was up to this with the way I was feeling and my fear of heights. However, I was determined to make it up there. I didn’t want to regret not doing it. So even though every part of my body was shaking I made it up to the cave. It helped that I knew Mike was behind me so if I felt like I couldn’t make it he would be there to help me down.
It was pretty amazing sitting up in the cave looking down and watching people come up and down the ladders. We had to marvel at the ancient Puebloans vertical lifestyle. Going down on the ladders was a little harder than climbing up but I tried not to look down and just looked straight ahead. Of course, Mike had no problem at all. |
After our visit to the Alcove House we hiked back to the Visitor’s Center where we had lunch. We decided to hike the Frey Trail after we had talked to a couple who said to take the bus to the campsite and then you could hike down. They told us it was much easier than hiking up to the campground because of the steepness of the trail. I was feeling a lot better so Mike and I caught the shuttle to the campground. While waiting for the shuttle we talked to a couple from Canada and we gave them advice on some places they were intending to visit in the next few weeks. Mike and I had been to almost every place they were going to visit so we almost felt like experts!
The shuttle let us off at the Frey trailhead and we started our hike. It’s 2 miles from the trailhead back to the visitor’s center. At first we were at the top of the mesa where it was a little bit hot as there was no shade. There wasn’t much there except scrub brush but there were a few flowers and birds. About half way into the trail it started to descend and before long we ran into all of the switchbacks. They were fun going down but I’m sure glad we weren’t trying to hike up. It would have been a tough hike!
It was getting late afternoon and we wanted to hike the Tsankawi Village Trail which we had to drive to so we caught the shuttle again, this time taking us back to White Rock Visitor’s Center where our car was parked. We just missed the shuttle so had about 20 minutes before the next. We sat near a couple from Minnesota and got to talking to them about our travels. Come to find out she is from Quincy, Illinois and knows Mike’s brother’s pottery shop and has bought quite a bit of his pottery. It’s a small world.
The shuttle let us off at the Frey trailhead and we started our hike. It’s 2 miles from the trailhead back to the visitor’s center. At first we were at the top of the mesa where it was a little bit hot as there was no shade. There wasn’t much there except scrub brush but there were a few flowers and birds. About half way into the trail it started to descend and before long we ran into all of the switchbacks. They were fun going down but I’m sure glad we weren’t trying to hike up. It would have been a tough hike!
It was getting late afternoon and we wanted to hike the Tsankawi Village Trail which we had to drive to so we caught the shuttle again, this time taking us back to White Rock Visitor’s Center where our car was parked. We just missed the shuttle so had about 20 minutes before the next. We sat near a couple from Minnesota and got to talking to them about our travels. Come to find out she is from Quincy, Illinois and knows Mike’s brother’s pottery shop and has bought quite a bit of his pottery. It’s a small world.
Once we got to the car we drove to Tsankawi Village Trail. We got there around 5:30 pm but thought we still had plenty of time for the hike. We knew it was about a 1 ½ mile hike with a couple of short ladders we would have to climb. The sign at the trailhead said to allow two hours for the trail but Mike and I thought it would take less time for just a 1 ½ mile trail. Let me say we were wrong. The trail was difficult because the trail consisted of grooves in the soft rock due to constant use. The ladders weren’t too high so we climbed those with ease.
About half way through the hike we realized if we didn’t pick up the pace we would be caught up here in the dark. So we put away the camera for the most part and hiked as quickly as we could. We could see the sun setting so quickened our pace even more. Mike and I know better so this was a good reminder to heed the signs. My biggest concern was if it got dark it would be hard to not only see the trail but be able to climb down the ladder. We kept an eye on the sun setting and we were pretty sure we would be ok. Soon we knew we were coming to the end of the trail. It was 6:45 pm so I snapped a few photos of the sun setting over the mountains. The two hour hike ended up being about an hour and 15 minutes for us. This was an amazing hike and I’m sorry that we hadn’t been able to give it the time that it deserved. It was only another 15 minutes before it got dark.
About half way through the hike we realized if we didn’t pick up the pace we would be caught up here in the dark. So we put away the camera for the most part and hiked as quickly as we could. We could see the sun setting so quickened our pace even more. Mike and I know better so this was a good reminder to heed the signs. My biggest concern was if it got dark it would be hard to not only see the trail but be able to climb down the ladder. We kept an eye on the sun setting and we were pretty sure we would be ok. Soon we knew we were coming to the end of the trail. It was 6:45 pm so I snapped a few photos of the sun setting over the mountains. The two hour hike ended up being about an hour and 15 minutes for us. This was an amazing hike and I’m sorry that we hadn’t been able to give it the time that it deserved. It was only another 15 minutes before it got dark.
We drove back to the RV and took showers as we were dirty from the hiking. We had a light dinner and on to bed as we were tired from the day.
October 2, 2018, Taos
We started the day out by driving the High Road to Taos. The literature I had read suggested stopping at the towns of Chimayo, Cordova, and Truchas to explore galleries selling woodcarvings, pottery, rugs and various arts and crafts. Unfortunately when Mike and I drove through these towns we couldn’t find these galleries. All we could find are some very impoverished towns with galleries in private run down homes that we would have been afraid to visit. Perhaps, you may just need to know your way around.
In Chamayo we visited the Santuario de Chamayo. This was a 19th century mission complex with numerous chapels. It is known as the “Lourdes of the West”. It attracts thousands of pilgrims each year seeking the miraculous dirt on church property rumored to have healing powers. One such group is the survivors of the Bataan Death March from WWII. The dirt found at the room known as the pocito (well) is considered holy because in this spot the crucifix of our Lord of Esquipulas was found by Bernardo Abeyta in 1810. We found this mission to be very interesting. It had wonderful sculptures, ornate chapels, museums along with, as always, gift shops. We were not allowed to take photos inside the chapels so all we have are photos of outdoor sculptures. We bought two containers from the gift shop and placed some of the miraculous dirt in them. I’m going to give one to Carol and Lisa, and keep one for ourselves. Maybe it will help cure my wrist problems. I rubbed the dirt onto my wrist and now we’ll see what happens just in case it really works. Guess I need to be more of a believer than I am! The one chapel we found most interesting was Santo Nino de Atocha. This was the chapel dedicated to families and children. We were intrigued by the small chapels with hundreds of photos ol deceased love ones hung on the back walls. .
In Chamayo we visited the Santuario de Chamayo. This was a 19th century mission complex with numerous chapels. It is known as the “Lourdes of the West”. It attracts thousands of pilgrims each year seeking the miraculous dirt on church property rumored to have healing powers. One such group is the survivors of the Bataan Death March from WWII. The dirt found at the room known as the pocito (well) is considered holy because in this spot the crucifix of our Lord of Esquipulas was found by Bernardo Abeyta in 1810. We found this mission to be very interesting. It had wonderful sculptures, ornate chapels, museums along with, as always, gift shops. We were not allowed to take photos inside the chapels so all we have are photos of outdoor sculptures. We bought two containers from the gift shop and placed some of the miraculous dirt in them. I’m going to give one to Carol and Lisa, and keep one for ourselves. Maybe it will help cure my wrist problems. I rubbed the dirt onto my wrist and now we’ll see what happens just in case it really works. Guess I need to be more of a believer than I am! The one chapel we found most interesting was Santo Nino de Atocha. This was the chapel dedicated to families and children. We were intrigued by the small chapels with hundreds of photos ol deceased love ones hung on the back walls. .
.It was close to lunch time and so we ate at Rancho Chamayo. I had read great reviews on this restaurant. The service was good and the décor was nice with small tables in the main dining room and a patio outside. Mike and I shared a Combinacion Picante. It was kind of a sampler platter, a tamale, cheese enchilada, beans, posole, and carne adovada with a sopaipilla. Our lunch was good but not memorable, and I thought the sopaipilla was the best thing we ate.
Next, we stopped at Las Trampas at the San Jose de Gracia de las Trampas Mission. This mission is an 18th century adobe mission that is one of New Mexico’s best preserved examples of Spanish Colonial architecture. The Church was built between 1770 and 1776. The agricultural cycle is still observed here with religious ceremony and ritual. Parishionersm periodically remud the adobe walls, which are as much as 6 feet thick. Since we could not go inside we were only there for a short time.
Next, we stopped at Las Trampas at the San Jose de Gracia de las Trampas Mission. This mission is an 18th century adobe mission that is one of New Mexico’s best preserved examples of Spanish Colonial architecture. The Church was built between 1770 and 1776. The agricultural cycle is still observed here with religious ceremony and ritual. Parishionersm periodically remud the adobe walls, which are as much as 6 feet thick. Since we could not go inside we were only there for a short time.
After driving through Carson National Forest we arrived at Taos. We stopped at a welcome center and then drove to Ranchos de Taos where we visited the famous San Francisco de Asis Church which has been photographed and painted by many artists such as Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keeffe.
We drove to the Taos Pueblo but decided not to tour the Pueblo. It was a little expensive and we had seen a lot of similar things while we have been in the Santa Fe area. The Pueblo still has residents who live here so it might have been interesting if we could have talked to one of them but I’m not sure they like talking to tourists. We could see from the entrance that there were small, primitive homes and shops.
We decided to spend our time at the Taos Plaza but we were disappointed with it. We were there about ½ hour, strolled through shops, and then decided to head back to Santa Fe as it was late afternoon.
We drove back to Santa Fe on the Low Road which is the road that parallels the Rio Grande River. I was surprised that the road was steep and curvy most of the way. We stopped by Gabriel’s for dinner, another miss on my part. I had read that they were an exceptional restaurant that had won numerous awards. Our service was fantastic but the food wasn’t that great. Mike had chimichangas and I had fish tacos. Maybe we’re getting tired of Mexican food. I never thought that would happen!
After our dinner we drove back to the RV. It’s been raining so we’ll have to see what the weather is like tomorrow. We only have a few days left in the area.
We drove to the Taos Pueblo but decided not to tour the Pueblo. It was a little expensive and we had seen a lot of similar things while we have been in the Santa Fe area. The Pueblo still has residents who live here so it might have been interesting if we could have talked to one of them but I’m not sure they like talking to tourists. We could see from the entrance that there were small, primitive homes and shops.
We decided to spend our time at the Taos Plaza but we were disappointed with it. We were there about ½ hour, strolled through shops, and then decided to head back to Santa Fe as it was late afternoon.
We drove back to Santa Fe on the Low Road which is the road that parallels the Rio Grande River. I was surprised that the road was steep and curvy most of the way. We stopped by Gabriel’s for dinner, another miss on my part. I had read that they were an exceptional restaurant that had won numerous awards. Our service was fantastic but the food wasn’t that great. Mike had chimichangas and I had fish tacos. Maybe we’re getting tired of Mexican food. I never thought that would happen!
After our dinner we drove back to the RV. It’s been raining so we’ll have to see what the weather is like tomorrow. We only have a few days left in the area.
October 3, 2018, Meow Wolf
It had rained all night so the day started out cool and gloomy. Our original plan was to go to Tent Rocks but we didn’t think this would be a good day for that…..wet, slippery rocks. Instead we spent the morning doing laundry and paying bills, all that fun stuff that has to be done. By early afternoon the sun was out and it was a beautiful day.
Early afternoon we went to Meow Wolf Museum after eating lunch at the RV. The museum is not your typical museum. It uses art and multimedia for quite an experience. There’s a story behind all of the exhibits but most people don’t try to unravel the story; most like Mike and me just experience the fantasy art work, lights, music, and secret passages. They encourage hands on for everything. There are refrigerators that open to other rooms, washing machines that you can slide into another room, toilets that you can look down and see a dancing man. There were laser beams that you could play like a harp, and it went on and on. It was fun but a little pricey at $54 for both of us. It would have been ideal for a family with kids.
After leaving Meow Wolf we went to Wal-Mart to get a few food items we needed. We ate dinner at the RV and spent the evening relaxing. Wow, two meals in one day at the RV! It’s a record!
Early afternoon we went to Meow Wolf Museum after eating lunch at the RV. The museum is not your typical museum. It uses art and multimedia for quite an experience. There’s a story behind all of the exhibits but most people don’t try to unravel the story; most like Mike and me just experience the fantasy art work, lights, music, and secret passages. They encourage hands on for everything. There are refrigerators that open to other rooms, washing machines that you can slide into another room, toilets that you can look down and see a dancing man. There were laser beams that you could play like a harp, and it went on and on. It was fun but a little pricey at $54 for both of us. It would have been ideal for a family with kids.
After leaving Meow Wolf we went to Wal-Mart to get a few food items we needed. We ate dinner at the RV and spent the evening relaxing. Wow, two meals in one day at the RV! It’s a record!
October 4, 2018, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rock National Monument, Puye Cliff Dwellings
We woke up to a beautiful day and went to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. We got there by 8 am so we could avoid all of the crowds. We didn’t know but it was free admission day. We decided to take the Slot Canyon Trail first because this was the harder of the two available hikes.The trail was wonderful, hiking (1 ½ miles) through the narrow slot canyon and then we scrambled up rocks to get to the plateau. We could understand why they called this tent rocks because most of the rocks were shaped like tepees, a result of wind and water erosion. Mike and I have seen a lot in all of our hiking but this was unique. When we reached the top and end of the trail we took a few minutes to have a snack and enjoy the views. There had been some very steep sections of the trail so we needed to reenergize. Going down was much easier than going up had been but by 11 am when we were descending the trail was getting very crowded. We were glad we started early.
Coming down off the Slot Canyon Trail we took a side trail, The Cave Loop Trail which was about 1.2 miles. We really weren’t expecting much from this trail but it ended up being steeper than we thought. Also there was a small cave and more tent rocks that the trail took us through. Even though the trail was short it was a great hike.
After getting back to the car we decided to visit Puye Cliffs about an hour away since it was our last day in Santa Fe. We hadn’t eaten since breakfast so we got a snack and drove on to Puye Cliffs. It was a little after 2 pm when we got there and the last tour had just left. There was a self guided tour with limited area that we could view. We took some rather steep steps to get to the cliff dwellings. It was interesting and there was a replica of a cliff dwelling as it would have been originally. The docent at the museum told us that his tribe was descendents of the Anasazi and Ancient Puebloans. He said that their people moved from Mesa Verde when it was abandoned. After talking to the docent Mike and I visited the museum and gift shop.
We drove back to Santa Fe and ate dinner at Los Potrillos for our last Santa Fe meal. The exterior looked a little run down and the interior dated but as soon as we walked in we knew it had to be good because of the number of locals that were eating there. The meal was great. I had chicken and steak tacos that were delicious and Mike’s enchilada platter was equally as good. We had a taste of the roasted poblano pepper that was served on the side but it was extremely hot. We could only take a small bite before our mouths were on fire!
We returned to the RV to get ready to leave tomorrow for Albuquerque
We drove back to Santa Fe and ate dinner at Los Potrillos for our last Santa Fe meal. The exterior looked a little run down and the interior dated but as soon as we walked in we knew it had to be good because of the number of locals that were eating there. The meal was great. I had chicken and steak tacos that were delicious and Mike’s enchilada platter was equally as good. We had a taste of the roasted poblano pepper that was served on the side but it was extremely hot. We could only take a small bite before our mouths were on fire!
We returned to the RV to get ready to leave tomorrow for Albuquerque