Low Riding in Santa Fe

Fort Amarillo RV Park, Amarillo, TX

After an early morning run and soak we headed for downtown Santa Fe. Love, love, love this city. The colors, culture, architecture and food all speak to me.

 

 

 

 

 

We did a quick bike ride around the square and then noticed that there was some kind of parade that was just beginning.

 

Turns out it was a Low Rider Parade! How fortuitous.

 

 

What a scene! There was everything from motorcycles...

 

 

To cars doing crazy tricks with their hydraulics.

Check out the driver peaking over the window, barely.

 

There were also some older cars that were very cool. The parade lasted for well over an hour, but we decided to go check out the local chocolate business cuz the fumes were killing us.

 

 

First chocolate shop was "Chocolate & Cashmere" which LInda and Gary told us about. They carry handcrafted chocolate.

 

Which one to choose...

 

 

We also went to "Chocolate de Plaza", a chocolatier that uses Valrhona and Del Rey chocolate to make a variety of chocolate speciality items. Typical for Santa Fe many of them featured hot chilis.

 

 

We had a great time walking and biking thru the quaint downtown area. Did I mention how vibrant the colors are here?

 

We walked thru some little alleyways that opened up into courtyards. Each one was so unique. You never knew what you'd stumble across - tile, pottery, textiles, dried chilis or flowers.

 

 

Our final destination was Amarillo, Texas. We were initially planning on staying at Palo Duro State Park, one of our favorites. However, we have an early morning appt. with a Volkswagen Dealer in Amarillo. We had ordered a part (from an Oregon VW dealer) last week and had it shipped here. Tomorrow is our date with destiny to finally fix the left CV joint. Fingers crossed no more knocking and noise. To make it easy, we are "camped" at a nearby RV park. Ah, the finest Amarillo has to offer. It is CRAZY windy here tonight with winds 50 mph. It's hot, but windy. Here's poor Winnie trying to hold her own among the big boys.

 

 

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Getting our Mojo in Ojo

Ojo Caliente Hot Springs.

We decided to hang out for another day at Ojo Caliente Hot Springs. This place is just too awesome to rush through.

 

 

After breakfast and a mid-morning soak, Gary and Linda took off to venture out on their own. It's been such a fun two weeks with them. Gonna miss seeing our two RV's parked side by side.

This is pretty much how I spent my day.

 

 

 

Ned took in the mud bath and did some laps. We couldn't ask for better weather. MId-70's, perfect for soaking and laying out in the sun.

 

 

 

 

Tonight we took a bike ride into "town". We stumbled upon a brewery and steak house.

 

 

Alaska Amber for Ned and an oatmeal stout for me. Yum!

 

 

 

Ned ordered some ribs and half way thru his meal the waitress came over and asked him if he was finished with any of his ribs. She took one and fed it to Rosa and Piper. They squawked up a storm!

 

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The Cliff Dwellers, Mesa Verde National Park

Ojo Caliente Spa, New Mexico

We woke up early this morning excited about exploring the Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park.

 

 

Of course, before the expedition could begin we needed a hearty breakfast. Off to the Park's Pancake Breakfast.

Damn good pancakes too I might add!

(Uncle Bud, you check out the size of this syrup bottle?)

 

It was a gorgeous morning. Blue skies and moderate temp. Perfect hiking and exploring weather.

 

We opted for the guided Balcony House Tour. This is the most adventuresome tour with lots of steep ladders and narrow passages.

 

 

Yep, my fear of heights and closed spaces was definitely put to test.

 

It was so fun to explore the kivas, cubby holes, small rooms, tunnels and guess how they might have been used.

 

 

 

Ned popping out of a tunnel

 

Gary popping into one.

 

So why were these dwellings built so high into the cliffs and above the water below? One theory is that natural springs came out of the sandstone cliffs providing a convenient water source. This way the water didn't have to be hauled up from down in the valley.

Archeologists have discovered turkey feathers and bones in one of the small rooms. They think the turkeys were used for their down feathers to be woven into blankets for warmth.

 

 

The kivas were used for ceremonies and maybe sleeping.

One of the rooms had a special tiny window that lined up with the summer solstice. As the sun rose it hit a specific triangle on the wall indicating the beginning of summer and the best time to plant. In this part of Colorado, July is notorious for lots of rain which would be conducive for optimal crop growth.

 

 

 

The last set of ladders....

 

We made it!!!

Note, big smiles.

 

 

Our next stop was at Pagosa Springs. We took a good hour or so checking out the springs and the vibe. Yes, we are already in "Where shall our next trip be?" phase.

 

At 6:30ish we finally made it to one of our favorite places on earth...Ojo Caliente Hot Springs. A good long soak was in order. We had fun going from pool to pool testing out the different waters. There are about 7 different pools. We didn't head out til about 9:15.

 

 

 

Our last dinner together, and a late night feast it was. Ned had some amazing concoction...Elk burger with smoked Gouda, duck bacon and a sunny side egg on it! Go figure. Gary had Elk chops and Linda and I stuck with our favorite, cedar planked salmon.

Thanks Gary and Linda for a wonderful meal.

 

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Friends Across the States

Moorefield Campground, Mesa Verde National Park, CO

We woke to gorgeous blue skies and warmer weather. What a better to start off the day then viewing Monument Valley...with some Ben & Jerry's!

 

Here's Ned with the sneaky over the shoulder move for more ice cream.

 

Good-bye Monument Valley. Here's a view of "The Mittens". Can you see The East and West Mittens behind Linda and me?

 

 

Next stop was Four Corners - where Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona all meet. Here's a picture of us standing on all 4 states. We refer to this as the "Friends Across the States Photo".

 

 

 

While Linda shopped...

 

 

Ned was being his usual "thoughtie" and was helping a Navajo vendor set up her square.

 

 

 

 

 

Gary and I spent our time being goofy and taking silly pictures of us straddling the states.

Here's Gary in a frog pose.

 

 

 

 

 

I tried out the Mountain pose.

These are just 2 of the many, many poses that we took. I'm still laughing over Gary's mountain pose, but I promised him I wouldn't post it. (Matt, Rachel, Jessica, contact me, I have the goods for blackmail material).

 

 

 

All this hard work made us work up an appetite. The boys opted for the local Navajo fry bread tacos.

 

We passed thru the town of Mexican Hat. Gee, I wonder why they call it that.

 

 

Our final destination of the day was Mesa Verde National Park.

 

 

Here's the usual photo op at the National Park sign.

 

 

 

A statue at the Visitor's Center symbolized the ancient people that built the cliff dwellings.

 

 

 

 

 

Chilling at the campsite. Sarah, we broke out our bottle of Rex Hill Wine that you gave to us in honor of Gary and Linda's 30th. (We would have broke it out the night before, but they didn't allow alcohol on the reservation). In the far left side are some deer hanging around.

 

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