Return to the beautiful Southwest US
Oct 2nd, 2013, 04:43 AM
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Return to the beautiful Southwest US
DH and I needed a southwest fix as it has been over a year since we were there. When I found a decent price for tickets on Southwest, I snapped them up before they flew away. We mentioned our plans to friends who thought it would be fun to see the area too so they headed out to Albuquerque a couple of days before we went to get adjusted to the altitude a bit. I'll post pictures when I get my act together.
Sept. 21 We flew to Albuquerque and met our friends at the airport then drove to Bloomfield and checked into the Best Western Territorial as that was about as far as we could go before falling asleep. We had supper at the diner next door, then to bet as our body clock thought it was late.
Sept. 22. We were up for the free breakfast as soon as it was ready and it was quite good, eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt, cereal, pastries, fruit, juice, coffee, tea etc. Then it was off on the scenic drove to Mesa Verde. We signed up for the 11:30 ranger tour of Cliff palace, got to the gathering spot in time to find the 11 tour people waiting. They were waiting to see if the tour would go because of impending lightning/thunder/rain/hail and were told to wait in the car for a signal from the ranger. The ranger cancelled the 11 and told us to wait in the car for info on our tour. It rained, hailed , thundered, lightninged, until 11: 25 then the sun shone and we went on the tour, down lots of stone stairs, up a wooden ladder and through cliff Palace then up three wooden ladders and back to the car for more rain. It seemed like a different route down than I took 10 years ago, but the tour through the ruins was about the same and very interesting, although the hike up the three ladders was tough on a sea level dweller, talk about sucking wind.
We ate lunch near the museum until the rain stopped. We talked about what to do next and the ladies thought it would be smart to go down to Spruce Tree House while it was not raining, so we went down to Spruce Tree house and back while the guys went to the museum. We met them on the way down while we were going up and they got caught in the rain/hail and had to stay in Spruce tree house until it stopped while we were in the museum.
We checked into Far View Lodge and the rain/wind/hail came so we sat in the lounge until time for supper at the Metate room and then went to our rooms and to bed.
Sept. 23. We were in line for breakfast at Far View Terrace cafeteria as soon as it opened (still on eastern time body clocks) then drove the Mesa top loop, stopped at all the stops along the way. This loop is very nice and for anyone who isn't up to doing the tours of the cliff dwellings would give a nice overview of the area.
The next trip was down through Cortez to Monticello to Needles District of Canyonlands with a stop at Cave Spring for a look at Cowboy Camp and the pictographs at the spring.
Our next drive was up to Moab with a check in at Cali Cochita's and walk to town and supper of all you can eat soup/salad/pizza buffet. Back to bed for the night.
Sept. 24. Breakfast at Cali Cochita's: French Toast, fruit, OJ, Coffee while chatting with other guests, yummy and very pleasant conversation.
Off to Arches with our friends who were blown away by the beauty of the area. We hiked around Balanced Rock, hiked to the Windows and Turret Arch, and hiked to Landscape Arch. We snacked on crackers, cheese, granola bars and drank lots of water as no one was very hungry after the big breakfast.
With a few hours of daylight left we rove out route 128 to Fisher's Towers beautiful scenery along Colorado River. Lunch/supper at Sorrel River Inn. Route 128 is a bit of a mess as some of the north lane washed into the Colorado River so there are a couple of places where traffic alternates use of the one intact lane while the other direction waits.
In the last few minutes of light we drove out Kane Creek road to petroglyphs then b ack to Calli for reading and bed.
Sept. 25. Breakfast at Calli, yummy fritata, Green River melon, berries, biscuits, coffee, tea, chat with other guests. Off to Canyonlands Island in the Sky, with a stop for sandwiches as there are no eating facilities in Canyonlands. We hiked to Mesa Arch, then drove to end of road, hiked along rim, and enjoyed the amazing vistas.
We couldn't get a third night at Cali Cochita's so I booked a night in Blanding at the Quality Inn. Our friends loved the area so far, but since I wasn't sure before we went what they would want to do next I hadn't made reservations yet for the next few days, so we decided to head back towards New Mexico and called ahead for the next lodging.
More to come, if you're still reading.
Sept. 21 We flew to Albuquerque and met our friends at the airport then drove to Bloomfield and checked into the Best Western Territorial as that was about as far as we could go before falling asleep. We had supper at the diner next door, then to bet as our body clock thought it was late.
Sept. 22. We were up for the free breakfast as soon as it was ready and it was quite good, eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt, cereal, pastries, fruit, juice, coffee, tea etc. Then it was off on the scenic drove to Mesa Verde. We signed up for the 11:30 ranger tour of Cliff palace, got to the gathering spot in time to find the 11 tour people waiting. They were waiting to see if the tour would go because of impending lightning/thunder/rain/hail and were told to wait in the car for a signal from the ranger. The ranger cancelled the 11 and told us to wait in the car for info on our tour. It rained, hailed , thundered, lightninged, until 11: 25 then the sun shone and we went on the tour, down lots of stone stairs, up a wooden ladder and through cliff Palace then up three wooden ladders and back to the car for more rain. It seemed like a different route down than I took 10 years ago, but the tour through the ruins was about the same and very interesting, although the hike up the three ladders was tough on a sea level dweller, talk about sucking wind.
We ate lunch near the museum until the rain stopped. We talked about what to do next and the ladies thought it would be smart to go down to Spruce Tree House while it was not raining, so we went down to Spruce Tree house and back while the guys went to the museum. We met them on the way down while we were going up and they got caught in the rain/hail and had to stay in Spruce tree house until it stopped while we were in the museum.
We checked into Far View Lodge and the rain/wind/hail came so we sat in the lounge until time for supper at the Metate room and then went to our rooms and to bed.
Sept. 23. We were in line for breakfast at Far View Terrace cafeteria as soon as it opened (still on eastern time body clocks) then drove the Mesa top loop, stopped at all the stops along the way. This loop is very nice and for anyone who isn't up to doing the tours of the cliff dwellings would give a nice overview of the area.
The next trip was down through Cortez to Monticello to Needles District of Canyonlands with a stop at Cave Spring for a look at Cowboy Camp and the pictographs at the spring.
Our next drive was up to Moab with a check in at Cali Cochita's and walk to town and supper of all you can eat soup/salad/pizza buffet. Back to bed for the night.
Sept. 24. Breakfast at Cali Cochita's: French Toast, fruit, OJ, Coffee while chatting with other guests, yummy and very pleasant conversation.
Off to Arches with our friends who were blown away by the beauty of the area. We hiked around Balanced Rock, hiked to the Windows and Turret Arch, and hiked to Landscape Arch. We snacked on crackers, cheese, granola bars and drank lots of water as no one was very hungry after the big breakfast.
With a few hours of daylight left we rove out route 128 to Fisher's Towers beautiful scenery along Colorado River. Lunch/supper at Sorrel River Inn. Route 128 is a bit of a mess as some of the north lane washed into the Colorado River so there are a couple of places where traffic alternates use of the one intact lane while the other direction waits.
In the last few minutes of light we drove out Kane Creek road to petroglyphs then b ack to Calli for reading and bed.
Sept. 25. Breakfast at Calli, yummy fritata, Green River melon, berries, biscuits, coffee, tea, chat with other guests. Off to Canyonlands Island in the Sky, with a stop for sandwiches as there are no eating facilities in Canyonlands. We hiked to Mesa Arch, then drove to end of road, hiked along rim, and enjoyed the amazing vistas.
We couldn't get a third night at Cali Cochita's so I booked a night in Blanding at the Quality Inn. Our friends loved the area so far, but since I wasn't sure before we went what they would want to do next I hadn't made reservations yet for the next few days, so we decided to head back towards New Mexico and called ahead for the next lodging.
More to come, if you're still reading.
Oct 2nd, 2013, 05:27 AM
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Sounds great! Weather is NOT to be treated lightly here in SW!! Glad you managed to get in all that you did in Mesa Verde. I love it there; I find it a very spiritual place for me.
I didn't realize you were staying at Cali Cochita! Kim and David are lovely, gracious hosts and their B&B is beautiful! David makes the most delicious breakfast, doesn't he? And we found the group of guests to be varied and most interesting which made the talk around the breakfast table fascinating!
I didn't realize you were staying at Cali Cochita! Kim and David are lovely, gracious hosts and their B&B is beautiful! David makes the most delicious breakfast, doesn't he? And we found the group of guests to be varied and most interesting which made the talk around the breakfast table fascinating!
Oct 2nd, 2013, 08:07 AM
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Debit, MV is wonderful and some time we'll get there when Wetherill Mesa is open. I guess there is a bike/hike to it either last weekend or next weekend and would have planned differently if I had known. Of course the park might not be open next weekend, so am glad we went when we did.
We did enjoy Cali Cochita and our friends did too. Good location and good breakfast and yummy cookies in the afternoon. We had breakfast inside the first day and outside on the second day, both were nice locations.
We did enjoy Cali Cochita and our friends did too. Good location and good breakfast and yummy cookies in the afternoon. We had breakfast inside the first day and outside on the second day, both were nice locations.
Oct 2nd, 2013, 08:25 AM
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Here's the rest:
Sept. 26, Thursday: Breakfast at QI, buffet, ok not as good as the Best Western. We stopped to look at Edge of Cedars SP, but it would not open for an hour, so we went on our way and stopped at Sand Island petroglyph site. We stopped for lunch at Lottaburger in Farmington because DH had been reading about Chee and Leaphorn eating there in the Hillerman books for years. The burgers were very good and made to order. Then on to Aztec Ruin NM which has a very large rebuilt kiva where we heard an interesting lecture on telling time/seasons in the old days. We went back to the Bloomfield Best Western Territorial for the night.
Sept. 27, Friday: Breakfast at Best Western buffet, then up to Bandelier, via Jemez Pueblo, with a stop at their museum. We did stop at Valles Caldera, but there no elk in sight. A few years ago we were there at about the same time and they were in rut with bugling and gathering of the females, a great spectacle. We did the hike to ruins in Bandelier. The park had suffered from the flooding from the week before, but the dwellings on the mountainside were not harmed, although the trail around the park was not passible. We drove back to Valles, but still no elk in sight. We headed east and spent the night at Santa Claran hotel/casino in Espanola, NM. which was kind of between our Bandelier and Santa Fe and had rooms available for a couple of nights.
Sept. 28. Saturday: We had breakfast in Cafe in casino then drove to Santa Fe. We visited Georgia O'Keefe museum which had ust a few paintings, and Steiglitz photographs as they were setting up for a new exhibit. There was a nice video about her. We walked around town, stop at the church with the amazing spiral staircase and the one with the bell mentioned in Willa Catha's "Death comes to the Archbishop: and then to the Plaza for shopping. Lunch was at Guadalupe Cafe, outside good food.
Ever the optimists we went back to Valles, no elk again, boohoo. Back to the Santa Claran for bed.
Sept. 29. Sunday: Breakfast in Cafe in casino. For our last full day we drove towards Albuquerque on the Tourquoise Trail rt. 14, stopped in at some of the shops. Off 14 we drove up to Sandia Crest elevation 10688 ft. for views of Albuquerque and beyond and lunch in the little snack bar.
Then we went over to Acoma Pueblo in time for the last tour. Good guide here. Dinner at the Acoma diner near the highway.
Back to Albuquerque to the Courtyard Mariott near the airport for an early flight.
We all enjoyed the trip and are soooo glad we didn't plan it for a week later as the people in Washington have the parks closed for their political wrangling.
Sept. 26, Thursday: Breakfast at QI, buffet, ok not as good as the Best Western. We stopped to look at Edge of Cedars SP, but it would not open for an hour, so we went on our way and stopped at Sand Island petroglyph site. We stopped for lunch at Lottaburger in Farmington because DH had been reading about Chee and Leaphorn eating there in the Hillerman books for years. The burgers were very good and made to order. Then on to Aztec Ruin NM which has a very large rebuilt kiva where we heard an interesting lecture on telling time/seasons in the old days. We went back to the Bloomfield Best Western Territorial for the night.
Sept. 27, Friday: Breakfast at Best Western buffet, then up to Bandelier, via Jemez Pueblo, with a stop at their museum. We did stop at Valles Caldera, but there no elk in sight. A few years ago we were there at about the same time and they were in rut with bugling and gathering of the females, a great spectacle. We did the hike to ruins in Bandelier. The park had suffered from the flooding from the week before, but the dwellings on the mountainside were not harmed, although the trail around the park was not passible. We drove back to Valles, but still no elk in sight. We headed east and spent the night at Santa Claran hotel/casino in Espanola, NM. which was kind of between our Bandelier and Santa Fe and had rooms available for a couple of nights.
Sept. 28. Saturday: We had breakfast in Cafe in casino then drove to Santa Fe. We visited Georgia O'Keefe museum which had ust a few paintings, and Steiglitz photographs as they were setting up for a new exhibit. There was a nice video about her. We walked around town, stop at the church with the amazing spiral staircase and the one with the bell mentioned in Willa Catha's "Death comes to the Archbishop: and then to the Plaza for shopping. Lunch was at Guadalupe Cafe, outside good food.
Ever the optimists we went back to Valles, no elk again, boohoo. Back to the Santa Claran for bed.
Sept. 29. Sunday: Breakfast in Cafe in casino. For our last full day we drove towards Albuquerque on the Tourquoise Trail rt. 14, stopped in at some of the shops. Off 14 we drove up to Sandia Crest elevation 10688 ft. for views of Albuquerque and beyond and lunch in the little snack bar.
Then we went over to Acoma Pueblo in time for the last tour. Good guide here. Dinner at the Acoma diner near the highway.
Back to Albuquerque to the Courtyard Mariott near the airport for an early flight.
We all enjoyed the trip and are soooo glad we didn't plan it for a week later as the people in Washington have the parks closed for their political wrangling.
Oct 2nd, 2013, 02:42 PM
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MV and Bandelier are different but both are worth a visit. Bandelier can be explored in a day. All of the dwellings can be seen in less than a day, some of the remains of pueblo type housing are on the flat land, but the most interesting to me are the ones that were carved into the rock of the mountainside. The rock seems to be pumice or scoria and is relatively soft. There is a second part of Bandelier called Tsankawi which is on rt. 4 about 5 miles closer to Santa Fe.
We did a short hike at Tsankawi on the day we went back to Valles, but it seemed that the trail had been damaged by the recent rains so we didn't do the whole loop.
I have some pictures on flickr that I'm still getting into the new set and also some from older trips there. You can look at www.flickr.com/photos/emalloy2009 if you want to compare.
We did a short hike at Tsankawi on the day we went back to Valles, but it seemed that the trail had been damaged by the recent rains so we didn't do the whole loop.
I have some pictures on flickr that I'm still getting into the new set and also some from older trips there. You can look at www.flickr.com/photos/emalloy2009 if you want to compare.
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