Durango, Colorado to Santa Fe, New Mexico – 4/18/2015

April 18, 2015 (Saturday)

Got up early for us (around 8:00 AM). When we opened up the drapes in the bedroom, Michael said he thought the tree outside the window had bloomed overnight. Then he looked further and realized it had SNOWED during the night. It was beautiful in the trees and around Durango. Just a light dusting. Magical. The temperature today went from 40’s to 60’s.

The morning sun quickly melted the snow off the blossoms.

We packed up and left around 9:30 AM. Our first stop was at the local McDonald’s Restaurants for our travel morning breakfast – egg white McMuffin, coffee, and we split an orange juice. We were on the road by 10:00 AM. Our drive today was to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

We left Durango and climbed to the south.

Well, my friend, I am afraid you were going just a little bit too fast.

Before long we left the land of legal marijuana and were in New Mexico.

The drive should have been about 250 miles but we wanted to go to Farmington, New Mexico to see a museum there. Before we got to the museum we saw a sign for the Aztec Ruins National Monument in New Mexico. We figured they would be pit ruins (my least favorite kind) but it turned out to be a fascinating place. The visitor center loans you a laminated “map” to follow with wonderful descriptions of what you’re seeing (numbered markers). They had a little bit of everything there and it was great! They even had an 800 year old window/door type screen woven from reeds. They had a wall that lined up to the summer and winter solstice. Can’t even imagine how they figured that out. There was one great ceremonial room where you push a button and Native music plays. You can close your eyes and just imagine all the activities going on. Great place. While we were talking to one of the Rangers, he told us about another place where the Natives had figured out about the 19 year moon cycles – Chaco Culture National Historic Park.

A tiger statue in the center median with maybe a bird on one ear.

We had time so thought we'd check it out. — We had time so thought we’d check it out.

It was a very short distance off the highway.

Impressive building with log construction elements.

A kiva, just like we saw in the cliff dwellings, stone columns to support a roof, a fire place and benches.

The place is fair sized and was two stories tall.

This building was restored to it's almost original construction. They added some roof drains, and modern stairs for us to get in and out. — This building was restored to almost original construction. They added some roof drains and modern stairs for us to get in and out.

Inside they applied plaster, as was the custom 900 years ago.

Big round stones, I'm thinking some kind of game? — Big round stones, I’m thinking some kind of game?

Typical roof construction, made so well you could walk on the top without fear of falling through.

When you push this button some Indian chants begin and they are hauntingly beautiful.

With the chants going you can easily imagine a fire in the center pit and dancers in the room. — With the chants going, you can easily imagine a fire in the center pit and dancers in the room.

Left in place to demonstrate how the rafters are placed.

We had a book and portions corresponded to markers inside the ruins. Pretty woman read aloud the history and significance of what we were seeing.

I really don't like the dinky doors. — I really don’t like the dinky doors.

Pretty woman handles them much better than I.

The wood is 900+ years old and showing it's age. — The wood is 900+ years old and showing its age.

We wondered about these holes and figured they must have been for shelves.

Broken pottery was strong and valuable and used in construction. Because it had been fired it made good wall material.

I like the way they found the right rocks to go around this log.

I like seeing the stick headers over the door opening.

This is the remnants of a reed door cloth that slowed the loss of heat, stopped the rain and kept the cold out, over 900 years old. — This is the remnants of a reed door cloth that slowed the loss of heat, stopped the rain and kept the cold out. Over 900 years old.

It is dark because the original roofs are intact, from over 900 years ago!

There work has lasted very nicely. — Their work has lasted very nicely.

This wall sits exactly on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. They were farmers.

We liked the decorative black stripe in the wall.

I had pretty woman stand next to a wall so you could see how thick the walls were built.

Tour path. We turned it in and headed out.

Want to mention that we didn’t have to use our “old people’s pass” (National Parks Pass for Seniors) as everyone gets in free for this weekend only!

After that we drove to Farmington, New Mexico to see the “Lost Egypt, Ancient Secrets.” It cost $10.00 per person to get into the exhibit. It was a nice exhibit but it was geared towards young children. We did enjoy the exhibit about Annie, a mummie and what her life would have been like. We also enjoyed seeing a replica of the Rosetta Stone. The museum building is quite lovely and you can go outside and walk along the river. As we were leaving the museum, we saw a bunch of old cars and it looked like they were setting up for a car show. Fun.

Checker cab converted to a Limo. — Checker cab converted to a limo.

I still wonder aloud if the Romans copied the use of columns from the Egyptians.

We hope to go one day, if the Islamic world ever settles down.

We paid our money and went inside, it was mostly set up for kids. — We paid our money and went inside. It was mostly set up for kids.

I started to enjoy and photograph actual items and Edie pointed out that there is a no photographs request for this section. Oh well. They had a nice copy of the Rosetta Stone. It was large, about 4 feet by 3 feet. The same story written three times in three different languages. Hieroglyphics, Coptic, and Greek. It took over twenty years but a small group finally figured out the Hieroglyphic writings and with that 4,000 years of recorded history became available to us.

I walked along the river in back of the place, it is nice. — I walked along the river in back of the place. It is nice.

A steel plate is the header, buried in the mortar, for this opening. Not very dissimilar the the ruins we just left.

Fun looking and yet I am glad it is theirs and not ours.

In the town of Bloomfield, beautiful cliffs on the distance.

Neat old truck, I think sacrilegious with the carrying the cross. — Neat old truck, I think sacrilegious with carrying the cross.

We left Farmington and drove a little bit and got some lunch. Michael opted for Subway and I went next door to the DQ and got one of their $5.00 lunch specials.

The New Mexico views just don't quit. — The New Mexico views just don’t quit.

We left and saw the signs to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The sign said it was 21 miles off the main road. We had only two squares left on our gas gauge but knew we could do it – until we got on the road. The road went from a really nice road, to a gravel road, to a rutted mess of a road. The road had livestock grates, ruts, wash outs, all sorts of dramatic things.We also saw wild horses and some sheep grazing alongside the road while the sheep dog watched from a distance. We thought about turning back several times. When we finally got to the park the road suddenly became wonderful. We went to the visitor center and got a map of the park. The Ranger said the loop road was nine miles. We were getting a little worried about the gas situation (still on two squares), but wanted to especially see Pueblo Bonito. Not only did we get to see Pueblo Bonito, but we saw so much more. It was beautiful and Michael and I talked about how this was so much like the ruins we saw in Europe.

A volunteer at the Aztec ruins told us about this place. We were feeling adventurous.

After about 5 miles the pavement ended. I was not happy.

It was 16 miles to the ruins with no pavement.

Well great, the gravel road ended and now we are on a washboard dirt road.

Kind of place you see on TV where the flash flood comes out of nowhere and kills everybody.

The flash flood riverbed as we drive across.

I was ready to turn back, then Edie drove by these rocks and I agreed to keep going.

Edie did a good job of straddling the ruts and keeping our very low car from getting stuck.

Liking the big and little stones in the stand.

So this drawing is how they imagine it actually looked in the 1100's. Three stories tall on the right side, two on the left. Looks like a nice community. — So this drawing is how they imagine it actually looked in the 1100’s. Three stories tall on the right side, two on the left. Looks like a nice community.

In a violent deluge in 1941 a large portion of the cliff called, "Threatening Rock" fell destroying the back portion of Pueblo Bonito. It took out about 30 rooms. — In a violent deluge in 1941, a large portion of the cliff called “Threatening Rock” fell, destroying the back portion of Pueblo Bonito. It took out about 30 rooms.

Looks to me like more is getting ready to fall in the next eon or tomorrow. — Looks to me like more is getting ready to fall in the next eon – or tomorrow.

They have created a path for us to walk through the debris.

The post marked 4 tells us what to read in the loaner guide book.

Irregular rocks were used in the center and straight cuts were used on the outside.

Don't know what path they took. — Don’t know what path they took.

Their favorite stone because they liked the color and it tended to break in straight lines.

A ceremonial gathering place. How did they keep it from filling up with water?

A rock header. There are no trees around here. They traveled 40 to 60 miles to cut trees. They would delimb and debark the trees, leave them for a year to dry out and be lighter and then carry them back for construction.

The T-Shaped doors worked for them, I way prefer ours. — The T-Shaped doors worked for them. I way prefer ours.

Headed out, not unlike what we just saw.

A thunderstorm with a cloudburst 12 miles away can kill you.

We were so glad to see the gravel road again.

Another hogan and we can't help but reflect how much it looks like a kiva above ground. — Another hogan and we can’t help but reflect how much it looks like a kiva above ground.

We left Chaco Cultural National Historical Park and drove back to the main road. By the time we had reached the main road, we were down to one square and our wonderful Prius had told us (beeping) that it was time to gas up. When we stopped at the stop sign, we looked across the street and saw a gas station. We were so relieved because we knew the closest town was about half an hour away and we didn’t want to walk.

By this time it was 3:30 PM or so. We figured we needed to get it in gear and get to Santa Fe. The drive was pleasant enough and the landscapes changed many times. At one point it looked like we were in Sedona with the beautiful red mountains. Just a little before we got into Santa Fe, we saw a sign for Coronado Historic Site and just could not resist.

The gate was open to the site, even though the sign said it closed at 5:00 PM and the time was 5:45 PM. We drove to the parking lot and just took a quick look around. Looks like a fun place. Maybe we’ll go back.