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Ceremonial
Week
Near Apache Junction, AZ |
Too
busy to take pictures here! I only have one: a visiting lizard at
the tent, as we were packing up to leave. So sad. The land is incredibly
beautiful, with saguaro, prickly pear, staghorn, palo verde, mesquite,
and a variety of other pokey plants. Pokey plants only in THIS area! |
Chaco
Canyon
New Mexico |
To
get to Chaco Canyon, we drive over 20 miles on rough dirt/rock roads,
through wild herds of cattle and many, many beer bottles (longnecks,
usually empty). It's worth every inch. No pictures of the ruins here,
just the landscape, flora and fauna. |
Eagle
Nest
New Mexico |
We
started ambitiously from Chaco in the early afternoon, hoping to
make it all the way to I-25 in northeastern New Mexico before total
darkness (knowing it was a beautiful drive). Alas, didn't make it.
We reached the Rio Grande gorge just west of Taos in late dusk,
were suitably amazed, drove on and on. Just as we were leaving Eagle
Nest NM, though, the truck (a.k.a. Bug Slayer) declined to charge
the battery anymore. You know how sometimes, as you're driving in
the dark, you just know you're passing through something fabulous?
We turned back, stayed in Eagle Nest that night, and the next morning
discovered our good fortune.
Actually,
the alternator incident turned out to be good for us in many ways.
We met Mike of M&M Auto Parts in Eagle Nest, and his charming
dog Baby. Mike, who had the bluest eyes I've ever seen, recommended
Don of DR Automotive in Angel Fire. Don knew his stuff, AND he didn't
mind if I watched. He even answered my questions, with fiery, passionate
descriptions of the workings of current and upcoming engines. Within
an astonishingly short time we were back on the road, admiring more
scenery, new (well, ok, rebuilt) alternator merrily charging. And,
thanks to the unplanned stop, we didn't hit Kansas until the deadly
dust storms had passed.
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Home
Missouri |
At
last! A place with humidity you can see. |
Ceremonial
Week
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| Cho
spots a lizard. |
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Chaco
Canyon pictures
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| Fajada
Butte, site of equinox and solstice marker. |
Lots
of rocks in Chaco Canyon. Lots. Many. Bunches. Gobs. |
Bird
nests under the edge of one of the cliffs. Very snug.
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| A very
accomodating vulture, who flew quite close to us so we could take
his/her photo. I call that kindness. |
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Eagle
Nest pictures
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| Eagle
Nest NM from the parking lot at M&M Auto Parts. We're on our way
out of town, and it's a beautiful day. |
Cimarron
Canyon, just east of Eagle Nest. We would have missed this entirely
if not for the alternator. |
Cimarron
Canyon again. |
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Missouri
pictures
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| We reach
the St. Louis area just as the sun is coming up. Water in the river
beds, green grass, mist over the fields. Water everywhere. |
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