Cloud Atlas

It is the start of monsoon season here in the west. Sounds weird, doesn't it? I think of deserts and dryness but not monsoons.
We have been seeing some amazing skies the last couple of nights during our Brody walk. Enjoy. Photos by Kevin

Out for a Sunday drive on a holiday weekend

Today was a bit of history. Located in the town of Aztec is the Aztec Ruins, a National Monument, incorrectly named by the Spaniards who discovered them. The ruins were thought to have been built by the Hopi people around 1000 A.D. The site covers 3 acres and took 30 years to build, without draft horses or other technological tools. It is still considered sacred by the Hopi and they believe their ancestors still reside there. The site was abandoned about 600 years ago and was covered by sand. It was partially excavated and the main kiva rebuilt. You can find more information at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_Ruins_National_Monument

Next stop was the Navajo Lake/Dam. Lots of pontoon boats, speed boats, tubing and picnicers on this lovely long weekend. The dam is on the San Juan River, a tributary of the Colorado River. It was completed in 1962 and was originally simply for water storage. It drowned a sacred Navajo site. It is now used to generate electricity for the town of Farmington and provide a recreational area.

On a clear day you can see forever, well 11,000 square miles, anyway

Yep, once you take the Sandia Peak Tramway to the top (almost 11,000 ft) you're supposed to be able to see 10% of New Mexico's landmass. It was a cloudy day and watching the storm come in from the southwest was too cool. The views were still spectacular.
This was installed in 1966 (designed and built by a Swiss company, natch) to shoot skiers up to the top for skiing thereby eliminating the circuitous drive around the mountain from the west face to the east face to access the skiing.

Kevin doesn't look the least bit scared.

The first of two towers before you reach the peak.

 This is looking out the back of the cable car. The building at the bottom is the boarding station. We have not yet reached the 1st tower.

 When you trek the crest trail, in some places the only thing separating you from death at 11,000 feet (that's the START of your fall) is  about a foot of dirt.
Witness:

And remember you're walking this thing completely exposed to the 20 mile an hour winds blowing at you. There's the cliff on your right side, and the wide open sky on your left.

Here are some random shots from the top

Yeah, he's laughin' now but he has to climb back UPHILL at 11,000 feet. I don't care how long you've been going to Crossfit you're going to be wheezing.

The long journey West

Today's drive took us from Albuquerque west to Grants, and south to El Morro. This a large sandstone outcropping  became home to Indians (who built a pueblo at the top) but also was a rest stop for travelling Spaniards and Americans and Civil War soldiers. It had a reliable source of water in the form of a large pool, or cistern so pioneers, Spanish soldiers..all stopped here to rest and water their livestock and horses. It was very moving in that we could read the names people had chiselled in the rock when they passed by.
One of them, the Governer of New Mexico, Don Juan de Onate, inscribed in 1605. He was particularly vicious to the Indians he was in the process of subduing, along with the help of missionary priests, of course.

It was a fantastic place for a picnic lunch, then northward on to Gallup. There were many 'trading posts' that we were interested in seeing but no bargains to be had. Here are the sights along the way home to Albuquerque.

The view from The Que - Albuquerque

Did I mention the sad state of affairs of vehicles in New Mexico? Can the fact that they never get safety inspected have anything to do with it? Can the fact that they're held together with "duct tape, wire and chewing gum" according to a Taoseno have anything to do with it? I saw a Toyota 4-Runner missing the front left quarter panel. I saw a relatively new VW Beetle with NO HOOD - entire engine compartment exposed to the world. Makes me think twice about buying a used pickup in New Mexico.
Anyway - day 1 of our time in Albuquerque. Kevin has found a Crossfit gym and went to  a class. I stayed in the waiting room reading and dreaming of margueritas and mojitos. He got a nice t-shirt out of the deal.

Then the drive to Old Town for a stroll around the plaza with jewellery stores, Indian pottery and, surprise surprise another Catholic Church.

 In the Rattlesnake Museum.

 In Duran's Pharmacy (lunch counter) for Tortilla Soup and lime soda.

 Another occupant of the Rattlesnake Museum.

 Low tech parking meter. Match the number on your parking slot to the number on the board. Shove your dollar bills into the hole using your car keys if necessary.   I'm not kidding.

In the kitchen of the house we've rented is a cookbook from The Range Cafe - an institution since 1992 in Bernalillo (close to our rental). Well of course I read the thing, not only for the recipes but for the history of the place. Had to check it out. Went to the bar part (the Lizard Lounge) for Blood Orange Margueritas. Kevin had a Cranberry Coconut Mojito.