Mornings are lazy and cool. Low angled sunlight trims the edges of the desert grasses and shrubs. It rained the first night here and the winds blew waking us around three or so. To the east and across the Rio Grande clouds moved across the face of Sandia Mountain for two days. They are gone now and have been replaced by a deep blue from one edge of the world to the other.
Over the past two days we drove two loops climbing to higher elevations. On the first day we drove the Jemez Mountain National Scenic Byway through a small Indian town, Pueblo of Jemez, located in a valley. Cottonwoods, some ancient, lined the stream that carved the valley eons ago. Red-orange sedimentary cliffs rose a few hundred feet on either side of the roadway. From the semi-desert of Bernalillo we moved through Ponderosa pine and aspen and eventually climbed above 10,000 feet to where spruce and fir grew. Beneath the pines the forest the floor was open and grasses formed the carpet. There were large alpine meadows and grassy uplands. We were nearing the Valles Calera formed 1.4 million years ago.
We drove through cedar trees that grew along a canyon rim, a part of the Bandelier National Monument. In the canyon below the long abandoned homes of 13th century pueblo and cliff dwelling Indians are located.
On the second day we drove to the top of Sandia Mountain at 10,200 feet. A small gift shop and snack bar located there has a fine observation deck. Five or six humming birds darted from nearby spruce trees to feeders placed on the deck. Unexpected patches of irises were growing between 9 and 10 thousand feet.
We then drove to Madrid, an abandoned coal mining town that was re-settled and is now a hippy community. We ate lunch there and Aimee found a dress she liked. I believe a few scenes from the movie “Hog Wild” were shot in this location but I’m not sure.
We ended with a visit to the plaza in Santa Fe. It's an interesting town with more than a few characters reminiscent of French Quarter denizens.
Today is clean up and rest day. Tomorrow were head for Alamosa, Co. and the Great Sand Dunes.
Over the past two days we drove two loops climbing to higher elevations. On the first day we drove the Jemez Mountain National Scenic Byway through a small Indian town, Pueblo of Jemez, located in a valley. Cottonwoods, some ancient, lined the stream that carved the valley eons ago. Red-orange sedimentary cliffs rose a few hundred feet on either side of the roadway. From the semi-desert of Bernalillo we moved through Ponderosa pine and aspen and eventually climbed above 10,000 feet to where spruce and fir grew. Beneath the pines the forest the floor was open and grasses formed the carpet. There were large alpine meadows and grassy uplands. We were nearing the Valles Calera formed 1.4 million years ago.
We drove through cedar trees that grew along a canyon rim, a part of the Bandelier National Monument. In the canyon below the long abandoned homes of 13th century pueblo and cliff dwelling Indians are located.
On the second day we drove to the top of Sandia Mountain at 10,200 feet. A small gift shop and snack bar located there has a fine observation deck. Five or six humming birds darted from nearby spruce trees to feeders placed on the deck. Unexpected patches of irises were growing between 9 and 10 thousand feet.
We then drove to Madrid, an abandoned coal mining town that was re-settled and is now a hippy community. We ate lunch there and Aimee found a dress she liked. I believe a few scenes from the movie “Hog Wild” were shot in this location but I’m not sure.
We ended with a visit to the plaza in Santa Fe. It's an interesting town with more than a few characters reminiscent of French Quarter denizens.
Today is clean up and rest day. Tomorrow were head for Alamosa, Co. and the Great Sand Dunes.
1 comment:
Didn't you just love Madrid? Several scenes of Wild Hog were shot there. Such a perfect place for it. I love the photos! It sounds like you're having a great time.
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