Heading Home

Good trip--No van problems; no dog problems; and no people problems.  Just ready to come home.

Painted Desert and Petrified Forest

Just outside Holbrook, NM in the four-corner area:  Interesting geology that I wish I understood.

Wind Chimes in Flagstaff, AZ

These artsie wind chimes are wonderful.  Would have loved to bring one home, but each costed $6000+-!!!

Sedona, AZ

 
Beautiful city and surroundings.  Also a great art colony.

Black Canyon City KOA mascots.  

 
   

Black Canyon City, AZ

In Black Canyon City KOA today on way to Sedona and maybe Flagstaff and maybe the Grand Canyon.  Weather cooler and rain possible.  Would like the Saguaro (not Socorro) to get a good drink.

Equal Time

The pups always want equal time!

Sunday, the day of rest

And Monday...and Tuesday...  we grilled steaks and generally had a good day.

Apache Junction, AZ (just outside Phoenix)

Landed in the Apache Junction KOA. Really good spot--shady and quiet.  It's been a beautiful day for our drive from the other side of Tucson.  We have to decide what we will do tomorrow. I want to do the zoo, the botanical garden and the capitol.  We'll see.  I just love socorro cacti!!

Benson almost Tucson, Arizona

Nothing to show you.  Just had a good pizza and a beer.  Traveling is great.  Weather beautiful.  Everybody (dogs and people) happy and healthy.  Will check out Tucson tomorrow.

Las Cruses, NM

Out of Texas--relaxing in Las Cruses, NM, KOA and enjoying the beautiful sunset and a beer.  Westward tomorrow.                                                                             

McDonald Observatory

Still not out of Texas...too much to see here I guess.  I'd never seen the McDonald Observatory.  I went to the lecture and toured the telescopes (Babs kept the dogs).  Both of us went to the night-time star show.  That night the moon was full so the start were harder to see, but several stars and constellations were identified.  The 'star' of the evening was the ISS, the international space station.  It passed over early in the program.  Spectacular evening.                                                 

Marfa, TX

Visited Marfa, TX a small town in south Texas that has become an artists' colony.  Toured a beautiful historic hotel, the Paisano.  Great shops, flowers and patio.  Must go back and stay there for a while.             

Stopped in Sonora to see the caverns.  Spectacular tour through the cave. I need to get in better shape!  There were lots of steps back up to ground level.  Plan to visit.  

Weather in Austin has cooled down and the geraniums are happier. I hate to leave them.  

Start new trip-- Oct/Nov 2012

Getting ready to head southwest to Arizona and there abouts.  Pups are ready to head out!

Heading home.  Will probably stop in Fredericksburg for a little shopping.

Ambled through south New Mexico--almost as boring as West Texas.  At my insistence we stopped at Roswell.  I had to look for the aliens.  Didn't see any this trip except in the museum.  There was an interesting display on crop circles. 

 

Back up in the mountains--southern New Mexico this time.  Ruidoso, NM is a little town with lots of shopping and gambling.  One of the BIG attractions is the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort owned and operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe.  The resort is full of beautiful art and sculptures.

  

Albuquerque Old Town today:  San Felipe Neri Parish, Botanical Garden and Aquarium.  Full Day!!

 

 

Leisurely trip south from Taos visiting lots of old churches in the little towns in between.

San Francisco de Asis Rancho de Taos

El Santuario de Chimayo

Never dreamed that we would need winter clothes...not to speak of a heater for the van!  But look at this!!  Those are socks used for gloves.

 

Ojo Caliente is a ancient resort and spa that was a gathering place for Native Americans.  Of course, non-natives took it over and today it is a wonderful resort for all.  Babs had a herbal soak in water from the springs and I had a rock massage.  Relaxing, spoiled day was had by all. 

   

Lots of early American history and sites to absorb!

 

Earliest Adobe house

Santa Fe Trail

Visited the Basilica of St Christopher in Santa Fe.  It is a spectacular church with comparable stain glass windows (original from 18 something).  When built it was a decreed that nothing in town would be higher than the church.  They didn't put towers on it because it was decided that the foundation would not support more weight.  So..no dome on the Capitol and no high rises in Santa Fe.

 

New Mexico State Capitol Building

The state capitol building is interesting, but doesn't look like the capitols were accustomed to.  It doesn't have a dome...the only one in the country.  To add a dome would have made it higher than the Basilica of St Christopher (I'll tell you about next).  Since the people thought it wasn't pretty, they planted many flowering trees and plants.  Of course I concur with that!  And there are many great statues and artwork inside the capitol.  At this time they had a children's art display.