Day 9 – Heading to Albuquerque and Sandia Peak

We left Santa Fe the morning of Oct 6th and headed to Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta.  After checking into the Enchanted Trails RV Park we found Rick and Shirley Hood, and others with us to see the balloons, are already situated in the camp site.  

After we set up the motor home, Shirley, Rick, Carmen and I drove rte 536 to the top of Sandia Crest.  Yes, you can drive to the top of the mountain or take the Sandia Peak Tramway.  On our drive up the road, we saw seven deer in three different groups and was able to get at least one picture.

At 10,650+ feet, the temperature at the top was about 50 degrees with a 25 mph wind.  It was very cold and we did not eat our picnic dinner we brought until we were back in the warm motor home.  We took a picture of the field where balloons will lift off tomorrow.  You can see the oblong field in the center about one-third of the way up from the bottom, just above I-25.

Albuquerque in the valley between Sandia Peak and the range on the other side of the valley and Mt. Taylor.

Looking south, you can see the rim trail on the left heading towards Sandia Peak Tramway which is just around the bend.

Another view of Albuquerque, looking west.  We are in a campground somewhere around the middle of the picture.

Looking south along the range ridge and Meadow Lake.  

Since it is pretty cold out, we head back to the campground.  The temperature is a reminder of what tomorrow morning will be like.  We'll dress appropriately.

Day 8 - Jemez Trail and Santa Fe

Today we are will drive along the Jemez Trail and will finish the day in Santa Fe.  Along the road, the overpasses are adorned with native art. 

On our way to our first stop we pass countryside that is very rugged and could be part of any western movie. 

We started, after getting on route 4 heading to Las Alamos, coming to more buttes and some stark formations. 

We stopped just outside of the town of White Rock to visit the White Rock Canyon and overlook.  As with most of the area, the views are quite impressive.  That is the Rio Grande river cutting through the canyon.

While on the Canyon rim trail, Carmen was able to take a picture of cactus that look like stick men. 

Speaking of Stick men, here I am waving to the camera.  I’m usually on the other side of the camera.  

Ah ha!  I finally get picture of an animal for the blog, even if is is a member of the squirrel family.  Haven't seen a lizard yet, but we will be in the desert area soon, so I'm optimistic. 

Continuing along the Jemez Trail we stopped at the Valles Caldera, an extinct volcano that has collapsed.  You can see the grass lands on the floor of the caldera. 

Another view of the Caldera.  When I got back to the car, I looked at the elevation we were at and found it to read 8742 feet.

Across the road from the caldera was this gorgeous stand of Aspens in their fall finery. 

While still on route 4 outside of Las Alamos, we stopped at Jemez Falls.  Hiking a quarter-mile trail to the falls at 8700 feet for a couple of people who now live at 11 feet above sea level is not difficult since it was a good trail.  But the hike back up was not an easy task.  But we get to the falls without incident and was able to get a picture of the Jemez Falls.  I would have had to do some mountain climbing to get the better position of the falls, but this picture will do. 

Here’s Carmen on the hike back to the car.  As you can see, the temperature has been getting warmer.

Besides animals, I haven’t added any flowers to the blog yet, so I’ll just fix that right now.  Lets see, the yellow ones will do. 

Further, along rte 4 just before reaching the town of Jemez Springs, we stopped at the Soda Dam.  The dam, created by the years of mineral deposits, has passages throughout the inside of the mineral dam.  Some people were walking up and into the formation.  The falls is in the bottom right of the picture where all the people are.

The water at the falls is warm, as the source is from a hot spring.  It comes through a hole in the mineral wall formation.

Heading back to Santa Fe, we pass this butte; you can see the walls are quite steep.

We continued on rte 4 until we reached rte 550 then turned south.  Along the way I saw this cottonwood tree and thought it had a nice shape.  

Following rte 550 we then turned north on I-25 heading back to Santa Fe.  Later back in Santa Fe, we stopped in the plaza in old town.  The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is still in use after many years. 

At the Palace of the Governors; there were a number of Indians artisans selling jewelry.  I know you are wondering to yourself and of course, Carmen bought some of the turquoise jewelry.

As we begin to leave to go back to the motor home, I see this motorcycle or should I say a carcycle.  

Day 7 - Enchanted Circle, New Mexico

Today, we are headed for the Rio Grande Gorge, Taos and driving the Enchanted Circle.  Shortly after leaving we begin to get into the mountains north of Santa Fe.

The Cottonwoods and Aspens are all golden yellow at this altitude (9200 feet at our highest) and are striking against the greens and browns of the Ponderosa and Pinion pines and Juniper trees.

As we drive towards Taos, we pass this church in the Spanish mission style.

We cross the Rio Grande River at Taos Junction bridge site and follow the dirt road so that we come to the Gorge Bridge from the west.  As we travel along the road, we have this view. 

More views as we continue to drive the west rim of the Rio Grande heading to the Gorge Bridge.

Here we have the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge towering over the Rio Grande river rapids below.

Looking north from the bridge, you can see the size of the Rio Grande George.

From there we followed the Enchanted Circle counter clockwise passing Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest and then Angel Fire.  We saw some very nice vistas along the circle.  You can clearly see the fall foliage on the mountain.

This is October and the Aspens are all in their fall colors.  They are quite stark against the dark green of the pines in the background.

How would you like to have this as your back yard?  This area would be nice for a horseback ride.

We finally get to Taos and settled in for some dinner at a Cantina.  Before going into the Cantina, I got this picture of Carmen next to a cart with flowers. 

One of the buildings where the shops were located had these peppers hanging along the second floor roof supports and a ladder from the second floor balcony to the roof. 

There are many artists in Taos, and you wonder if the wheel was purposely placed against the wall for show.  Contrived or not, it still made for a nice picture.

And finally, as there are many of the peppers hanging, this picture shows the different produce available.  

We left Taos in the late afternoon as we have a long ride home and arrived back at the motor home in the dark.  Tomorrow we will travel the Jemez Trail and part of the Santa Fe.

Day 5 - Heading to Santa Fe, New Mexico

Early in the morning on October 2nd, we put Memphis behind us and we are following I-40 through Arkansas.  Those that are traveling with us all leave at about the same time and for the most part, we will stay together.  But, one couple has their dog with them and will stop often for it.  We are not in a hurry and since we do not need to get to Albuquerque until October 6 the others will stop for longer periods then Carmen and me.  We on the other hand are going to spend a couple of days in the Santa Fe area we plan on driving later then they will.  Therefore, when they stop we will continue driving.

The countryside is very diverse; here we can see many windmills on the butte in the distance.

We pass through Oklahoma on the Interstate 40 and parallel Route 66 as we continue our ride to Santa Fe.  Hey, maybe that's Radiator Springs in the background.

We have seen many trucks pulling trailers carrying many different items.  Here were two nice looking dune buggies.

We continue through Oklahoma and into the panhandle of Texas.  While traveling I-40 in Texas the roads are fairly flat and as you can see here you can see for quite a distance.   After about 10 - 11 hours on the road, we pulled into a rest area to rest for the night.  The plan is for an early start in the morning and Santa Fe by afternoon.

Just west outside of Amarillo, even though I saw the half buried Cadillacs at Cadillac Ranch, they were on the other side of the highway and I saw them to late to get a picture.  So instead of my picture, here is Richie Diesterheft’s (Chicago, IL) photo of the brightly painted Cadillacs. 

Further down the road Carmen took this picture of an old homestead.  This fixer-upper could be yours.

Before leaving Texas we saw these Pronghorn Antelope on the other side of the highway. 

We enter New Mexico late in the morning on October 3rd.  We are having good traveling weather and little traffic.  

We continued driving on I-40 until we got to NM 285.  Then we headed north and begin getting into a more hilly countryside. 

We near the KOA campground we will be staying at while in Santa Fe.  Tomorrow our plan is to leave early and drive the Enchanted Circle with a stop at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.