Kasha-Katuwe

We went holo holo to Kasha-Katuwe (or "white cliffs" to those of us not conversant in the Keresan language of the Cochiti pueblo). We drove through the Cochiti reservation lands to get to the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Fun fact: we passed the Cochiti Dam, the 11th largest earthen dam in the world on the way to the park.

The tent rocks were formed from volcanic eruptions of pumice, ash and tufts, about 6-7 million years ago. The deposits were over 1000 ft tall and have since been eroded by wind water to form arroyos, hoodoos and tent rocks.

Here is Kirsty heading into Slot Canyon as we head up from the park entrance.

I wouldn't want to get caught in here during a flash flood!

Narrow at times!

This tree's roots were buried at one time but the rock in which the roots were growing has been eroded by the water that rages through this canyon when the rains come.

A couple of hoodoos with boulder caps on them.

A tent rock with a tree growing out of it. Notice the crack the root has made into the stone.

Very large hoodoos!

Notice the large cap on the center formation. The stone is being eroded from underneath the cap.

Views from the top of the trail.

View towards the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (about 40 miles in the distance) and Santa Fe.

Looking south back towards Albuquerque and the Sandia Mountains.

Kasha-Katuwe is a fascinating place to visit! Beware though that you have to scamper up and down the canyon walls at times to get to the top of the trail.

Peace my friends!

A Different Kind Of Place

We wandered down the road from Alaska and decided we liked the look of New Mexico.We rented a house in the hills of Placitas, about 12 miles from Albuquerque.

Lots of birds, wild horses, coyotes, lizards, snakes, hummingbirds, and packrats (we killed 5 the first week, and haven't seen anymore since).

Best of all there are not a lot of folks where we live. Albuquerque is very crowded, so we try not to head down the mountain if we can help it.

Driveway up to the house.

One of two long steps up. I would hate to carry a refrigerator up these steps!

Front door, facing east in the Navajo traditional way.

New Mexico lanai.

Facing NE off of lanai.

Facing E off of lanai.

Da Truck.

Facing NW and Cabezon Peak, about 60 miles away.

Cabezon means “big head” in Spanish. This stems from a Navajo myth which holds that it is the head of the giant Ye’i-tsoh after being slain by the twins Nayenezgani and To’badzistsini.

Speaking of snakes, when I opened the shed the other day, a garter snake welcomed me!

 

Wildflowers are in bloom here now. This is a popweed.

Paintbrush.

Wild horses off of the lanai.

Howdy pardner!

So looking forward to the ballon festival this October!

That is all for now. More to follow as we explore the state.

Peace my friends!

Philosopher's Stone

Out on the highways and the by-ways all alone

I'm still searching for, searching for my home

Up in the morning, up in the morning out on the road

And my head is aching and my hands are cold

And I'm looking for the silver lining, silver lining in the clouds

And I'm searching for and

I'm searching for the philosophers stone 

And it's a hard road, Its a hard road daddy-o

I'm on the road again and I'm searching for

The philosophers stone

Can you hear that engine

Woe can you hear that engine drone

Well I'm on the road again and I'm searching for

Searching for the philosophers stone

Apparently I no longer know where to call home. Alaska, as far as Homer is concerned, isn't it. We prefer the lush richness of Sitka and the rainforest there, but as yet, can't live on such a small island for very long. So, no more pronouncements on where I belong. Maybe I don't belong anywhere. As the song says (thanks to Van Morrison's "Philosopher's Stone"), I'm on the road again and searching...

Peace my friends!