And We’re Off to…

Carlsbad NM

The drive from Big Bend NP to Carlsbad NM is a whole lotta nothing. Acres and acres of hard packed earth populated by waist high scruffy shrubs. Scenery? Well, there’s the Pecos oil fields. Oil derricks, electrical wires, and mobile homes for workers. Happily, things improved when we arrived in Carlsbad.

We spent a day at Carlsbad Caverns NP. Steve and I have toured caverns before, and they always have interesting formations. Carlsbad also has stalagmites and stalactites; however, the most impressive aspect is the enormity of the cavern. It’s a mile and a quarter hike down switchbacks, descending 750 feet. Then you arrive in the “Big Room.” The main chamber of the cavern is hugemongous (have fun with that spellcheck). There is a mile and a quarter trail that winds around formations of every description. It was captivating. We were both grateful for the elevator back to the surface.

After our subterranean adventure we were ready for some fresh air. We took a drive to Sitting Bull Falls, which was in the middle of nowhere. It’s a beautiful park with a short hike up to the falls. The falls weren’t roaring, more like a vigorous trickle. Still pretty and well worth the drive. I hiked to the top of the falls for a different perspective. Steve doesn’t get the whole hiking thing and I can’t explain it. I just love going up hills.

That about does it for Carlsbad. We took in some of the local historical sites and of course went to bars and restaurants. On to Santa Fe.

If the drive to Carlsbad was a whole lotta nothing, then the drive to Santa Fe was a whole lotta more nothing (less nothing? Not sure how to say it). Miles of dusty fields swathed in shin high greenery interspersed with a couple of farms in the distance. After driving on flat land for few hours there is a rise. Not exactly a hill, just a couple of gentle terrain waves. Suddenly, the city of Santa Fe materializes out of the dessert. We’re staying in an RV Park in the city. I’ve never seen an RV park in a city before. We’re minutes from the downtown historic section and the Georgia O’Keefe museum.

Of course, we go to the Georgia O’Keefe museum first thing in the morning. I feel like I could have been friends with Ms. O’Keefe. She found respite and inspiration in nature. She loved plants. Large noisy gatherings made her uncomfortable. She enjoyed traveling. I feel a kinship with her. Her artwork is stunning. I guess that’s where the similarity between us ends. The museum and audio tour were great.

From the museum we strolled into the historic downtown which is lovely. Antique adobe buildings line a central plaza. We eat a delicious meal outside looking over the park. Beyond the plaza a large ornate Catholic Church is open for tourists. The inside walls and ceiling are stenciled with brightly colored borders and motifs. It is striking. In time, we wandered back to our vehicle and return to the campground.

Wednesday, we ventured out to Bandelier National Park. Have you ever heard of Bandelier NP? Me either. The landscape is similar to Big Bend, but different. Towering cliffs of soft stone are carved by wind and rain. It’s the soft stone that allowed the Pueblo people to carve caves out of the cliff face. Ancestral Pueblo dwellings are within an easy walk of the visitor center. I also hiked to the Alcove House; a cliff dwelling reached by climbing 140 feet up long wooden ladders. Steve wasn’t interested in that. Most of the sane people stayed on the ground.

While we were in the neighborhood we took a drive to Los Alamos. The Los Alamos Labs are an extensive complex of dozens of buildings. They must employ thousands of people. The town of Los Alamos is one of the nicest communities I have ever seen. No trash, no graffiti, beautiful parks, and historic buildings. Even the teenagers looked neat. I guess when you have a population of scientists, engineers, and government employees this is the result. If I move, I know where I want to live.

Well, its time to move on. The next stop is Clovis NM. Why Clovis? The answer might surprise you. Follow along to find out. Thanks for reading my silly little blog.