Saturday was another beautiful day. After taking a walk we packed up and headed down the road to Pojoaque, NM, just south of Esponala. We based here as it is central to Taos and Santa Fe. The RV Park is nothing to write home about, but the location is good. The gas station next door is a bonus, it means we can fill up before each ride.
Sunday we took the van the 54 miles to Taos. We wanted to be able to walk around town, and riding gear and boots are such a pain.
Toas is a very old town with narrow streets that open up on a central plaza. After looking in some of the galleries we headed to the brewery for lunch. Wayne said the beer was good and the pizza was awesome! Taos is not only an artist colony, but it also has a ski area. Thank goodness it's too early for snow, sunny and 65 instead!
We took a back road home, one that eventually would turn to dirt. It followed and crossed the Rio Grande River. The cottonwoods in the gorge were turning color. The gorge is about 50 miles long, starting near the Colorado border and running southeast, along a tectonic chasm.
These guys were hanging out on the road along the river
This one did not seem to be to bothered by us.
At the bridge across the Rio Grande the road becomes dirt as it climbs, steeply up the side of the gorge. Here we are looking back the way we had come. Then it was up to the top where the pavement began again and we took highways back south to camp.
Monday started with our morning walk, then what was going to be another short ride.
We started up the High Road to Taos Scenic Bi-way. It does take you up out of the valley we went up yeasterday.
Wayne checking out the view
Our mighty steads look naked without our usual camping gear!
At the halfway point, Wayne wanted to ride farther, at the next turn point he suggested we go east instead of south. I told him it'd be a long ride, but he was OK with that.
We made the loop past Angel Fire, where there is another ski resort. Then down a little back road that my map said was paved. It's not currently, but the construction crews are out there so it will be by next year! Instead of 90 miles we did just over 190 miles. Wayne's shoulder must be getting better!
Tuesday we took the van into Santa Fe, Wayne had ordered a part for the BMW and we needed to pick it up and be tourists again.
We went to the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. Not Wayne's favorite type of art, but he went along with me. I love her plant and landscapes. Not so much a fan of her abstracts!. My first exposure was when one of her works was on a stamp. The colors she uses are amazing!
We had lunch at a Cafe/Brewery because it was the only one that Google listed in our area. However, once we had eaten and were on our way to the Plaza, we passed at least 3 others!! Stupid Google.
The Franciscan Friars brought the Catholic faith to this area in 1598. The city of Santa Fe was founded in 1610, and the original church on this site was built. The Indian revolt of 1680 destroyed that building and another was not built until 1714. Part of this remains as the La Conquistadora Chapel, including the log pole ceiling.
It is a very peaceful place, in the middle of town
The stained-glass windows are outstanding!
Found this guy taking a nap on a bench. Made us think of our friend Lyon, who likes all things bear!
An Indian on an Indian, how appropriate??!!??
We wandered around enjoying the weather and window shopping until it was time to head back to camp.
Wednesday's walk showed us more fall colors
and really cool yard art!
After our walk we went for another ride, this time to the west. We started by going to Los Alamos. I didn't realize that the road went right though the Los Alamos National Laboratory Property. You have to go through a large check point where we were told not to stop along the road and NO pictures. Sir yes Sir!
Once we left the LANL property we head into the Bandelier National Monument. We didn't stop as the visitors center was the opposite direction, but we did ride through this high desert meadow, Valle Grande.
It is part of 13.7 mile wide volcanic caldera in the Jemez Mountains.
We had lunch just north of the village of Jemez Springs. In 1942 , Jemez Springs was the second choice for the proposed Manhattan Project research lab (Atomic Bomb), but Los Alamos was chosen instead.
After lunch we continued on our loop that would take us back north before turning south on Highway 84. Tonight we will start getting ready to move as we are headed south to Albuquerque tomorrow.
We hope to come back in this area again some time, maybe next year.
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