Verde Canyon Railroad, Wilderness Horseback trail rides and Western BBQ

Thursday, May 21st. We headed out to Clarksdale for our noon departure. This 4 hour wilderness train ride passes towering crimson pinacles, near Indian ruins, over fortified trestles, past a monocline fold and through a man made 680 foot tunnel to the Perkinsville ghost ranch. (population 12)

We traveled 1st class, beginning our journey with pours of champagne! We enjoyed sumptuous appetizers on the way out (it was a reverse trip back from Perkinsville) in comfortable seats with the option of walking out onto the next open air cars for 360 degrees photo and viewing opportunities. I spotted 2 mule deer in the distance, and just missed a bald eagle near the river which flowed along the rail trail.

Historically this rail line was tied in with the mining in the area and evolved into the Touring Passenger train it is today. It gave us a good glimpse of the countryside of the past. I sipped on a Prickly Pear Margarita on the way back.

When we returned to our campsite we made a light supper and then enjoyed a spectacular sunset

On Friday the 22nd, we had scheduled a horseback trail ride in the state park with Trail Horse Adventures. We made our way to the corral and joined up with a pair of nice wranglers, Sean and Mark. There was a crew of staff who had readied the horses for our group ride that included about 5 others. Bob was given Hawaii to ride, a lovely painted mustang, and I had Big D a chestnut quarter-horse. We had a terrific hour and a half trail ride through the mesquite and cottonwoods. We crossed the Verde River twice and skirted the edge of an old cowboy cemetery. At about the halfway point the top wrangler noticed the storm clouds in the distance but they didn't head our way. Mark mentioned that the hill we were passing by must have a record for the most lightening strikes and I was glad we were heading back. It was a fine day for a ride. After dismounting we hopped into the truck and headed about a mile outside the park to the Blazing M Ranch. We had reservations for this night's western dinner and show and we were fired up for fun!

We arrived shortly after their gate opened at 5 PM and headed directly to the Old Time Photo shop to dress up in saloon attire as dead-eyed gunslingers! I've been waiting all my life to do this with Bob and the photographer did a great job! She was all by herself without her assistant who just graduated this week and needed the night off. We didn't have to wait long and a long line formed behind us.

Then we headed over to the saloon, you guessed it! Two ice cold mugs of local brews. We were able to take them outside the saloon and walk about the old time shops. At 6:30 PM the dinner bell rang and w e all headed into the large comfortable barn to arranged picnic tables and started a nice conversation with the folks sitting with us. The chow line began and we headed through the door to the left of the stage and passed through the kitchen set up to look like a chuck wagon! It was very efficient and all the shop workers closed their shops to ladle up the tasty grub. BBQ Chicken and Baby Back Ribs, Cowboy Pinto Beans (nice and spicy) Baked Potato with fixin's Prickly Pear Coleslaw and Flyin' Bisuits. Yup extras were tossed your way upon request. Followed by Caramel-Apple Crisp a la Mode! Everything on tin plates or cups. It was pretty much all we could eat! Beverages were included but you could buy alcoholic drinks if you preferred. Then at 7:30 PM the dinner show began. It featured Western Music Association award-winning entertainers that were very talented! There was tomfoolery and surprises too. We enjoyed the show so much I would love to return. Such a beautiful night. When we emerged from the barn the cool might sky was lit up with stars and the light of a first quarter moon. I was humming the tunes in my mind as we headed back to camp and hit the sack. "Going places with smiling faces".

Jerome State Historic Park and Historic Cottonwood

On Tuesday the 19th, we headed 4 miles west to Clarkdale and checked out the train depot. We have tickets for the noon departure on Thursday and wanted to be sure just where everything was. It gave us a good opportunity to check out the station when it was not crowded. Then we headed back onto Route 89-A the 4 additional miles to Jerome. Jerome is a ghost town, in the shadowy side of Mingus Mountain area. It began in 1876 when three propsectors staked clams on rich copper deposits. They sold out to a group which formed the United Verde Copper Company in 1883. The resultant mining camp of board and canvas shacks was named in honor of Eugene Jerome, the venture's principal baker. Hopes for the enterprise ran high, but the costs of operating, especially for transportation, outstripped profits, and the company folded in less than 2 years.

It took the vision and vast financial resources of a new owner to bring in a narrow guage railroad to reduce freight costs. By the early 20th century, the United Verde was the largest producing copper mine in the Arizona Territory. Jerome was becoming a frame and brick town. In 1912, James S Douglas purchased and began development of the Little Daisy Mine. At it's peak it produced over $1,000,000 and became known as the Billion Dollar Copper mine. Eventually it was played out after a large shaft was discovered under it's smelter. So the smelter was relocated at the base of the mountain which gave rise to Clarksville. When that was played out the population which had risen to 15,000 plummeted quickly and today this ghost town boasts a population of about 500. The Douglas Mansion was the former home of this owner of the mine and is now a museum devoted to history of the Jerome area and the Douglas family. It features exhibits of photographs, artifacts, and minerals in addition to a video presentation and a 3-D model of the town with its underground mines.

Another rather remarkable display at the museum was a scale train model situated in a scale model of Jerome made by a young 13 year old boy back in the day! The grounds outside showcases a collection of 1900's ore cars, Dr. Douglas' buggy inside the Carriage House and more. We returned to the campsite for some tasty Salmon cakes and Swiss chard then I was off to my meeting at the Kingdom Hall.

Wednesday the 20th, we walked a self guided tour of historic Cottonwood's downtown area. Beginning with Larry's Antiques. Five buildings and grounds full of interesting artifacts. We were able to pick up a few pieces of Petrified Wood here! Then a quick snack next door at a 50's era diner with old gas pumps and a shiny red vintage Plymouth under the overhang. It was a former gas station. It is beautifully restored and was a cool treat to have chocolate shakes and hand cut fries.

Then we strolled on down the street popping into and out of various shops. In one we saw a lovely large mirror topped with longhorns and it's frame was wrapped in overlapping cowboy boots. I figure 12 pairs were used in its making. It sure would look nice hanging in a cozy mountain cabin. At a bend in the road was a lovely outdoor stone patio with a triangular fire-pit situated into the site perfectly. It's part of a restaurant called Bocce's. It featured Italian fare with fresh ingredients and specialized in Stone Wood-fired pizzas. We shared one with a pitcher of icy cold Nut Brown Ale from Oak Creek Brewery. Then we trailed it on back to camp for an early night. "Going places with smiling faces!"

Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot too!

On Sunday May 17th, I tried to tie into the phone line at my Kingdom Hall's meeting back in Stuart but messed up my time zones. Arizona is in Mountain Time but the entire the Navajo Nation follows the Central Time Zone. That is because they want to be more unified even though they cross several states and zones. We were 3 hours behind the East. We did find the local Kingdom Hall here in Cottonwood but alas, it was empty. They were all away attending a regional convention. I did meet up there on Tuesday, thankfully!

Around lunch time we headed off Southwest on Route 260 through Camp Verde and then headed up to Montezuma Castle National Monument. It too has the remains of a cliff dwelling as well as some wall remnants of buildings below it. The visitor's center has displays of artifacts and descriptions of the ancient culture. There is even a Montezuma Well not far from here but we did not go there. Instead we doubled back to Camp Verde and stopped to eat at La Marguerita's Mexican Restaurant. It had tasty local flavors which we washed down about a mile up the road when we spotted a small local brewery. At Verde Brewery we enjoyed their 5 beer sampler. Bob liked their "Get-out-of-Jail" Pale Ale and I enjoyed their "Honey Pot Stout". They used local honey in 3 of their 5 brews and did a great job. Normally I don't like honey beers.

Next we drove back up through the historic downtown of Cottonwood and out to Tuzigoot National Monument. It too is an ancient pueblo style ruins but this one is perched on the top of a small hill. It overlooks a plain that in the 1900's held toxic materials left over from the smelting copper mines. It pays to respect the red "No Camping Beyond This Point" signs! The flat ground here was covered with soils to prevent the wind from kicking up dust from it's material. Late in the afternoon we returned to our campsite. It is quite relaxing to watch the small quail run around the scrub brush and perch on top of the picnic tables. They make quite interesting vocalizations. Several males were about and I spoted one female.

On Monday the 18th, we drove east and toured Sedona. We stopped at an information building to get the location of the Post Office as Becca had forwarded our mail for us. We also asked about any interesting places that we should explore. We got a few great tipss! Just a short way down SR 179 near the 1st of 10 round-abouts (traffic rotarys) we stopped in the Tlaquepaque section of Sedona. It was very charming to walk around the crafty gift shops and galleries amidst such fine architectural features with fountains and small botanical gardens. There is a Local Brewery in Sedona with 2 locations. One is here with a Brewpub and Eatery. Bob didn't want to try it here! Instead he wanted to go directly to where they make the brews. (only 1 or 2 miles west of here) But get there after traveling a big loop to check out this scenic area. Route 179 is quite scenic with several views of the Red Rock formations. Several images are well pointed out on a local map here. For example, Snoopy Rock resembles Snoopy lying on top of his dog house. There are many others too, such as Camel Rock, Mushroom Rock, Teapot Rock and even Coffeepot Rock!

We drove a large loop around then heading west out to the center of Cornville. Then turned back north on Page Springs Rd which took us past several lovely wineries and a few off the beaten path RV Resorts. That reconnected us to Route 89A East again into Sedona. Then we headed to Oak Creek Brewery on Yavapai St. Oak Creek had an 8 beer sampler which we enjoyed. I liked the Nut Brown Ale and even preferred the NBOS ( Nut Brown On Steroids at 9.0% alcohol). But chose to drink the former. There is a separate vendor here who makes Columbian Hotdogs with pineapple and several other great combos. Bob had one with veggan chili, and I had a brat with saurkraut and mustard. The locals kept popping in here. There is a lovely outside sitting area which we sat at after they lit the gas fire logs but the cool breezes were strong and we headed off again to Dead Horse Ranch for the night.

"Going places with smiling faces!"

Grand Canyon May 14th thru 16th

We headed out of Cameron AZ bright and early and picked up Route 64 west about 30 miles to Grand Canyons South Rim, Desert View Inn and Watchtower. We were wearing shorts and sandals much like several of the other visitors we saw.

But as we started walking to the Watchtower we felt the strong winds of a dark cloud pattern swooping in with sprinkles so we retreated to the comfort of our camper and quickly changed into warmer clothes and jackets! What a convenience! We thoroughly checked out this area and it's wonderful views made even more dramatic with the darkening clouds and slips of the sun's rays.

We then continued west in the park another 29 miles stopping at a few of the overlooks. It was impossible to get a parking space at the Tusayan Museum and we had to pass on that. Bob was amazed at the numbers of people here at this time of year. We made our way and checked into the campground then headed to camper services and did our laundry! Showers were light and only occasional with a lovely sun trying to break through. We drove over to Parking Lot A and checked out the HQ then the rim trail for at least 4 miles. Then back to the camp site as the showers intensified. Supper and an early night!

The next morning dawned quite a bit cooler than we were used to. It was 37 degrees by 10:30 AM. With hot oatmeal in our bellies and full rain gear on we headed down to Lot A and picked up the shuttle system for a bit of stop and go hikes/rides out to Hermit's Rest.

The canyon itself was a sea of fog with nearly no visibility most of the day, but we were rewarded with a couple of occasional views including a rainbow beyond a wary trekker traveling unadvisedly to the edge of the cliff.

We were able to glimpse the top of Bright Angle Trail near it's lodge and saw the burrows corralled nearby. There was a bull elk and two females grazing in the area of the campground but with rains each time I saw the bull I didn't get his photo. The GC Railroad comes into the depot here and transports many of the visitors. We learned a lot at Kolb Brothers Studio as well. It is another historic site and it is amazing what they did to get photos back in the day of glass plate photography! Hot soup and teas warmed us today and I was able to bake a few chocolate chip cookies to warm up the camper as well! Once during a previous night and as the oven was heating up a "smoke/heat sensor alarm" went off for several minutes. There was no apparent way to shut it off. We will have to ask Bill and Ryan back at Truck Camper Warehouse (or Lucien?) about it. It is not the one exposed in the cabin over the bed. It sounds like it is in the ceiling somewhere or in the wall near the refridgerator. We checked our fuel tanks and had at least one full. Perhaps the air was too cold for the regulator to properly pressurize the gas.

On Saturday the 16th, we needed to check out early. With the sun breaking up the fog we headed back to the rim for a few more views before heading South on 64. A steady stream of campers and cars were heading north into the park. We stopped just 1 mile from the South Entrance and watched the National Graphics IMAX presentation ($25 for both of us) before continuing on our way.

We pushed on towards Flagstaff, watching the air temperatures slowly rise as the elevation gradually decreased. There were several inches of fresh snow in the mountains heading into Flagstaff. It is a beautiful area by far! But Bob beat a path on to Sedona where it finally reached a whopping 63 degrees! Impossible to find a parking space for the truck camper on this touristy Saturday afternoon we traveled 20 miles further west and snatched up the very last available campsite at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. ($25/night with electric and free showers!) This campground has lots of hiking trails, 3 lagoons near the Verde Riverfront suitable for fishing and kayaking and there is a lot for Trail Horse Adventures which we will look into. Also The Blazing M Ranch is just a mile further up the road. More about those later! "Going Places with Smiling Faces!"

May 10th thru 14th

After our great hike overlooking Pueblo Bonito we had a quick lunch then headed down the 17 miles out of Chaco Canyon area (mostly unpaved but quite passable) back to Route 550 North.

We gassed up in Bloomfield then headed west on Route 64 West. This is a very scenic stretch of highway and we saw in the distance Shiprock mountain as we approached the town of the same name. Crossing the Arizona state line we came to Teec Nos Pos a town often mentioned in Tony Hillerman's novels. Bob is currently reading one from his daughter Anne Hillerman, Spider Woman's Daughter.

We took the short side trip North on Route 160 to New Mexico again about 6 miles or so and reached the "4 Corners Monument". It has been relocated since Bob last visit some 40 years ago! After government geographical surveys discovered it was not correctly placed. It was off by about 16 miles. The new location is definitely in Native Indian Territory. Complete with the Nations flags and flanked by Native vendors hawking their wares from rugs, pottery to jewelry. We returned back to Route 160 West and through Mexican Waters where we picked up Route 191 South. Very nice newly repaved 2-lane highway. We headed down to Chinle where the locals have just build a new Kingdom Hall! Unfortunately our stay is between meetings and I didn't get to meet the local brothers and sisters.

We camped in the Canyon De Chelly (pronounced "d'shay") State Park. It is concessioned out to natives and was only $14/night with electric. A large sign prohibits hawkers and solicitors yet each night around dusk someone would knock on the camper door and try to sell their wares. There is a very high percentage of unemployment in the Indian Nations so tourism and crafts are their major source of providing for their means.

On our fist full day we explored the south rim of the canyons, hiking to the bottom in the only place allowed without a guide. We checked out the guided horse trail riding (native guides) and will consider that again on a return trip if possible. There are several stops at overlooks that we made and at each one there were a few native vendors with quite interesting crafts. They were always ready to share their history and the meanings in their arts. It was easy to imagine living here and farming in the fertile land strips along the river at the canyon floor. And trying to make a defense against raiding parties of Indians, Spaniards and Soldiers.

The second day we skirted around the north rim and headed over to Window Rock. Lovely scenic views all along. (we dipped across the state line twice) Window Rock is the capitol of the Navajo Nation and has all of their government buildings here. We headed to Gallup NM so I could visit a good dentist there, and we were quickly on our way West on I-40 back into AZ. At the welcome center just over the line we picked up more local information.

We headed down Route 40 to the exit for Petrified Forest National Monument. There is no camping in this park, but the ranger told us that the "Rock Forest and Crystal Forest" owners allow camping in their lots at the end of the parks 28 mile road. And so we drove south down the roadway stopping at about half of the stops/pulloffs along the way on this cloudy afternoon. We hoped the sun would be out for better picture taking the next day and it was. The "Crystal Forest" camp site appears to have been used as a private campground with electric available. But as the two shops (across the road from each other) were closed we could not inquire about electric. There were a few other campers there so we made ourselves at home. I sure would have loved to look into the shops as they had amazing gems visible from the windows. Even the exterior walls were decorated with colorful gems and pieces of petrified wood. The Petrified Forest Park drive opens at 7 AM and we were up early. Sadly the shops again were not open, or we would have purchased a piece of petrified wood! There is no allowance for picking up such splinters or rocks in the National Park. Sorry Christopher, I couldn't get you a piece!

We re-entered the park and stopped at the visitors center at this end (free admissions again with our National Parks senior access pass) and hiked some of the trails at this end. The sun was out and the air was crisp but refreshing with a light breeze. It is truly amazing to see so many large logs of petrified wood lying along the hills of a an ancient river bed. It was good to learn the history of it's discovery and tales of "harvesting". Some used dynamite to break apart logs in order to find gems such as amber and amethyst. We are grateful for the acts of President Roosevelt and many others to protect these natural resources. We hiked up to the Agate House, a reconstructed pueblo dwelling made with chunks of Petrified logs. Very beautiful and strong! After 5 hours of heading back up the Park Road we emerged and headed east on I-40 then North on Route 191 toward Chambers. Our propane regulator was malfunctioning and we filled a tank in the Navajo Town of Klagetoh ($22/tank ful!) Gas prices started to climb too from $2.69 to $2.99/gal. We gassed up in Ganado and headed through and around the three mesas of Hopi Tribal Nation to Tuba City. It is amazing to see Hopi Homes constructed on top of one of the mesas overlooking Shongopovi. Then we turned south on Route 89 and stopped at the Cameron Trading Post for the night. You can not free "dry-camp" roadside in any of the Indian Territories. So for about $25/night we had electric again. A warm and pleasant nights rest before we enter the Grand Canyon.

"Going Places with Smiling Faces"

May 6th thru 10th, Ancient Ruins

After an early morning breakfast at the campground in Hyde Memorial SP we stopped downtown to buy Bob a T-Shirt. The Running Lizards was still not available and he may order it when it comes in. We then headed North on Route 84. We stopped for a picnic lunch at Abiquiu Lake/Dam. A lovely spot! Onward we passed Ghost Ranch Visitors Center where City Slickers was filmed, and stopped next at Echo Amphitheater. A short hike there to the stone enclave forms a large natural amphitheater. We dodged through a small shower back to the truck and continued on our way.

We diverted just off Route 64 into the old downtown of Chama to Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, a historic spot. Walked around the area and checked out the artisans and craft/jewelry shops. We spotted a display with lapis necklace and earrings that we both loved but the shop was only open on weekends at this early date and settled instead at Foster's 1881 House. A lovely little bar and inn where Bob enjoyed a locally produced IPA. After that little diversion we returned to Route 64 and headed west to the 2nd of Navajo Lake State Park's campgrounds. The 1st one, Sims Mesa would have been 17 miles down a road we would have had to back track out of.

This 2nd site had us drive over Navajo Dam which forms this lovely lake about 17 miles long with two marinas and many house boats floating on it. It was a nice warm and relaxing stop. Nice showers much appreciated after a short hike down to the crystal clear and cold waters edge. Saw a beautiful blue lizard!

We spent two nights here then headed back to the dam. We drove down the far side on Route 173 to follow the San Juan River, noted for it's renowned trout fishing, it is labeled "Quality Waters" and is one of the top 10 places to fish in the U.S. A scenic drive all along. Next stop was a side step into the town of Aztec to view the Aztec Ruins. After checking out the town's nice visitor's center for info we headed over to the ruins. It is another National Monument site. It was misnamed by the Spanish Explorers back in the day. We were able to hike around the ruins just before groups of school children descended upon the scene. After checking our email and Facebook a good friend of Bob's tipped us off to Chaco Canyon area and specifically the Chaco culture National Historical Park! This is a relatively small remote area that fills up quickly an we were fortunate to get their early enough for a campsite for 2 nights. This gave us ample opportunities to hick and explore the trails and archaeological sites. Nice dry camping sites with heated restrooms to keep the pipes from freezing no doubt! There were several brief rain, sleet, snow and hail showers that hit us on trails and during the night too! But we dress in layers and have rain gear for that purpose. I don't think I've witnessed as many rainbows in a two week period as we have on this segment of the trip! We learned a lot here about the ancient pueblos and others who inhabited this little mecca. The ruins are amazing walk thru and show the intelligent design and construction methods used. Even their masonry was used to track and commemorate the movement of the sun throughout the year- essential for planning ceremonies and agriculture. A couple of the rooms in Pueblo Bonito have window openings in the high corners of the rooms and with their designed alignment to North, South East and West the suns rays would mark the time on the walls. For example; if the corn were not planted at proper time it may dry up and not produce.

We hiked out to view the ancient Petroglyphs and a Supernova Pictograph! It is believed to be a record of a Supernova event and displays a painted hand, a star and the moon high up on a cliff roof ledge! The Chacoan people did not have a written language and used pictures etched into rock faces to communicate and record history.

On Monday May 10th, we hiked up through a narrow passage in the rock cliffs along the Palo Alto Trail overlooking the ruins below and viewed a segment of the ancient 30 feet wide Chocoan roads and the "staircases" they etched into the rocks. They built "straight" roads in segments. When they encountered an obstacle they either built a ramp or stairs to continue in their desired direction. This was a sacred and important area in their culture. It was a large gathering area in which peoples came to for miles around. They did so for over 1,000 years then slowly dispersed and vacated this area. It is still sacred to the natives to this day.

"Going Places with Smiling Faces"

On our way to Santa Fe!

May 3rd through 5th, 2015 We headed out from Cimarron Canyon with a good cell signal for well over an hour. I was able to listen in to my morning meeting at my local Kingdom Hall. It is always lovely to see scenic views and listen to inspiring words.

We began by heading west through Eagles Nest with Wheeler Peak out in the distance. At 13,161 feet above sea level it is the highest peak in NM. We meandered along the Rio Grande and stopped at the visitors center to check out the exhibits. As we continued on our way we spotted several rafting and kayaking excursions in the cold/fast flowing river below us. It was very scenic driving. We made our way on Route 64 through Taos to Espanola and picked up Route 84 South to Santa Fe. We found the mountain road to Hyde Memorial SP and drive the 9 miles to our campsite. No reservations were needed at this time of year. About 40 minutes later (after dropping our truck camper and setting up our electric) we were heading back down the mountain and regained our cell signal to contact Nancy Dean Kreger and her husband Bob. They were awaiting us at the Cowgirl Cafe where a band played an incredible array of Bob Dylan songs. Nancy is good friends with 2 of the musicians. We enjoyed a local heffenwizen and some very tasty appetizers. The mutton slider was exceptional and sweet potato fries with chives and cashews and a tangy dipping sauce satisfied my hunger.

Next Bob and Nancy gave us a walking tour of the downtown area. The renowned plaza, the layout of shops and a good parking garage to use as a base. We went on up to the Bell Tower of La Fonda, a beautiful hotel. From the 5th floor we had an overview of the state capital and entire surrounding areas. We sat under cover and missed another quick shower watching the suns rays streaming through more approaching dark clouds in the distance. We filled up on drinking water to replenish our reserves. This is a dry climate as a rule and Nancy was grateful for the several days of showers we brought with us. We walked a few more blocks and got to see "Seret and Sons" an import/exporter where Nancy got her first job when she arrived here in 1991. The showers began again so we went our separate ways and returned to the campsite for the night. What a chilly night. Upper 30's and it snowed about 1000 feet elevation or 2 miles beyond our campsite.

The next morning we headed back downtown and checked out the Native Indian dealers selling their wares in the Plaza. Bob and I each found something we liked. We explored a few more shops then Nancy met us and took us to Tomasita's for delicious local southwestern fare. After filling our stomachs we drove up Canyon Rd and walked as much as the off and on showers would allow us. One artist's showroom in particular is showing several different artist's works, one of whom is mentoring Nancy and her watercolor painting. Nancy has some lovely works, most recently done in Tuscany as well as locally.

At the top of the road there is a pull off at the Audubon Society preservation lands with some out buildings, a gift shop and trails. From there we were off to Whole Foods for supplies and then onto Nancy and Bob's home. Nancy showed us all the lovely watercolors she has been working on. She has another upcoming showing soon. In addition to painting she has other art projects she has done including several "doll" like figures that are quite unique. Her two cats Max Diego and Maxine showed us through the rooms too. Despite another shower her husband grilled us some delicious salmon, that and steamed broccoli balanced out a nutritious supper. We managed to find our way back to the campsite by 10 pm or so and settled in for the night.

CINCO DE MAYO On the morning of the 5th, we had our breakfast then headed up the mountain towards the ski area. Nancy had mentioned a couple of overlooks that way that would be quite rewarding. As we passed the fresh light snow-line there was a fog that slowly gave way. I did get some interesting photos of the aspens beginning to bud out and some unique trees as well as a babbling brook. We then headed back down the mountain the 13 or so miles to downtown Santa Fe. Parking in that convenient garage we were able to set out on foot once again. We lunched at at little gourmet pizza and brew pub that Bob had suggested and had some delicious warming soups. Their minestrone was the best Bob had ever tasted. We walked off our lunch once more in and out of the many shops and showrooms. One clothier in particular (sorry it's name eludes me) supplied the star and crew of the Netflix show "Longmire". They specialize in suedes, sheepskins and leathers. One jacket Bob liked was well over $1000 and a nice cowboy had across the street ($500) would have gone well with it. "He sure has good taste!" Incredible art is also exhibited in many shops downtown as well as on Canyon Rd. There is lots of beautiful architecture to see in churches, basilicas, and museums. I favored checking out the jewelry! Ortega's on the Plaza has the largest selections and has been at this location for several decades. At about 5:30 pm we met up briefly with Nancy and Bob Kreger as they parked in the same garage. They had tickets to hear Robert Redford and the Mayor at the "Lensic" just across the street. It would be an open discussion on arts, environmental issues.

We were quite tired and headed back to re-attach our camper, just before hail and another shower fell upon us. Soup supper to warm us for another chilly night. Starting these trips early we beat the crowds but catch some cool temperatures especially at higher elevations.