beluga

beluga

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

autohiking north on Monday

I packed lunch and we headed north on US 84 towards Abiquiu around 10 a.m. yesterday.    This is Georgia O'Keeffe country and we looked forward to seeing her inspiration.   A reservation is required to tour her home, and we didn't have one, so we were content to just drive around and experience the landscape.




We came upon Abuquiu Reservoir, a Corps of Engineers developed water recreation area and decided it was the perfect spot for lunch.


Dave checks out our potential lunch spot


It was warm and so very quiet.   There were a few people enjoying the water  and picnicking on its shores, but otherwise it was just us and the birds.   We enjoyed watching a pair of Western Grebes diving and fishing for their lunch.


The shore was lined with smooth pink rocks punctuated with tiny yellow flowers.  A perfect spot to just sit and enjoy the world.

All good things must come to an end.    Luckily we were finished eating and were just soaking up the sun and the sights when a group of about 10 motorcycles pulled in.     They dismounted and swarmed over one end of the shoreline, erecting a sun shade, and talking loudly about their drive up.    Loudly.    Pretty soon their "chase" truck arrived complete with an onboard gas grill and lots of large coolers.    Tables were set up, grilling and drinking commenced - time for us to go!

We continued down the road to find the Corps. of Engineer's Campground.   It is quite nice, we'd love to stay there the next time we're in the area.   Further along we came to the earthen dam and visitor's center, with more beautiful views of the water.



We left the Reservoir area with a promise to return the next time we're in northern New Mexico.      Instead of driving back the way we came (something Dave almost never opts to do) we continued north on US 84 intending to turn west on US 64, then south on US 284 and back into Santa Fe.    More spectacular scenery.





We saw a National Forest Service sign for Echo Amphitheater so we made a quick left, put our National Park Service card on the dash and set off on a wide, flat path toward the sounds of squealing children.


If you know us, you know that walking toward the sound of squealing, shrieking children is not something we normally do


The path led us up through a cool stand of stunted trees and underbrush, past small flowering cactus and fantastic rock formations.   Little girls high pitched voices urged us on.




It was absolutely wonderful hearing the little voices echoing off the natural echo chamber before us.    The kids were mesmerized by their voices bouncing around, they were crazy about how far their voices would carry and so were we.   They were doing what we would have done years ago, before our adult filters made us aware of politeness, of not bothering other people, of not looking or sounding foolish.   They did what we secretly wanted to do.

looking directly over my head in the amphitheater


The kids were herded away and we were finally there alone.   A different experience all together, equally wonderful to be there in silence with only birdsong echoing off the walls.     We stayed awhile until the sound of thunder began to ricochet around us.     Uh Oh.....time to hot foot it back to the car.  

By the time we got buckled up and ready to drive the sky was dark.    We decided to just continue on our route and see what the weather would be.   Its only rain after all.

The ride along US 64 took us high along a ridge in the Carson National Forest.    It was lined with tall pines, ferns and wild flowers.





   We stopped at tiny Hopewell Lake (9500 feet above sea level) and watched people fish for awhile.    It was a beautiful ride, it was a long ride, but altogether a beautiful one.   When we got back to Beluga at 5:30 we realized that we'd driven over 230 miles!    No wonder we were tired!


We leave Santa Fe tomorrow.   We'll  spent a couple days at Sugarite Canyon just at the border of New Mexico and Colorado before heading back up to Golden, Colorado.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Railyard Farmer's Market

Saturday is Santa Fe's outdoor Farmer's Market, the largest Farmer's Market in the state with over 150 vendors from northern New Mexico.  One hundred percent of the fruits and vegetables sold here are grown here.   In our opinion, it is one of the best markets we've  been to (not counting Eugene, Oregon of course).

Its year round home is Santa Fe's Railyard, a wonderful urban area that boasts interesting restaurants, museums, artists studios, shops and over 13 acres of open spaces for public enjoyment.



This is a real railyard, however.    One must not forget that fact, one must take care while strolling the area, ogling the beautiful produce, the colorful people, the studio offerings.




And....in case you do forget where you are, signs abound.   While we were there a passenger train sailed right past us, quite silently.



So, back to the Farmer's Market.    The variety of goodies is overwhelming at first.    To settle ourselves and think about what we wanted/needed to buy we bought  coffee and sweetie (for second cup) and found a quiet spot behind the Market Pavilion.




Refreshed, we waded back into the crowds and commenced filling our bag with wonderful things.    Lettuce, easter egg radishes, big fresh stalks of rhubarb, peas, lavender oil, two slices of peach/cherry and rhubarb raspberry pie.   All we needed for dinner was a quick stop at Whole Foods for a thick NY Strip steak.

inside the Market Pavilion









I'm sorry we won't be here next Saturday to do more shopping, we'll miss this market!


We'll also miss the spectacular sunset views from our site.    Even Beluga enjoys them.


Friday, June 26, 2015

Special Day

Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Lewis, Happy birthday to you,  and many more (sung to the tune of Happy Birthday...)


I took many better birthday pictures but, now that he is 6 years old,  he prefers I use photos with a soft focus.   He feels they are more flattering.




Thursday, June 25, 2015

Thursday in Santa Fe

We did nothing exciting today, but it was very pleasant nonetheless.   Out for a wonderful lunch at Harry's Roadhouse,  a very productive walk down Canyon Road (a tiny, and sometimes one way road lined with colorful art galleries) a side trip to check out Santa Fe's little airport.....I should have entitled this BCA so you'd know nothing educational or thrilling happened.

Here are a few of the things that caught my eye today....


second cup from Lewis's level

adobe makes the perfect background for flowers, don't you think?


Oh the colors...
Hard not to be in a happy mood around here!

Enormous bronze horse head
fabulous details - right down to the cups on the teeth!





cactus crowned entry door