Last day in Santa Fe

 

We're spending our last day here doing domestic chores and getting ready to move along.    Well, I'm doing domestics, Dave is watching the US National Drag Races on TV.       We're treating ourselves to another special dinner tonight at Geronimo.

Here are some random pictures of Santa Fe, places and things that made me smile as we wandered the streets.

finally, a dog larger than Taos!

See the tree man?  He jumped out at passers by!

much better in stone, right Janna?

only in Santa Fe....

We made several trips to the Saturday and Tuesday Farmer's Markets in the Railroad District.    Sometimes with Taos, sometimes by ourselves.

We compared different types of tomatoes in huge BLT's for dinner 

oh Dave.....

I may have tried their offerings

We packed a lunch and drove west to check out the other side of the Cochiti Lake reservoir.   One side has a huge earthen dam, a Corps of Engineers campground and the little town of Cochiti Lake, but our aim was to go off road along the opposite shore, the undeveloped side.     We kept our eyes to the skies; they were threatening, and we didn't want to get caught in a downpour.

We were surprised to see so many dead and/or uprooted trees and bushes.   We realized that this area had been underwater at one point.    High in the branches of these tall, dead trees we saw trunks and large branches that must have floated there during a flooding episode.   It was an eerie drive with no one else around.

In many places wildflowers (sunflower relatives?) grew thickly under the dead canopy and alongside the "road".

The water in some of the finger coves was green with algae.   Altogether an interesting and thought-provoking exploration.   

On our way home we passed a small herd of horses walking purposefully single file, one of each color, buckskin, white, chestnut (sorrel), bay and palomino.   

   Another day we took a pretty loop drive along the Rio Grande River north to introduce Taos to Taos.

 We had lunch and walked around a bit.   Of course, we found a chocolate stop and had to make a few purchases.

He wasn't particularly impressed, but did notice that his name was everywhere - were they expecting him?

even on the menus!

We managed to tire the big guy out regularly.   He's still a baby.

pay no attention to the dog hair, we like the 
salt and pepper look.....

he'd like to help Dave, but he's too tired

Speaking of the big guy.....He managed to break our table.   He can't help he's so big, he doesn't even realize it.

As per restaurant protocol, he lies at our feet while we eat.   That carries over to meals in Beluga, and one day when he stretched, the table leg cracked right off the table!     Luckily Mr. David's A-1 Woodworking Solutions was available.    Taos tried to supervise, but he fell asleep.   All is well now.

Yesterday we went to Harry's Roadhouse for linner.    We love to sit outside on their grape vine and umbrella shaded patio.    The food and Spanish Rose are pretty good too!

Best laid plans.    As we were enjoying our meal, the sky darkened, and tiny drops started to fall on us.    We just adjusted our chairs under the red umbrella and kept on eating.    This seems to be the pattern here this time of year - brilliant blue skies til mid-day, then cauliflower clouds form, some darken, leak and then move silently away.   A few raindrops never hurt anyone, right?     This day we were under the "leaking" part of those clouds.  We finally noticed how hard it was raining outside of the umbrella covered area when Taos quietly jammed himself under Dave's chair - he was soaked.  

We moved inside to have our dessert, but the poor guy wasn't a happy camper. He gave us the silent "side eye" til we left.

Speaking of eating.... here's our little chef in action.

We're off to Grants, New Mexico in the morning.

Santa Fe, part one

 

view from Y-22

We've been in Santa Fe, at Santa Fe Skies RV Park, since August 10.   Since we last spoke, we left Big Timber, Montana. drove through Buffalo, Wy., Douglas, Wy., had great BBQ in Colorado City, Co., and enjoyed a short stop in Ft. Collins, Colorado. 

ugh....driving through Denver

pretty Meadowlark Lake near Buffalo, Wy

how'd she get on here?   Hi Annie!

When we arrived, several packages were waiting for us.   A couple with Taos' name on them....He quickly destroys his toys, and we quickly replace them with others we think will hold up to his mega jaws.   We're fools.    But.....he's sweet and willing to do and try whatever we ask, so we feel it's our duty to give him some fun toys for his down time.    Elk horn sections hold up best so far, as do leather "antlers".   And, oddly enough, small and very soft squeaky balls.     One of the UPS packages waiting for him contained three such balls.   

He also enjoys second cup and happy hour when he gets to suck, chew, lick, squeeze, bite, bounce and drop the little blue Kong in an effort to remove the goodies that we fill it with and freeze.    Oh...and ice cubes, they're his favorites!      Once the Kong is empty he turns his attention to the large blue Jolly Ball that we brought with us.   It originally had a thick rope through the holes but.....he chewed that off immediately.   Sigh.

slurp, slurp, slurp

We've been enjoying all that Santa Fe has to offer and at the same time giving Taos new and novel experiences.    As he lives with us, you have to know he has his restaurant behavior down pat......

entering San Marcos Cafe and Feed Store

crowded Clafoutis

very very good Margaritas at La Choza

stuffed sopaipilla and taquitos

waiting for green chili cheeseburgers

Cloud pancakes

Lobster salad!

This campground has lots of interesting things to walk around, under, on, and through during our daily walks.

ooof

We've taken some little road trips around the area.   One day we drove north to visit a National Historic Landmark, El Santuario de Chimayo.   It is often called the Lourdes of America because it brings almost 300,000 yearly visitors seeking cures from its "magical healing soil".      It was very quiet and beautiful the day we were there.    The parking areas are very large, reminding us that it isn't always this way.   

  

meeting of three cultures
(native American, white cowboy, Spanish vaquero)

A small prayer room off to the side of the main sanctuary contains a small hole in the floor, filled with the healing soil.    Its walls are lined with discarded crutches and photos of people who were healed or hoped for healing.

Outside, Taos met a new friend.   At first, he thought the statue of Father Roca was a real person, reaching out to offer pets.   He quickly realized the Father was not real, but he graciously accepted the pets anyway.

Another day we took our lunch and went off road in search of the River, the Rio Grande River.

Buckman rd. ended, unceremoniously, in the racing, silty river.   We enjoyed our lunch beside it and afterwards Taos blew bubbles and shopped for stones and sticks.    He was successful with stones, but the sticks he dredged up were quickly whisked away by the current.  It confused him.....

It's been very hot here, uncharacteristically so.   Usually, at these high elevations, the temperatures stay in the high 80's.   Not so these past few weeks.   We decided to go higher still, to Ski Santa Fe at about 10,000 ft. in search of more comfortable weather.     A dirt NF road caught my eye near the ski area so off we went into the forest in search of......what we might see!

A shady turn in the road asked us to stop for lunch and a walk.   Silence, pure silence that almost hurt our ears, rewarded our decision.   The rocks were filled with mica that sparkled in the sun, like shards of glass.   Rocky now has a few in his "collection" under my seat - I couldn't help myself, don't judge.....

We continued to follow this road, winding down the mountain and through the forest until we came to a paved road, civilization.    Google took us the rest of the way home.   I love those kind of days.   We all do.

We're tiring ourselves out and make sure to take time for short naps most every day!   

I think I'll close for now.    Time to get ready for our Anniversary dinner at Geronimo (on our actual anniversary we were in Douglas, Wy.....left over spaghetti and meatballs after a day on the road wasn't special enough for us!)  

  We're here for one more week, enough time for a Santa Fe wrap up blog post, right?