Rhonda Bracey: At Random

We had a short drive from Durango to Mesa Verde today,  then 20 mostly hairpin bend miles up to the top of the mesa where the cliff dweller ruins are. It was then quite a steep (but paved) walk down to one of the main ruins (Spruce Tree House), where the ranger (in a Smokey the Bear hat) told us a lot about how the cliff dwellers lived and theories on why they left in about 1275AD.

After we got back up to the top, we walked to the cafe where there was only one person to take the orders and to make them up. So Helen and I offered to help the cook (there were about 30 people in line) and start processing some of the orders. It was simple stuff like soup and chilli beef,  hot  dogs,  chilli  dogs,  toasted cheese sandwiches etc. Most was already prepared so all we had to do was set out the paper plates,  add the crisps and pickles, heat the hot dog buns and split them and add the hot dogs etc.,  and call the numbers for people to collect their food. The cook did the cheese sandwiches and the small pizzas once she’d finished taking most of the orders. Helen and I had to wash our hands thoroughly before starting and had to wear a hair net too. We were glad to help out – there’s no way she could have dealt with all those orders by herself without really upsetting the customers. She gave us both a small gift and a thank you hug at the end too. Our good deed for the day 😉

After Mesa Verde we drove back down the same way we went up. Stunning scenery and views in all directions. At one point from the top of the mesa I could see Ship Rock, a weird formation that rises off the plains. It was probably at least 20 miles away in New Mexico,  but the views were so good we could see it in the distance.

Another magic day for weather,  and another T-shirt day.

Some of my photos…

We were on the road early this morning for the 4+ hour drive to Durango, travelling the whole way on highway 160.

We experienced a wide range of landscapes from high desert plains to national forest to snow covered mountains to 10,500 ft passes (Wolf Creek Pass) then to meadows and pastureland.  This sure is pretty countryside. Some of the ladies in the group had never touched snow,  so we stopped at one place high in the pass for them to get out and touch it. Unfortunately it was quite hard and icy, not new snow.

Durango was our overnight stop,  and we got there about 1pm so there was plenty of time to check out the quaint shops  and have lunch before we hit the quilt store around 4pm. They didn’t know we were coming… I bet they had their best November Friday takings ever!!

Here are some photos from today’s drive to Durango. As you can see we had perfect conditions for driving. And it was T-shirt weather too!

After two nights in a small luxury hotel  in Santa Fe,  we were brought down to a thud when we reached our accommodation in southern Colorado 😉 It is spartan by comparison, but I think we’re probably staying in the best place in town… We don’t have a lot of choice here – we need to be close to where we are doing a one-day class tomorrow and this is the closest town.

After we left Santa Fe this morning we travelled to Taos and then out to the Taos Pueblo,  which is a listed living world heritage site,  as it has been inhabited by the Red Willow tribe for more than 1000 years. Interesting place,  and our guide (Kevin) was a wealth of information.

We were there for an hour or so,  then back into Taos for another two hours of shopping,  sightseeing,  eating lunch etc. My first stop was right where the bus stopped  and was a great store that sold rocks,  things made from rocks,  and things found in rocks (e.g. fossils). There were some very beautiful rocks on display. The store was http://www.touchstonegalleries.com

I went into quite a few other stores as well, but to be honest,  nothing interested me enough to  buy.

Back on the road again,  heading north of Taos and towards and over the Colorado border into southern Colorado, where we are staying for a couple of nights as we will be doing a workshop with a world-famous quilter here  (that’s tomorrow).

It was a magic day today.  The sun was shining and the temperature was mild (it was meant to be 16C in Taos today,  and it was 9C (and quite hot) when I was basking in the sun in just a T-shirt and light trousers while having lunch. And just after we checked into the hotel,  the almost full moon rose over the desert fields opposite.

Rio Grande River

Taos Pueblo

We did a coach tour of Santa Fe for much of today. We had on board a tour guide,  David,  who directed our driver as well as gave us information about various landmarks,  buildings,  etc.

Let’s see how my memory is… We visited (but not necessarily in this order) the state Capitol building,  Museum Hill,  Canyon Rd galleries (where we stopped for lunch),  San Miguel  church and Loretto church (I didn’t go into that one),  and various little shopping areas, including one containing a fabric store (mostly dress fabrics).

This evening was our last night in Santa Fe and we went to dinner at the Cantina at La Casa Sena, where the wait staff sing songs from Broadway musicals. Very different! Great food,  great atmosphere.

A selection of photos from today…

Our tour group was awesome this morning and on time for bus pick-up at 6:30am, but the bus didn’t arrive…  Many phone calls and stress for Michelle (our tour organiser) later,  the bus turned into the hotel just on 7am, with the mechanic at the wheel (Michelle was already at the concierge about to order taxis for us to get to the airport for our 9am flight and then charge the bus company!). The mechanic had got to the depot to start work and counted the buses and realised he had one more than he should,  so he checked the schedule and realised we hadn’t been picked up so high tailed it to the hotel to get all 25 of us and all our luggage! The driver who was meant to pick us up has now been sacked! Seems he’s been unreliable before… What reactive thinking on the part of the mechanic!

Got to the airport terminal and did group check in only to find we had to be in a different terminal than the one that was on Michelle’s itinerary.  Fortunately there’s a monorail between terminals! Then the gate changed between check in and the flight,  but fortunately it was the gate next to the one we were at. Finally we were on the flight leaving Houston,  all present and correct,  though not without some very stressful moments for Michelle.

When we got to Albuquerque,  our bus for the rest of the trip was waiting for us. And it was  luxury bus too. We found out we have the same driver the whole trip (we were originally told by the travel agent that the drivers would change each day). The bus has a toilet, is fully air conditioned, has a power outlet for each seat,  wifi,  clean windows (some of the other buses have not been so clean), pull down see-through sun shades for each BIG window,  very comfy sprung upholstered seats,  half a dozen or so TV screens down the middle of the bus, and a microphone for Michelle or Helen or Tristan (our driver) to make announcements.  It’s very comfy too,  with excellent vision out the windows.

The hotel where we’re staying for two nights in Santa Fe is very top class!

We had a free afternoon to wander the central plaza area in Santa Fe. Then several of us meet at a bar and grill across the central plaza (about 3 mins walk away), where they had happy (two) hour $5 margaritas and $3 food plates (nachos etc).

You can see from the photos below that we’re in Santa Fe! The air is so blue and clear here and the influence of the various Amerindian tribes is evidenced in all the art and jewellery that Santa Fe is famous for.

And then there’s the margaritas….