On the Way to Mesa Verde National Park

By chance or fate the PUPS got on a PATH to Mesa Verde National Park. To be honest, although I had heard of Mesa Verde, I did not know it was a national park. I did not know what to expect. I am so glad that I let my instincts rule and head to Cortez, Colorado. Chaco Canyon Cultural Center was just a warm up for what was in store for us.

We had heard of all the fires in the area....

....soon we saw evidence of the fire in June. See how close it came to these two homes.

But, first I stopped several time on the side of the road for the following photos....

 

Just a weed alongside the highway....

So far, on the highway between Durango and Cortez....

Tiny morning glories on the PATH the PUPS take to do their business...

Mesa Verde RV Resort with the mesa in the background. What a pose by the PUPS!!!

Next, Mesa Verde National Park. Stay tuned....

CHACO CANYON II

As promised here a few more photos from Chaco Canyon.

The view from the entrance to the southwest.

I spent more time downloading these photos than the time we were at Chaco Canyon taking them.

CHACO CANYON

Yesterday we left Abiquiu Lake, New Mexico and headed northwest toward Colorado planning to go on to Utah. Recently on the TV show Ancient Aliens I saw a piece on Chaco Canyon. Ever since, I have wanted to go there. But, several people had complained about the 13 or so miles of "washboard" dirt roads on the way to the park. No one else wanted to go so I initially gave in and said that I would pass it up. We took New Mexico Highway 96 to US Highway 550. Soon we passed the turnoff to Chaco Canyon. There are no campgrounds in the area so we kept going for almost 30 miles when we came to a service station with a big parking lot I went in and asked an attendant if we could park and leave the RV there so we could go back and visit Chaco Canyon. She said, "Sure." So I changed my mind and off Evin, the PUPS and I went back to Chaco Canyon. What a PATH it turned out to be. We were only there a little more than 3 hours.

We did not mind the dirt road too much because after being on it just a few miles this is what we saw on the "Open Range"!!!!

Evin did a great job with this and the following photo shots from the car window.

Heading home to the Lone Ranger and Tonto!!!!

Dry, dry country!!

Back on paved roads once we got to the entrance.

This is just on the way into the park.

One of many pueblos.

Evin checking it out.

Some very thick walls.

We have a busy day planned for tomorrow. Going to publish this for now; but, I will add to this post later, later!!

Evin is calling, more to come. Off to the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde!!

Will do more Chaco posts on a new post:  Chaco Canyon II