Monday morning we bounced down the dirt road back to the city of Albuquerque to fill the propane tank and dump our waste water tanks at a Speedway station.
With chores completed, we drove to Petroglyph National Monument. The visitor center provided information on three trails, none of which is within walking distance.
Choosing the mostly level, 2.2 mile Rinconada Trail we found ourselves walking along the wall of a canyon strewn with basalt boulders. The first half of the hike has cacti, lizards and a few flowers.
Scanning boulders for shapes, we were over half-way into the canyon before the first petroglyph came into view.
Once one was sighted, petroglyphs became apparent everywhere. The visitor’s center shared the information that these are a part of 23,000 petroglyphs carved by Ancestral Pueblo people in this area between 1300 and 1540 A.D.
Up to three-hundred petroglyphs are scattered along the side of the canyon on this trail alone.
This was my favorite carving. What do you think it might be?
Here’s one of the last carvings on the trail along this 200,000 year old volcanic escarpment.
Clearing clouds revealed the Sandia Mountains as we returned to the parking lot.
Next up, after Petroglyph, was the nearby Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Multiple galleries and a restaurant encircle a courtyard available for outdoor celebrations and ceremonies.
Walking through the galleries reveals Pueblo history and art. Pottery used to pass down stories through the generations was particularly fascinating.
The world as a turtle’s back is a recurring theme in many Native American creation stories.
Language reveals much about a culture. The phrase “until we meet again” works for travelers much better than “goodbye.” In the van or boating we never know when we will meet folks again, but more often than not, we do meet again.
Having a few days before our reservation on the railroad in Durango, we headed south from the Pueblo Center. Stopping along the way, we met a couple in a Vanagon. Here’s a shot that shows a size comparison of the two vehicles. I didn’t realize how big our little RV is in comparison.
Wild winds pushed dust across the road and buffeted the van on I-25 south. After an hour and a half of this we settled into site C at Escondida Lake Park. Payment was $10 deposited in an honor box.
We watched three van loads of New Mexico State students set-up and secure their tents as we prepared dinner. The winds haven’t abated and the sky looks ominous for this evening. I hope the tents stay dry.
We usually avoid interstate highways, but there aren’t many choices on this route.
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