September 30, 2007

September 30, 2007

Late in the morning we head back north toward Los Alamos, NM. South of Los Alamos on the southern edge of the Valle Grande caldera are more eroded mesas that make up Bandelier National Monument. There is a line to get in and parking is tight because the monument is having their fall fiesta today. This weekend they have setup special booths about rescued birds of prey, cider pressing, and Indian crafts.

After a quick look around and a couple chugs of apple cider, we hike the main loop trail of Frijoles canyon. The cliffs here are composed of soft volcanic tuff. Tuff is so easily eroded that the walls are heavily pockmarked with holes. The ancient Anasazi Indians enlarged many of the caves and used them as houses. The loop trail takes us along one cliff up several ladders into several of the cave dwellings. Like Mesa Verde, they also built ceremonial Kivas outside them.

From Bandelier we head back south past Santa Fe to Albuquerque. Instead of taking the interstate we take the Turquoise Trail Byway. It mostly goes thru deserted countryside. Halfway along we pass thru the town of Madrid. Like a mirage in the desert, it is a cute touristy town in the middle of nowhere. The town of Madrid recently starred in the John Travolta middle-age motorcyclist comedy “Wild Hogs”.

In Albuquerque we spend the night at a private park just west of town. The park works for us but has absolutely no character. It is merely a barren treeless packed sand and gravel lot. But in fairness it does match the flat Rio Grande valley terrain surrounding it.