Day 20 - Santa Fe - Durango

---

We left Santa Fe and New Mexico behind and quickly headed into Colorado, which I made our 15th State already! Within 15 minutes of these rolling green hills and mountains, trees and the vast openness of it all, I was in love. I could already see myself moving out here if I had half the chance.
The peace, the tranquillity and the view were already visible and clear to see. It was all amazing and I didn’t waste time telling the others once or twice.
After a lovely picnic style lunch in amongst the small mountains and food shopping, we headed on to Mesa Verde, a 12th Century city built entirely into the cliffs. The tribe or 'People' – the Pueblonians – were so advanced for their time but suddenly up roots for unknown reasons and went their seperate ways, before slowly fading into history.
What was left behind is an amazing sight, especially with the canyons and valleys to look out over.
The whole place made for a truly awesome experience, especially when we were walking out along the valley, with Todd, Graham, G, Mark and Neal running past us. We were all trying to head to the wall carvings, but they were too far away to reach.
On the way back I left Scott and Kylie and joined the others on a run back. It made it all more fantastic as I was wearing my Indiana Jones hat. I truly felt like I was on an expedition of my own. And especially at 7,000 feet and with 50% less oxygen!
It wass been a great day as far as I’m concerned, but we still had the main site of Mesa Verde to visit, this one involving climbing up and down wooden ladders against the cliff side. I truly took each step with fear and trepidation, hoping not to fall off and down the cliff. I have a massive fear of heights, and not being the most nimble and short, it makes the fear worse for me at times.

Sadly in getting to and from Mesa Verde, we had to really climb a mountain, and also experience longer road works. But in waiting, we were able to spot some deer grazing nearby the road.

Our campsite itself was pretty impressive as well. Like most of Colorado, it involved climbing mountains, which in a 15 seater van with a trailer full of our kit, is not the easiest task. The site wasn’t flat either, but our plot is, as well as involving another wooden structure for cooking and eating. Quite quickly Todd, Sarah, Mark and myself earmarked some of the tables for out sleeping area for the night.
When dinner was eventually cooked and eaten, Group A had the task of lugging the washing up down the hill to the wash area, where there are signs about bears. We were now getting further into bear country.

When it’s time for bed time, the temperature had dropped drastically, giving as we were now in the mountains. Jumpers, trousers, socks and extra layers were applied as well as wrapping up snugly in my sleeping bag. But as I laid on my back having got comfortable I looked up and could see a bright moon up in a clear night sky with some stars around it, any worries about the cold were gone and I just stared up at the sky for a time and think about home briefly, as well as many other things, before falling asleep under the stars – almost!

---