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Published: September 2nd 2016
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New Mexico Walk about from Santa Rosa, we planned to take a few days detour and take a look see. First stop Palo Duro Canyon, we had risen early to see wildlife and to get there before the rest of the tourists woke. What an amazing place it was, once a part of one of the largest Ranches in New Mexico. The arid country and back drops of this land are breathtaking and well worth the visit. Native flowers and bird life, not to mention seeing our first rattle snake. We spent a few hours hiking and then headed to Roswell the Allien Capitol of New Mexico, very disappointed because we thought there would be lots of crazies, "you know the abducted by Aliens" crazies. A few Alien exhibits and shops, so we pressed on south to Alamogordo for the evening. Again early risers to be nice and early to see the White Sands National Park. Along the way we visited Billie the Kids grave, apparently the tomb stone has been stolen a couple of times and recovered so now its behind a large metal cage. When driving into White Sands National Park we weren't that impressed but the deeper we
drove in we were taken aback with its beauty and just how large it was, the sand is large amounts of Gypsum is truly spectacular. However the weather wasn't so good, storms had been building up, no blue sky but thunderous clouds. I managed to take lots of photos using the clouds to enhance the White Sands before the heavens opened and before we had to retreat to the car. Lots of people camped out, their are amazing facilities for campers, electricity, BBQ, sheltered picnic areas, you can imagine the stars that appear on clear evenings. We then drove into the White Sands Missile Range which was the birth place of USA missile and rocket testing. We were told that you could visit the Army Base and check out the Museum and old missiles and rockets. But as usual it was Sunday and the the museum was closed. A Sargeant on the gates did let us in so we could see the old missiles etc. so the journey hadn't been a complete waste. We then drove back up to Albuquerque for the evening and to rejoin the Route 66 which runs through the city. We enjoyed our little detour off
the route, so planned another detour up to Santa Fe and then on to the Rocky Mountains, Colorado. I loved Santa Fe with it exclusive boutiques of hand crafted Native America artesian pieces. Everything from Furs, silks designer clothes, leather goods and of course jewellery. Of course there's the crap tourist gifts from China, but the real artesian pieces were beautiful. Native Indian jewellery which are art pieces are spectacular. I was drawn to one particular design, and no matter which jewellery shop I went into I chose his designs. But priced far out of my reach a Native Indian bracelet would range around $3000.00 and upwards. as I explained to the shop assistant absolutely beautiful but too expensive for the average traveler. The other crap just didn't interest as they were masses of the same design and we all know we're there made. I noticed that they had incorporated Opals in some of their work and enquired that I didn't think that the Opals were mined in America, I was correct they are sourced from Australia. I gave them a quick education of the different types of Opals and pointed out which opals were from where. Thanks Ron for
educating me I'm now a source of Opal information. I think your sister is right there could very well be a market for your jewellery in Santa Fe. The Native Indian rugs were also very beautiful. So we loved Santa Fe and surrounding areas. We visited Madrid the not so friendly town, were the wild Hogs was filmed featuring John Travolta and Tim Allen. On to Tent Rocks and a hike through the strange rock formations which look like Indian Tee Pee's. The next day we headed for Bandelier National Park where Native Indians lived along the sides of the canyon walls, they erected homes that used part of the rock which they dug into as part of their homes. Walking along the the canyon we learnt how the Native Indians survived the extreme weather and conditions and how they survive in the arid landscape. How they farmed was very ingenious. We leaned about the medicine values of the plants that grew, just like our Indigenous Aboriginals in Australia, bush tucker as they say. Bandelier National Park is well worth the experience. That night we drove further north and over the boarder to Colorado to Fort Garland. And further away
from Route 66 we are truly on a walkabout adventure.Fort Garland a very small town in the middle of a prairie, we observed wild horses and long horn cattle. We also ate some fantastic Mexican food in a small diner and the Margaritas were very good also. The next morning we visited the Great Sand Dunes these sand dunes were made from the winds and the river, a cycle that repeats again and again, the dunes never get bigger or smaller they move and the river changes but its a phenomenon of nature and very beautiful. People come to visit, swim and climb the sand dunes and to slide down the dunes, but it's a long way to the top of these dunes so it takes awhile to climb them. From the Great Sand dunes we head off, when a Coyote runs over the road. Very excited we quickly stopped the car, Glen whistled to get its attention it was very curious and stopped and turned around not knowing what to make of us. Which was fantastic as I quickly got a snap of it. I was on a high what a fantastic animal, were always on the look out
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Billy the Kids Tombstone for wild animals. Arriving in the large city of Denver for the evening.......purely for the next day's sight seeing in the Rocky Mountains. We spent the day driving to the summits, experiencing a snow storm which delighted Glen no end, photographing Elk, bulls and Elk cows and seeing some of the most beautiful and spectacular scenery.Now you would think by this time we should really be heading back to the Route 66 but our travels are all but through and with only a matter of weeks left we want to see as many of the American States as possible and to witness as many beautiful natural wonders so join me in my next blog and to our next destination.
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