Chaco Canyon

Chaco Canyon in New Mexico has long been on my list of places to visit.  It's not easy to get there but when I knew that we needed to be in Albuquerque for a big event, it was time to try.  After spending the night in Farmington, New Mexico we head south eventually coming to the turn off heading west which would lead us to this canyon.  It was 22 miles in, most of which was dirt road with the last 6 miles being hard packed corduroy.  It was worth every bone jarring minute.

In 1987, Chaco Canyon was made a World Heritage Site but this was long after it was declared a United States National Historical Park. 

 

Pueblo Bonito is the grandest of the "grand" houses and was inhabited from about 850 to 1250 AD.  There are dwellings, old roadways, watering systems, great kivas, petroglyphs, hewn staircases, and astrological markings throughout the canyon.

We spent most of our time at Pueblo Bonita.

This was a massive structure of several levels and many rooms.

Beautiful stone walls made from the surrounding cliffs are beautifully constructed.

In the 1920's, great care was taken to remove a thousand years of debris and to stabilize the walls.

At some point, the cliff wall at the back of Pueblo Bonita collapsed destroying at least 40 rooms of the Pueblo Bonito.

This is a shallow and wide canyon with a stream bed running down the middle.  Additional structures are located across the canyon from Pueblo Bonita.  Notice the rocks in the foreground which fell from the cliff.

The wood to support windows, doorways, and ceilings was used to date the construction periods.  It was found that the wooden beams came from trees located on mountains 40 to 50 miles to the west.  It is unknown how they were transported to this site.

It was amazing to think that the wood I was seeing was a thousand years old.

It is surmised that Pueblo Bonita was more of ceremonial site.

Notice that the walls are the same coloration as the cliff walls in the background.

Looking back at the cliff from which massive amounts of rock fell destroying part of the pueblo.

There were several kivas in the compound  Across the canyon is the largest kiva found in the canyon.  It has a very precise north south orientation.

This is a very open site and I was able to walk through some of the structures in the background.

This is the largest kiva at Pueblo Bonita.  There was a stone bench around the circle with niches above.  It is not certain as to the purpose of the smaller walled rectangles inside.

That is Glen in his green jacket seating on a bench overlooking the giant kiva.

There were several smaller kivas such as this one.

It is thought that these many interconnected large rooms may have been store rooms.

I loved the juxtaposition of blue sky . . .

and massive hand made rock walls.

I was also able to enter from the west side of the structure where door after door beckoned me. . .

in several directions.

The ancient structures of the American Southwest have fascinated me since childhood.  My mother took us to Mesa Verde National Park when I was a young teen.  It was magical, quiet, and awe inspiring.  I have been to many others since and I always feel the same way.  There was a time when a great culture flourished in this dry wide open plateau and I was grateful for a glimpse.

Beautiful and other worldly southeastern Utah

We travel north and south every month so are often looking for something new to see or do. In February we took a road less traveled through southeast Utah on our way to Albuquerque and then Mesa.  Our first stop was Goblin Valley.

Goblin Valley received lots of media attention a while back when a video surfaced of a scout leader pushing over one of the "goblins."

We drove south of the I70 on a narrow highway rambling over rolling land with very little traffic.  Then there was a little hidden canyon unlike any we had ever seen before.

If it was like anything, it might be a very miniature version of Bryce Canyon.

The Henry Mountains glowed in the background to the south.

I have inserted Glen into the pictures to help give a sense of scale.  I am standing in the bottom looking up toward the parking lot.

Up close, those "goblins" look pretty big.

It was kind of like cloud watching.  We were pointing out "goblin" look alikes.

It is a big valley and once you climb the hill . . .

one finds even more. . .

 stretching into the distance.

What you can't see is the video crew who were filming.  We tried to stay out of their shot.

Does any formation resemble anyone you know?

The road leading in and back out again passes the guardians know as "The Three Sisters."

They have been standing as sentinels for years and years and years.

This mesa overlooks a nearby campground.

It was very majestic.

Upon leaving Goblin Valley, we headed south to Hanksville and then turned left finally stopping above Hite's Landing.  See that strip of concrete on the upper left side?  It used to be the launching ramp for boats at the northern end of Lake Powell.  As you can see, the water is long gone.  The Colorado River still runs but can't be seen in this shot because it runs at the base of the cliffs we are standing on.

Now I am looking toward the northeast and the river is visible.

At one time this was mining country and a town called Hite was built on the flats by the river.

Once again we are looking at the Henry Mountains which are now to our northwest.

A man and his car.  Have you ever noticed how many car ads are filmed near red rocks?

We made our way down the cliff to this span bridge which. . .

crosses the Colorado River.  It will be interesting to see how much snow melt there is this year.

We continued south until eventually coming to the Natural Bridges National Park entrance but we chose to take a smaller road to the right and continued south where it eventually turns into a dirt road.  We had taken this route, but heading north, years before and Glen wanted to try it again.  The road continues to the edge of this cliff and that is Monument Valley in Arizona off in the middle right distance.

We began the 3 miles down a road of switchback after switchback along the side of that cliff.  It was pretty thrilling.  This view is toward The Valley of the Gods.

Yup!  I promise you that I am looking back at the road we just descended right down that cliff face.  We continued on to Farmington, New Mexico where we spent the night.  We had another adventure planned for the next day.

A month away and so much to say

I've spent a very busy month away from my computer.  Several events filled the month but the highlight was being available to help at the birth of my 6th grandson and 12th grand child.  How exciting it was to receive a telephone call at 3:30 am telling me it was time and could I come and stay with the sleeping sisters.  I was soon on my way in the dark and so happy for this special day.  Fortunately, the girls and I both slept in a bit and it didn't matter because they were beyond too excited to go to school.  I later found the above sign in their little play school room.  Once we were up and dressed the texts started flying back and forth between their dad, my son, and I.  We finally received notice of his arrival at 10:16 am and shortly after pictures.  It was so fun to be with them and to share their happiness and joy.

Later in the day when he and his mom were moved to a room, we were off to the hospital to meet him in person.  Just look at those smiles.

Honestly, there is nothing more awe inspiring than a new born.

Of course we had to take turns holding him.

And inspecting him.

The taking turns, that part was a bit stressful, so the next day their daddy, with the help of the grandmas, had each daughter come one at a time for a visit.  Smart daddy!

The sisters will be so much help for their mommy.  I can still remember when these two were a 2 year old and a newborn.  Not much help then :)

Finally, it was sister 2's turn.

And then the baby of the family relinquished her title.

She was smitten.

My son is soooo excited to have a little man in his life but would have been just as happy with another girl.  That is just his way.  Here older sister becomes the photographer.

As you can see, he did not sleep in or even sleep at all.  Disrupted sleep will be the pattern for a while.

The hospital had a playground out back and also served cookies at 3 pm.  This impressed my grand daughters.

My introspective one.

Interestingly, this little one seems unfazed at her loss of position in the family and is thrilled to have a baby brother.

The original plan was for me to fly back north to be with Glen.  However, he soon had me cancelling my flight as he now planned to drive down to meet the little one.

Here he is at almost two weeks.  So sweet and when those eyes are open, they are big expressive eyes.  Can't wait to see him in another month.  I know that he will grow so fast.  I am so grateful for the cycle of life and the importance of family.  Nothing matters more than family.  Welcome little one!

It was full on Spring in Arizona.  Everything was blooming and all the trees were leafing out when I arrived.  By the time I left, the citrus was blooming (best smell on earth) and the trees were all leafed out.

I took this picture yesterday.  It looks like there is hope for Spring in Utah as well.  My tulip tips are also well out of the ground.  New life all around!