Enchanted Circle

September camping trip to New Mexico – Eaglesnest State park, site #1.
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge – always a spectacular site. 7th highest in the USA.
Tres Piedras was another nice overlook on the way.
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument – Full Moon Rise from our campsite #29 at El Aguale CG.
La Junta Point where the Red river joins the Rio Grande – ready to hike!
1,350 feet lower we are at the Rio Grande and ready for a break (6.5 RT).
The boulders are all black basalt (lava), ground smooth by the river.
Good morning! Big Horn Sheep, next El Aguala CampGround.
Oh please don’t get up on our account. Maybe just morning stretches.
Columbine CG with a day hike in Columbine-Hondo wilderness.
Cimarron Canyon State Park for a few nights.
Chili vs Chile – good New Mexican trivia to know.
Site #20 at Coyote Creek CG had a view and electricity.
Above Taos Junction Bridge and the Rio Grande Gorge. More lava flows.
Looking the other direction from the same spot. Gorgeous!

Congaree National Park/South Carolina

Congaree National Park protects the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern US.
Spring wildflowers blooming made the boardwalk part of the trail extra special.
In 2003, it gained National Park status and has since been designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a National Natural Landmark and Globally Important Bird Area.  It is named after the local Native American tribe and was been preserved since1976 as a National Monument.
Unique tall trees included bald cypress with the knobby knees above as well as Tupelo trees, Loblolly pines, and giant oaks.
This is really beautiful with all the reflections.
We enjoyed a 6 mile hike and a picnic lunch to absorb the enormity of this park. Perfect day.
Ninety Six National Historic Site we learned more about the Revolutionary War. This was a nice park to walk around but the VC was not open.
Lake Greenwood SP is one of 16 S Carolina State Parks built by the CCC. They had an amazing exhibit in their VC. The previous night we were at Givens Ferry SP on the Edisto River also built by the CCC .
Kings Mountain National Military Park and Cowpens National Battlefield we learned more of our Revolutionary War history. Both had walking trails to contemplate the enormity of this war.
A walk through the woods and rolling hills brings to life the fighting conditions that the armies faced.
We enjoyed a stroll to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site just across the border in North Carolina. He enjoyed life here from 1945 until his death in 1967.
This was the only interpretation available about “America’s Voice” (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967) an American poet, biographer, journalist, and editor. He won three Pulitzer Prizes: two for his poetry and one for his biography of Abraham Lincoln

Angel Peak Scenic Area

BLM land south of Aztec, New Mexico is this gem of badlands scenery.
A few trails for exploring as well as many natural gas roads.
An artistic photo to show off the bright blue February sky.
An owl woke us in the morning probably hooting: There are humans in the campground!
A peaceful sunrise for my Valentine.
We saw two majestic bucks on our way to this picnic lunch spot.
Worth a panoramic photo!

City of Rocks State Park & Beyond…

We hiked at Rockhound State Park before arriving to hike amongst these large boulders.
We snagged a first come first serve electrical site so stayed for six nights in comfort.
The Table Mountain in the distance is beckoning us to climb tomorrow.
A 5.2 RT hike to Table Mountain to survey the park – volcanic boulders made of volcanic tuft.
On the Trail – another beautiful day in January.
With reasons to celebrate after that hike.
The coconut cake was better than spinach to build strength.
Leaving we went over Emery Pass and the gorgeous snowy views.
Sunrise with the birds and coyotes in Bosque del Apache NWR.
Not as many cranes still here as last year but what a view to enjoy with breakfast. https://tealsky.com/2021/02/08/san-lorenzo-and-bosque-del-apache/
Heading north after a wonderful take out of New Mexican food – some of the best food with green chili.
A beautiful sunset welcomes us home before the next storm.

Around Alamogordo, New Mexico

Valley of Fires BLM for 4 nights with full electric  – such a nice area to camp.
Enjoying our wine o’clock outdoors on 12 January – beautiful day.
Travato has 48,000 miles of fun  – and a great pullout to commemorate.
The Smokey Bear Historical Site has added this tribute to firefighters since we were last here in Capitan in 2016 when the Travato had less than 10,000 miles.
Only YOU can prevent forest fires.
We walked around Ft Stanton NHS before an Oso Good Chili Burger & Chicken fried steak at Oso Grille in Capitan.
Memorable end to a great day trip before heading to Three Rivers Petroglyphs BLM.
Two nights with electrical here with very pleasant walks among these petroglyphs.
Oliver Lee State Park, Site 19, was one of 2 sites not reserved. We had to go online to reserve after we got there and only available for one night but was worthwhile.
We only did a short hike but beautiful cactus and other desert landscape.
Our destination was a small pool that creates a waterfall after rains.
Almost full moon rise with a beautiful sunset – right from our campsite.
White Sands National Park hike to Alkaline Flats, marked with these poles.
Interesting wind patterns create an oasis with vegetation.
So many interesting sand/wind formations.
We were able to get our Site #1 at Aguirre Campground in Organ Mountains National Monument – BLM.
Getting ready to hike Baylor Pass somewhere behind me.
Looking across to Pine Tree Loop which we will hike tomorrow.
Testing aerodynamics against the wind.
The full moon setting at sunrise. This is not photo-shopped – it is really what we experienced.

San Lorenzo Canyon and Salinas Pueblos Missions

We dispersed camped here at San Lorenzo Canyon BLM area to enjoy the sunshine.
We walked into the canyon areas and enjoyed the natural beauty of the rock formations.
Interesting colors and layers – very fun to climb on and explore. We were here last year and it was worth returning. https://tealsky.com/2021/02/08/san-lorenzo-and-bosque-del-apache/
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument has 3 different areas that were built by 17th century Spanish Franciscan missionaries in Native American areas.
These were huge cathedral style buildings built in the ancestor puebloan style using stones from the local areas.
Really wonderful construction details and such height!
The third building has a different type of grey rock in the area which was interesting.
An area to learn how to be an archeologist – sifting out the sand.

Bandelier National Monument, NM

4 January 2022 – clear roads beckoned us to head south into New Mexico.
We explored Los Alamos with a nice take out spicy lunch. Then Bandelier National Monument where had our choice of any campsite.
We hiked from campground at top of mesa to the Valley below to enjoy the remnants from the past.
Gorgeous scenery along the way – keeping our eyes open for cliff dwellings.
Ladders to reach those dwelling above us.
A rock formation that looks carved but is natural.
The second day we hiked further down the canyon to the waterfall where we enjoyed sunshine and solitude.

Lake Superior

Taking a break: How many miles have we driven?
A pleasant campsite at Cass Lake near the headwaters of the Mississippi River — along our route.
We had a proper sunset view from CG in Apostle Islands NLS.
Marquette’s Ore loading dock – we got a take out pizza and enjoyed this View!
The coveted photo: Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks NLS. We last visited in 2016.
Hiked in to see this beautiful waterfall at Pictured Rocks NLS.
More water falls to enjoy.
Long sand beaches for our morning walks. Spectacular to be here.
We walked about 2 miles along the shoreline to reach Au Sable Light Station.
Time for a bit of maintenance – replacing the headlight bulb — took watching YouTube video on phone, buying bulb, and lots of patience using improvised tools.
Whitefish Point Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior, protecting part of this notorious 80-mile stretch.
The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975 with her entire crew of 29 lies just 15 miles northwest of Whitefish Point.
The many moods of Lake Superior have caught many ships unaware.
We hung out for the day and spent the night at this boat launch as all nearby campgrounds were full on a Saturday night.
Water in this bay was warm and calm enough for a swim.
Sault Ste Marie Soo Locks had an outdoor viewing platform to watch the freighters rise or fall to the proper level of lake Superior or Lake Huron.
Freighter coming out of Soo locks at a nearby park where we had a picnic lunch.
Front row seat to continue watching the freighters during Wine o’clock and dinner at Bay Mills CG.
The Mackinaw Bridge! 3,000 miles in 3 weeks since we have left home. Ready to visit Mom!