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.
In El Paso, Texas we visited Chamizal National Memorial and learned some US-Mexican History.We have a chamizo in our yard! We planted a four-wing saltbush.Presidents Kennedy and Johnson finally made this land border official with the new river route.It is now a cultural center as well with this wonderful mural on the building.We camped 4 nights at Poncho Villa State Park and learned a bit more of border history.The train ran though Columbus, New Mexico (3 miles north of Mexico) – a pleasant small town.Well that’s all folks for close to the border!
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.
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.
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.
We kayaked Thanksgiving morning after putting the turkey in the oven. Jumped on the bikes a few more times as well, for a total of 2,700 miles and 168,000 feet of vertical climbing of riding in 2021.We enjoyed a few more evenings of happy hour on the balcony.There were amazing Nov/Dec sunsets even tho the temperatures cooled down very quickly.Several bucks spent the night in our back yard which was a huge surprise.The morning of December 10 we woke up to 14″ of snow and lake partially frozen.By late afternoon the lake was completely thawed and the wind sculpted the snow into drifts.That evening we watched the lake “smoke” and freeze instantly into this ice skate rink clear ice.The morning of the Dec 12th the lake was covered in popcorn type formations but really……they were hoary ice crystal castles like these on the shore.We love that the foxes come visit us when they can walk across the ice.They seems very curious and playful. Usually they move too fast to capture a photo.How wonderful this fox paused for a picture!This is how far south the sun sets at 4:51 MST December 20. Nine hour 20 minutes of sunshine here.Winter solstice sunrise (7:30 Dec 20) also far south for our wonderful south facing solar heat gain.All the ingredients to start the New Year off merrily.Four feet of snow by 12/30 caused some plow guy troubles.And a Happy New Year 2022 to all…
Mid July we created an area for the Fireplace/TV.We framed new wall for symmetry after centering TV.This shelf is the top of exposed TV area.Practicing our dry-walling skills.Meanwhile in the garage we created this curved panel.The curved panel position when the wall is completed.This art panel we built to move up behind above feature and down to cover TV, powered by….A Linear Actuator. Ours is an 8′ extended length with a 4′ retracted length and 4′ stroke length.Wave tiles are made of recycled wood. We cut off edges for a continuous book-matched pattern.The high gloss white paint that matches doors/trim created some light and shadows.Cabinet for computer media streamer.We splashed in some waves on the kitchen prep area too. Kashmire Cream Granite installed Dec 2 to match kitchen. Both by Tile&Art DurangoTV revealed with a photo of Colorful Colorado.Turn up the jazz and pour the wine. Our custom frame around the artwork really added finishing touch.
Cuyahoga Valley NP – in Ohio and a new National Park for us. Ledges Hike was beautiful. Earlier in the day we walked around Garfield National Historic Site and learned about the presidential campaign of 1880.
Sittin’ on the dock of Nimisala Regional Park, OHIO. That evening it poured – an unbelievable amount of rain.
Moundsville in West Virginia was closed but our first introduction to the Mound Builders.
Newark Earthworks is a large park like area by Mound Builders. Museum closed but we walked the grounds.
The Major Lunar Standstill is situated between the mounds every 18.6 years.
Great Seal State Park in Ohio is located in the hills that are on the state seal. We camped here for a night. The Governor chose this park for a COVID memorial – very moving.
Hopewell Culture NHP – so many mounds with interpretive signs to explain what was found in the different mounds.
Artifacts found here at Hopewell Culture NHP
Seip Mound area of Hopewell Culture NHP for an early morning walk/hike.
Serpent Mound, National Historic Landmark, Ohio. Outstanding. Apparently the center of the serpent curves align with different solstices, lunar standstills etc. Fascinating artistic and engineering talent.
Drove to Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP where the Wright Brothers actually made their first plane. Also visited Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers NM in Dayton area which was an interesting history of a great African American solder that was in charged of overseeing the early Yosemite National Park.
Fort Lincoln State Park in Indiana. We are here to see the cabin Abe Lincoln grew up in but it isn’t this one. Today we visited Ft Ancient Mounds and William Howard Taft NHS, and had the best Little Caesars Pizza ever — near Grantsville, Maryland just off I-68.
This is a replica built of the cabin which made it easy to picture Abe reading by the fireplace light. This is in Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.
This is the actual preserved foundations of the cabin Abe grew up in, not far from the reproduction.
The much older brother of William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame, George Rodgers Clark NHM commemorates the highest ranking patriot of the American Revolutionary War
Mighty Mississippi River from the Illinois side looking over to Missouri. The British Fort of Kaskaskia was here, with Cohokia Ft not too far away (we visited Cohokia for the Mound builders). We also visited nearby Ste Genevieve NHP in Missouri, One of the oldest European settlements in the US with a strong French presence.
