10-12-16 - Heat Escape - Day 62

                                                          some Route 66 this morning

We waited for the temperatures to rise from the 30’s to the 50’s before taking off on Amber this morning heading to Arizona.  We rode by Window Rock then continued to Canyon de Chelly.  After the 2 hour ride, the temperature was in the 70’s. There is nothing like a beautiful sunny day, in a beautiful National Monument.

                                                       Window Rock

                                                             along the hwy

                                                        1st pic of Canyon De Chelly

After touring the North Rim, we stopped for our picnic lunch at Cottonwood Picnic area.  It is a pretty park with the Cottonwood trees just beginning to change colors.  We stopped by the Visitor’s Center and took a guided tour of a Hogan.  I never realized that there were families living in these round buildings we have seen in this area.  The guide explained the spiritual meaning behind the way the Hogan is built. This is a very interesting way of life.  The 37 mile round trip loop of the South Rim was just as gorgeous as the North Rim.

                                                                   picnic area

                                                              Inside Hogan

                                                                   outside

Our 2 hour ride back to camp turned into 2 ½ hours after we got stopped in road construction for 30 minutes.  We made it home just in time to see the sun setting behind us.  The beautiful sunset was the perfect end to a beautiful day.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zFrbMKd5NEJRqaabA

10-11-16 - Heat Escape - Day 61

                                                             On the road

                                                       1 last shot of Shiprock

We relocated 120 miles to the south.  We are staying at Red Rock Park in Gallup, New Mexico for a few days.  We had a beautiful day to relocate, even though it was windy.

The layout of this campground is very disorganized, but it has what we need, water and electricity.  As a bonus, our campsite has a beautiful view of Red Rock.  After a week of camping in the city, we are enjoying the country life.

We took a stroll around the park and to the museum.  There are 2 hiking trails in the park, Church Rock & Pyramid Rock.  We decided to hike Church Rock.  It was a very pretty 2.2 mile trail with 330 foot elevation gain along the red rocks and canyon.  We could see for miles and miles . We had great views of Church Rock, the campground, the train station, and the interstate.  The flat land rednecks that we are, forgot our hiking sticks in the truck.  They would have been handy coming down the steep slick rock trail on the way back.  Oh well, we won't forgot when we do the Pyramid Rock hike which is higher in elevation than Church Rock.

We have 6.5 miles hiking today.  Time to sit back and relax for the night.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/Rxc6fUL5mTQqFTvG8

10-10-16 - Heat Escape - Day 60

We made a quick trip to the River Corridor in Farmington last week.  We went back today and took a leisurely stroll.

The River Corridor is a National Recreation trail.  We started our stroll at the Animas Park All Veterans Memorial  It is a beautiful, touching, remembrance honoring veterans in every war.  This is the best veterans memorial we have ever visited.

We strolled both sides of the river walking along the cottonwoods all dressed up in their fall foliage.   The cottonwoods foliage was much prettier today than a week ago.

After hiking several miles, we took a ride on some country roads through Navajo country.  The walk, the ride, the weather, all was nice and peaceful.

This was a take it easy kind of day.  Tomorrow is moving day. (nope not heading home)

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/2WSxgMt9RxX6a6P59

10-9-16 - Heat Escape - Day 59

We have been procrastinating for about a week to go shopping and do the laundry.  We woke up around 5 am and heard the rain peppering on the roof of the camper.  Time to get it done, ( well, after we slept in).

It was in the 50's with light rain when we went to town.  We got our shopping done, the laundry done, and had a good ole bream fish fry tonight.

It was a boring kind of Sunday.  Guess it was time for one of those days.  By the way, it was also a no picture kind of day.

10-8-16 - Heat Escape - Day 58

                                                            last night

                                                            this morning

                                                                 we riding Shiprock pic

Last night, I went to bed with the heater on, 2 blankets, and a comforter on the bed.  I finally got over the chill from yesterday's ride around 2 o'clock this morning,  Ahhh finally warm!

We decided it was a take it easy kind of day.  We were slow to get going today, couldn't figure out a destination, so we headed west toward Shiprock  We got up close and personable to the "rock." She is  a beauty!!

                                                                          another

We made a quick trip into Arizona, turned around and came back into New Mexico.  We took an unplanned loop and  almost made it to the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness.  When we got to the loose gravel road construction, we shut Amber down. We had a picnic lunch on the side of the road, and headed through the farmland back to Farmington.  It is the first pumpkin field we have ever saw and it was a beauty, in the middle of corn fields and hay fields.

                                                                       Arizona

                                                   another Shiprock in the distance

                                                         southbound on US Hwy 666

                                                                       lunch stop

                                                                   pumpkin patch

When we got back to camp, Fernykat sat by the door with her head up, waiting for her collar so she could go out and explore.  Of course, we obliged.

                                                      when we got home, she did get up finally

Our take it easy kind of day turned into 175 miles of a relaxing ride, with low humidity, and beautiful scenery, enjoying going nowhere.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/sD9iPVVXRa91ahgJ9

10-7-16 - Heat Escape - Day 57

The 30 degrees temperatures this morning delayed our ride.  We layered up and left around 11:30. It was in the mid 50's and sunny skies when we headed to Durango.

We stopped and shopped at Harley Davidson in Durango, then continued to Mesa Verde.  We ate our picnic lunch at a nice park in Mancos.

                                                      Lunch stop in Mancos

We had been to Mesa Verde 5 years ago in the summer time.  We thought it was pretty then until we saw the fall foliage today.  It was Absolutely Gorgeous. There were less people here today than before.  Our kind of place.

We stopped and looked at some of the cliff dwellings, most of which we had already seen before.  We decided today was a day to ride, not hike, being we were overdressed.

We took a ride on Wetherill Mesa Road. It was  12 miles one way of sharp curves, steep grades, and awesome scenery.  We were hoping to find wild horses. We did not find any, but saw plenty of horse poop in the road.  The horses are still there.

The delay of take off this morning resulted in riding  home at dusk.  It was a cold enjoyable ride, watching the sun set and seeing Shiprock in the horizon.

The temperatures today ranged from mid 50's to mid 60's.  We stayed layered up all day.  We went looking for cooler weather and we found it.



Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/K4v2Pg4Y3Et6wuDj9