Driving across Northern New Mexico
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Smoke/Rain/Snow/Sleet/Wind/Dust Storm/Clear, 60°- 85°
Traveling to Mesa Verde, Colorado from Taos, New Mexico made for an interesting day of driving. The Angel Fire blaze had smoke coming through Taos that morning but there was a good chance of rain, so hopefully it will help control the forest fire.
Found a sculptor’s yard on the side of a small road outside of town which had some very interesting sculptures placed all around. The thing that drew me to stop was a very large pair of glasses close to the road.
Giant Glasses
There was an eagle and elk sculpture.
Eagle
Elk
A cat and dog
As well as a flying heron sculptures.
Heron
Driving northwest across the Northern New Mexico countryside there was a small Community out in the desert. “Earthship Biotecture” as it was called has 30 to 50 “homes” made with all kinds of unique materials.
Earthship Biotecture
Some used soda cans; others used cola or beer bottles that were placed into the mortar or concrete walls as filler.
House made with soda cans
House with bottles and wind generator
Some used wind or solar power to create electricity.
Wind turbine
Many were dug into the ground using its properties for heating and cooling during different times of the year. All in all, it was like a small hippie community with land plots ranging from probably 5 to 300 acres or more as it stretched for several miles on both sides of the highway.
You could see dark rain clouds to the west and soon lightning and thunder storms were all around. Climbing to elevations over 7,000 feet above sea level, it was not long before there were some snowflakes hitting the windshield. As the air temperature cooled it turned to sleet and you could see ice forming on the road. This was very strange weather for a June day driving west across the northern portion of New Mexico.
Next, the wind was blowing the RV around like a toy and driving it seemed like the steering wheel was always turned to the left, crabbing into the wind much like an airplane or helicopter in flight.
Approaching Shiprock, New Mexico, visibility was low as the wind there had turned into a dust storm cutting the view of the mountains and vistas to just a few miles, if that. Sand was blowing across the road and hitting the vehicles with a pretty good force.
Arriving at the Four Corners Monument, it was just windy again and there was a surprise since my last visit. The Indians had taken over the monument and placed a gate with a five dollar per person entry fee. It did not matter if you were on a bus, car, truck, or RV, everyone paid the fee. There were a few more permanent metal lean-to buildings for Natives to sell their wares to the tourists. During my last visit in the seventies, it used to be just some tents or tarps on poles.
The Monument had been improved, replacing the guard rails around the four sides with concrete walkways and flag stanchions displaying the four state flags.
Four Corners Monument
There was a line of people waiting to take photos with “selfie sticks” and one young girl doing a bridge with a hand or foot in each state, typical for kids or adults in this place. I noticed there were still no restrooms, only a few portable outhouses on site. It looked like one had been built but was roped off with “yellow crime scene” tape, so it was not in use.
Leaving Four Corners, the land became more visible as the dust storm passed; it was windy but clear. The monoliths stood about the desert like giants compared to the flat terrain on the valley floor.
Monolith
Cortez had not grown much. It was still a farming and artist community with crops growing and studios along the road leading through town to Mesa Verde.
Arriving in Mesa Verde after driving all day, it was great to once again see clear skies, a few mule deer walking around the campground and feel the cool mountain air filling the campground valley floor. It made for a great night’s sleep after the long drive.