Road Trip to Taos
10/25-10/26/14
Mid-morning on that perfect Saturday we motor south to Walsenburg, west over La Vita Pass and south, again, at Fort Garland to
San Luis, Colorado, about 35 miles north of the New Mexico boarder, our transition point into the Southwest
Home of The Stations of the Cross (on the hill) and many outdoor, wall murals
with a diversity of images
An old church, surrounded by golden leaved trees under a perfectly blue sky.
Except for the UFO--typical northern New Mexico
With, maybe a couple of the priests planted on the grounds
a ruin
a mediocre cafe
and numerous stone walls built of volcanic rock.
South on 159/522 sagebrush flats turn into pinion and juniper hills
West at Arroyo Hondo, climbing to the south rim of Arroyo Hondo Canyon which is narrow and full of volcanic boulders and cliffs.
and the John Dunn Bridge over the Rio Grande where the scenery is beautiful and the photos get crappy
Still a fine, fall afternoon.
Next stop is further south along the Rio Grande and a hike down an old road bed to Stage Coach/Mowbry hot spring
the ghost of van Gogh has taken over my camera
The view up river toward the bridge.
Stage road traversing the opposite side of the canyon.
Evidence of volcanic activity along the Rio Grande
Volcanic rocks along the Rio Grande
Elsewhere, rocks in rocks
Blooming primrose and flies--its really nice weather.
Out of the Rio Grande canyon and we're nearing Taos.
Architecture at the center reminds us we're on our way to...
San Francisco de Asis Mission Church
On the continuum of catholic churches is the manger and the crucifixion--not so much the ascension
Across the street is the ascension
Then there's the destination
the site of the sacrament of the breakfast
and the divine cottonwood
The built environment meets nature
The sacred mountain
Even the accessability accomodations are historic
if you can't manage the gnarly ramp there's a set of nice, wide steps
Mable and Tony loved their pigeons--why?
No trip to norther NM is complete without an old truck
and natural cobblestones
