The 201703 trip – Santa Fe

Friday, April 7

Upper Crust Pizza
Down Town Sant Fe

There was much discussion as to which way to go home. We had decided at Green River not to go back via Colorado/Denver because of the mountain roads and the fact it had still been snowing recently – i.e. still too cold at night. Considering the issues and weather, we had experienced already, trying to get over the high passes in Colorado didn’t seem like a smart thing to do.  Since we missed Monument valley on the way up, we decided to go south, through the valley, then turn toward the east then north toward Denver – then east without going through Denver. Waiting of course for the winds to die down. So, on the Santa Fe, NM. WE left Monument Valley at 7:30 AM.  We landed in Rancheros – another older campground. It was tight as well but had lots of trees and amenities that we didn’t have time to enjoy.

Under the heading of “More Trailer Fun”, while unhitching daughter’s trailer, something caught my eye.  One of the safety chains had the first link on the trailer end cut almost all the way through.  Apparently whomever was cutting the chains to length didn’t notice the end link was also being cut by the angle grinder.  In other words, that safety chain was useless because it would have snapped at the first pull.

 

We headed to downtown Santa Fe looking for a pizza place – drove all around and couldn’t find it – finally did, but there was simply NO PLACE to park. Down town is cool, lots of older buidlings, but also obviously a tourst trap. We headed south past our camp to Upper Crust Pizza – a small place that had great pizza.

Back at the trailers, we tried to figure out where and when to go home.  The plan was to move east, find a place to wait out the wind for another day and then head for home.

Downtown Santa Fe
Upper Crust Pizza  Downtown Santa Fe

Continued next post.

Upper Crust Pizza
Upper Crust Pizza

 

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The 201703 trip – Monument Valley, Mexican Hat

Wednesday, April 5 

We packed up, left Shady Acres and finally made it to monument Valley at supper time.

The Gouldings
The Gouldings

We stayed at an amazing camgground: The Gouldings right next to Monument Valley. The Gouldings is an entire small town. Campground, store, gas station, hotel, restaurant, rental cabins – nestled in front of and between two buttes. Spaces were a little tight, but clean, fairly level and in an amazing place. Cellular was better than average and wifi worked fairly well too.  The campground is wedged between two large buttes – running up hill.  The result is that on two size you have these vertical rocks, yet you can see out down hill between them to the eastern horizon.

Thursday, April 6

Mexican Hat Road
Mexican Hat Road

Deb, Sylvia and I went out early to find the classic road spot that has been in so many movies (including Forest Gump), south west of Mexican Hat. We took lots of pictures with the sun coming up behind us. Other’s were out there as well. We came back, joined up with the kids and went to the Monument Valley visitor center across the road. After a brief look at the visitor center, we signed up for the self tour. In theory they were supposed to collect money when we came out – but no one was there so I guess there weren’t enough people that day to bother standing by the road and collecting $20 bills. The road was pretty amazing – and very rough. The only bathrooms were some porta potties that our group refused to use. At one stop there was the classic ledge that was used in a John Wayne movie. Deb paid to sit on a horse out on the ledge so we could take her picture. We took lots and lots of pictures. Back home for hot dogs on the grill and an evening walk under the stars.

Soon, there will be a picture gallery here….

 

continued next post.

 

 

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