Driving Around Northeast New Mexico

First, we need to fill our propane tank.  According to its reading, we have 11 percent.  We the propane tank on September 17 in New Mildord, Pennsylvania. Since mid September, Eric and I have been boondocking, except four nights,September 26 through 29.

Nighttime lows in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico have been in the high 30s and low 40s Fahrenheit during our 12 nights sleeping in parking lots and pull offs without hook ups.  Add a blustery day of solid rain with the thermometer not budging from the low 40s, and our propane is dwindling... fast.

We drive east through the
Sangre de Cristo
Mountains.







There are numerous pull offs along US Route 64.

Our route twists & turns

through the mountains.

This part of our drive, with curves and switchbacks, reminds me of the Sea to Sky Highway in British Columbia.

The elevation on our route
rises to over 9,000 feet.







Eric pulls over, when he can, to let those driving behind us pass.

What goes up does come down.  We start our descent.

This pull off is next to a

guide rail....

It's a long way down.

We descend into Moreno
Valley & pass Angel Fire
RV Resort.

Eric pulls into Monte

Verde RV Park.

We get 21 gallons of
propane at $3.00
per gallon.

Horses graze near

the road.

Wheeler Peak is the tallest
mountain in New Mexico,
at 13,161 feet above
sea level.

We enter Cimarron

Canyon State Park.

Cliffs tower over
US Route 64.

East of the park is the

Village of Cimarron,

Where the West is

Still the West.

We turn east onto
New Mexico Route 58.

A group of Pronghorn Antelope
enjoy the sun on the open plain.

The plan is to stay at a
pull off near Springer.







It's just after 2:00 pm, so we continue our drive.  I follow today''s drive on the New Mexico map in the Rand McNally Road Atlas.

After turning onto New Mexico

 Route 39 South, I look for Kiowa

National Grasslands signs.

We must be driving in the

grasslands.

There are no road signs for the

Kiowa National Grasslands.

This portion of New Mexico is desolate. We are all alone here.  I haven't seen a car since we turned onto New Mexico Route 39 South.

There aren't any roadside pull offs to stop at.  Eric is happy to keep driving.

Mosquero is proud of

their school sports teams,

the Pirates.

We drove an extra 60 miles,

or so, to find a roadside pull off

that we can to spend the night in.

We are parked next to a cell tower, yet

have no cell or data tonight.

Tomorrow, we drive to Tucumcari.

The Taos Farmers Market at The Plaza in Taos, New Mexico

I want to see what Taos looks like on a Saturday.





Eric & I were happy to
be in Taos for their
weekly Farmers Market.










The Plaza is closed to vehicle traffic during the Farmers Market.

The Plaza is filled

with music.

Farmhouse Cafe
& Market

Hot & Cold Tea

This booth is selling
baskets, tee shirts,
hoodies & hats.

Eric is eating Green

 Chile Chicken Stew.

I'm enjoying a Breakfast

Burrito with Green

Chile & Bacon.

Dragonfly has great
looking pastries.

One of the vendors is

roasting peppers.

Veggies & Pumpkins








What a difference a day makes!

Walking Around Historic Taos, New Mexico

Historic Taos dates to 1540.

Captain Alvarado & conquistadors
of the Coronado Expedition were
the first Spaniards in this valley.

This section of the town teems with galleries, shops and restaurants.  Metered parking is 50 cents an hour Monday through Saturday, and is free on Sunday.

Eric drove around a bit and found...

... free public parking near

Taos Town Hall.

John Dunn House
Shops

Shops & restaurants face

a square with benches.

Chocolate & Cashmere

Earth & Spirit

Gallery

El Gamal Mid-Eastern
Food

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Parish

Wild horses gallop....

... along the side of Stella's

Italian Restaurant.

Our next stop is the Taos Plaza. 

Walking Around Earthship Biotecture in Tres Piedras, New Mexico

Eric drives northwest to Tres Piedras and says that our next stop will be architecturally interesting... And, it is.

Uniquely designed buildings
rise out of the sagebrush
plain.

The lines on this structure

remind me of Frank

 Herbert's Dune.

We arrive at Earthship

Biotecture.







Earthship Biotecture provides guided tours for groups of 10.  Eric and I were the only visitors this morning, so I content myself with taking photos of the exteriors of these unique structures.

The structure on the

right reminds me of

Star Wars Episode IV:

A New Hope.

The green masonry

blends into the

landscape.

Eric points the windows

on this building.

They provide passive solar

heating & plenty of light.

This building also takes

advantage of passive 

solar heating.  

It's beautiful.

This building is under

construction.

The round sections don't

have windows.

I assume that solar panels will be used. to power this building.

Visiting the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument in Questa, New Mexico

On the north side of the Rio

Grande Gorge Bridge is the

Rio Grande del Norte

National Monument.

President Barack Obama proclaimed this 242,500 acre area as a national monument on March 25, 2013.  The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorizes presidents to create national monuments to protect significant natural and cultural resources.  To date, there are 100 national monuments across the United States that are preserved for citizens and visitors from all over the world to visit and appreciate.  

Roofed picnic tables have

amazing views of the

bridge & the gorge.

The Rio Grande Gorge State Park

has four major camping &

boating areas along the riverbank.

I LOVE this view.








This portion of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument clings to the Rio Grande Gorge. There's over 400,000 acres for visitors to explore.

Eric and I won't be doing that today.  He has plans....