Chaco Canyon, New Mexico!

If you kick around the US southwest, you're going to see ruins like you're going to see blue skies. It's inevitable. However, Chaco Canyon will ruin you for any other similar antiquities. 

You do see what I did there, right?

Fajada Butte

Fajada Butte was apparently important in astronomical calculations of the Chacoan culture. When to plant the popcorn, the eggplant, and the baconplant.

No way this can go wrong

Petroglyphs

Cliff swallow nests

All the round structures were kivas. They are still considered sacred, and we weren't allowed to enter even if we hurled ourselves in. A couple kept talking about "another cistern," and I didn't even hand them a brochure.

These panoramic shots will expand, if you want to click. For any reason whatsoever. 

Keyhole kiva

These keyhole kivas (I'm told) are found in other ruins, suggesting an exchange of ideas among distant people.

What the Great Kiva may have looked like. May.

A kiva in a kiva in a kiva. Seriously. When one filled in, they used the site and built up.

Getting in and out isn't hard, but there's a trick of nature and timing to successful passage. About two miles is heavily rutted, and probably slick in the rain. Spud and I balanced on dry road ridges and didn't think about what would happen if we slipped off. Leaving, our timing was split-second perfect even though we watched rain and lightening sluice over the horizon.

Camping is $15/night, or $7.50 if you have the senior National Parks pass. Sites are very small, although we were among other big rigs who had wedged themselves into tiny spaces like last year's NYE dress.

Another time, I'll tell you the story of ... nah, maybe not.