Los Alamos to Taos, New Mexico. No warnings apply.

Los Alamos never fails to sober me, not that such measures are often necessary.

Hans Bethe house. Please double-check this math for me.

Typical Cold War provisions, I'm told. We made do with wooden school desks.

 

Oppenheimer house. Still occupied, so only fence paparazzi are welcome.

I asked the director of the Hans Bethe house to recommend the best starter book for the Manhattan Project; she suggested 109 East Palace: Robert Oppenheimer and the Secret City of Los Alamos, by Jennet Conant.

Leaving Los Alamos was much easier than getting in. Less than an hour later, we were indulging in cheap gasoline in Espanola.

We made the quick trip from Espanola, NM to the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. Wolfgang mentioned that he had never realized camping was available down this canyon road, so now he knows. We chose the Pilar Campground for its easy parking and available electric sites.

San Francisco de Asis Mission Church

San Francisco

We did spend some time in downtown Taos, as one does, and then I suggested we escape to Arroyo Seco and the Taos Cow. 

Taos traffic severed my last nerve, and this is how the frenzy perpetuates. A crazed driver temporarily throws his body at his horn, and the recipient passes it on to the next hapless driver. I love Taos, but its intractable congestion is putting it out of the relaxation zone.

Swimming hole!

The Rio Grande Canyon was beautiful, though, and at some point unknown to me becomes The Rio Grande Gorge.

Have a nice trip, see you in the fall.

 Because some mountains are ostentatious, I present the Sangre de Cristos:

Lenticular clouds AND a moon. Whatever, mountains.

A joke you've heard ... Mountains are not just funny, they're hill areas.

Because some cats are ostentatious, I present Sophia:

Sophia is 1/4 of the reason we were in Taos, but a bigger 1/4 than most. For being one quarter, she was more like seven-and-a-half-eighths.

Our friend bought bird-safe collars for her natural-born killers. I'd like to exclaim, "They really work!" I'd like to exclaim that, but the fresh bundles of feathers we found each day exclaimed otherwise.

We get it. Yes, you're very pretty, sunrise.

Kit Carson Road

Likewise

We were here on Kit Carson because our friend has a show at The Ranch at Taos, and because we spotted coffee.

Caffe Tazza

Taos colors were at their peak for us.

Taos was kind to me. I played with kitties, and read, and gazed out at mountains in all directions. I felt inner conditions gently ease, unknot, and rearrange themselves. I had solitude; I had dear company. 

In my opinion, Taos to T or C in one day is excessive. I felt pretty beaten-up on both ends. But, an overnight also seems excessive if there's an ETA on the line. 

 It was fun to meet Judy, and to see Chris again, back in Truth or Consequences. Judy is from the same tiny village in New York State that I am; in fact, I can picture her house.

Judy and Chris, Elephant Butte, NM. 

But, where's Roxanne? Let's get some selfies!

  

Oh Judy, everything's fine. 

Judy said, "I think you have ... " CLICK!
"Do you think it's possible there's ..." CLICK!
"I'm pretty sure you've got ..." CLICK!
"Hold up a minute, your ..." CLICK! 










We're back "in town" briefly to care for some pups, and then we end our summer season in TorC and head for Arizona.

"Stopping briefly" - Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

Most everyone who lives here stopped briefly and forgot to start up.

I'm here tending David and Annie's home and herding their cats. Without meeting me, they invited me to come early and stay with them indoors. And I did. I'm so happy I accepted, because they're wonderful. It feels like I've always known them. They're comfortable, and kind, and funny, and deeply generous. When they left this morning we got verklemmt, as Annie said.

They both work at the Matthew 25 food pantry, and so did I - my first food pantry shift! That's half a day of hard work. Other people are working throughout the week to pick up donations, sort, arrange, and buy food. Others come in to vacuum and clean the pantry. This week they served over 100 households, and that's repeated every week. Each family is allowed one visit per month to the pantry, so over 400 households qualify for, and receive, a food package here in T or C.

I haven't taken any pictures. I haven't taken any pictures?? 

Rammed-earth construction - Datil

This is stalled, but rammed earth provides the thermal mass to allow a house to maintain a constant temperature year-round, without heating or cooling it.

Sunset from Sandia Peak, Albuquerque.

An unguarded moment in Las Cruces.

Santa Fe

I asked a shopkeeper in Taos where to find the church with the staircase built with no nails (stop me if you've heard this). She said Santa Fe. This traveling is hard on the location circuits.

~~~~~

Thank you for shopping through my Amazon link! 

TAhhhos, New Mexico and the Enchanted Quarter-circle

Santa Fe: I AM REALLY GLITTERY! LOOK AT ME! I SPARKLE!

Taos: Dude. You look awesome. Have a decaf.

Taos has a vibe, for sure. It's a destination that doesn't take itself so seriously. You can still buy great art, but you can park for free to shop for it. Looking for wifi? Taos would like to treat you at the public library (where you've parked for free anyway).

Stroll around the plaza (where you've already peed for free - NOT THAT tree - use the public restrooms down the beautiful "alley").

Talented buskers will serenade you while you buy (or don't). I'm a sucker for street performers. When forced to choose between buying a coffee and tipping a performer, I hesitate and feel remorse while adding my soy milk. Luckily, I don't have to choose yet.

A nut at the wheel
A peach to his right
A curve in the road
Fruit salad tonight

BurmaShave

I couldn't resist the jumbo bowl of fresh pineapple at Albertsons, even though I knew it would end in heartache and regret. This morning I did a major front-seat cleanup. I would do it all again.

Next to Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.

Did I or didn't I?

Eagle Nest and the area may be the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I tried to see it overnight, but no go there. A park ranger gave me tips for where to camp further into the dark, stormy mountains.

This is where I actually camped - BlackJack Tent Area (Cimarron Canyon)

My campsite along the Rio Grande was at 36.305442,-105.770558. Rio Bravo BLM Campground, up 570. It's just north of the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor's Center, and if you forget my directions, someone at the center will tell you where to find it.

If you have an interagency pass (and who DOESN'T??), you can tent camp for $3.50 and get water and electric for $7.50. Coin showers, shelters, hot water, flush toilets. Like you're back living with Mom.

~~~~~~~

Get Mom something nice from Amazon.