June 3, 2013
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Unpaid Monday
It was a cool day for June. I definitely noticed the humidity. Got a lot accomplished. Cats “furminated”. Photos printed. Mail picked up at post office…bills paid. Spaghetti, salad & garlic bread for supper. Garden still too wet to do much. Ran out of energy before I reached the bottom of the list, so a few things transfer over to tomorrow’s list.
Meanwhile, back when we were in Colorado…
On Memorial Day we went to Mesa Verde.
The museum and movie helped put the history in perspective. I had no clue that the Indians in the Southwest grew and wove cotton back in the earliest centuries. They domesticated dogs and turkeys. An interesting combination. It was quite a civilization that traded with other tribes to the north and the south. Dennis and I hiked down to the Spruce Tree Pueblo. 
We drove around to all the different Pueblos in the park, but just looked down at them, rather than hike down. Many of them required guided tours and only limited numbers of people could go down to them.We had Navajo Tacos at the restaurant at Mesa Verde. Then we headed to Four Corners. On the way back from Four Corners to Pagosa Springs, we stopped at this Denny’s.
Tuesday was the balloon ride! That was the most fun thing we did (in my opinion).
Riding in a hot air balloon was on my bucket list. I try to get one thing crossed off every year. I’m usually successful. The balloon ride took most of the morning. That afternoon we hiked up to chimney rock to see the “pit” houses of a group of Indians that pre-dated the Pueblo Indians…if I understood the history of the movie and what the guide told us. It was a rugged hike (my mom opted out of going) and you had to be accompanied by a guide…wear sturdy shoes, a hat, and bring water. There was a long list of the dangers we might encounter on the hike up to chimney rock. Fortunately no snakes or wild animals were on the path. No one fell off the side of the mountain or into cactus.
This is the “kiva” or ceremonial “pit” near chimney rock. 
This is the view from near the top. Photos just cannot capture the beauty of the landscape.
