New Mexico

In July, a group of us took a road trip on our bikes down to Santa Fe, New Mexico.   What a blast!

  

We took the back roads along the Sangre de Cristo mountains, enjoying the mountain breeze along the way and also managing to skirt a thunderstorm or two around Alamosa and northern New Mexico.  Let me just say that lightning storms in the Rockies on a bike can be a bit nerve racking!

Mountain pass through Angel Fire, NM.  This was one of my favorite parts!

Troy wondered at times what I was doing behind him... taking pics along the way, of course!  At times, I would hear him say something like, "Emily, quit moving around!"  For the most part I think I'm a pretty good passenger... it takes getting use to at first b/c I want to help drive by leaning, squeezing Troy's legs to slow down, etc.  You know... all the stuff a good wife should help with.  Just kidding, Hon.  ;)  ...and THAT is why I now have my own bike.

Station 20 CSFD crew... Jay, Clark, and Troy

While in Santa Fe, we visited the Loretto Chapel.  This is the church with the famous "miraculous stairway".  The stairs were built by a carpenter that showed up at the church after the Sisters of Loretto prayed for someone to come help the church with the access to the choir loft.  There is no center support and isn't held from the side.  After this carpenter built the stairs, he disappeared without seeking payment.

Of course, while you are in Santa Fe you must do a little shopping and also eat at the Blue Corn Cafe.

Downtown Santa Fe w/ a view of The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assissi

The buildings are gorgeous!

We visited Bandelier National Monument, which was fascinating to see.  The history of the Pueblo people was literally etched into the walls of their cave dwellings.  Petroglyphs were everywhere!

We hiked along the Frijoles Canyon to reach the "Alcove House" (formerly called Ceremonial Cave), which is a cliff dwelling reached by climbing long wooden ladders.  Troy and Clark had no problem with the ladders (kinda a job requirement for them), however, my hands got a little sweaty climbing that high up.  It is hard to tell from the pic how high we are, but those trees below are no small pine trees!

Oh, and "no thanks" and going down into the kiva we are standing on.

Some of the "homes" in the wall of the canyon.

Inside a Tyuonyi house.  It was a little bit dark in there!  ;)

Ahh... what a cute couple.

Where to next?  Once the snow melts here in CO, I think we will be headed somewhere warm. I'm thinking... a Laughlin, Lake Havasu, Grand Canyon bike trip sounds good!