I pulled into the El Morro Campgrounds yesterday afternoon. This morning I headed for the tow mile trail. El Morro is a huge sandstone bluff rising 200 feet up from the surrounding desert. A small pool rests at the bottom, fed by runoff from the rock faces after thunderstorms and snow melts. This has made it an attractive place for 10,000 years. Petroglyphs stand side by side with Spanish inscriptions from the 1700-1800's and American inscriptions from the 1800-1900's as travelers passing through wrote their own form of graffiti. Petroglyphs are pictures cut or chiseled into the soft rock face while pictographs are paintings on the rock.
A two mile trail leads along the base of the bluffs and up 200 feet to the top. Surprisingly, a box canyon 100-150 feet deep is up there. Also on the top are the Atsina Ruins. These are a series of pueblos built in the 1200's. Only a corner of the ruins have been excavated but it is believed they consist of almost 900 room, not all of which were used at one time, and supported over 1000 people.
04/05/01:
I wanted to stop off at Chaco Culture National Historic Park on the way to Farmington but didn't see any signs for it. By the time I decided to look at the directions I was well past the turnoff so I kept on going. NM 371 is another wonderful drive with huge sandstone bluffs along the road. At least the first 25 miles or so of the 100+ mile road. The rest of it was flat and barren although several mesas sat several miles away.
So I drove the 200 miles to Farmington. I got the ding in my windshield fixed there. They have a machine that forces resin into the ding that is supposed to prevent it from cracking. You have to get it before any cracks start. $25 is a lot better than $300. I also ordered a new radiator which is to be installed tomorrow. $220... ouch!
So here I sit at Navajo Lake. It looks like some interesting paddling. Unfortunately it is overcast with a 20-30 mph wind blowing. I don't know what I'm going to do after the radiator is installed tomorrow, probably leave New Mexico so I probably won't get to paddle this lake.
04/06/01:
Got the radiator installed this morning after it finally got delivered from Albuquerque. From there I drove up US 666 to the Mesa Verde National Park. As soon as I got into Colorado all kinds of bluffs, mesas and other formation appeared. Great stuff.
Unfortunately the campgrounds at Mesa Verde are closed till April 20th. I found a place to park in the San Juan National Forest. The only problem is the mountains are covered with snow and snow is forecast tonight at 7000 feet. It has been alternating between heavy flurries and bright sunshine since I got here. I'll have to play it by ear. I may end up in Wal-Mart's parking lot in Cortez before the night is over.