We went into the Navaho Nation today. Leaving Gallup twice (forgot my camera once) we headed North on 491 to 264. We drove to the city of Window Rock which is the capital of the nation. They have a nice visitor center and museum. We drove the short distance to the Window Rock which has been changed into a park and war memorial.
We bought some blue corn mush and ate it for lunch. Stopped by the local market and looked at some of their stuff. Judy bought some pinon nuts and some beads. Off we went to Hubble trading post in the town of Ganado which is now a national monument.
It has been in continuous operation since 1878 taking in native products such as rugs, sheep, wool, and jewelry and giving out money, food and other supplies in exchange. The public can buy the rugs, jewelry and crafts from a non-profit management company.
We took a tour of the Hubble home which was filled with many native objects. It was a very fun day……….. We have been steeped in the native culture. I have enjoyed it so much. And sun.
Day 41 Wednesday April 20
Today was a day around Gallup. We went to the visitor center, the Native Cultural Center, the Rex Museum were our “guide” said his family has lived in the area for 180 years. We drove around town looking at some of the old architecture. For lunch we ate at the El Rancho Hotel where famous movie stars stayed when they were making moving in the area. Checked out the Catholic cathedral in case we were here for Easter. We drove a little ways out of town to Red Rock park which is a city park with lots of RV spaces, a museum we went through, convention center, rodeo grounds and hiking trails. They did a great job putting the park together. And we even went into a few bead/jewelry stores.
Day 42 Thursday April 21
We went to Chaco Canyon today which is a national historic park. We drove from Exit 16 to exit 53 on I-10, then heading north to highway 57. Highway 57 was paved all except the last 20 miles which was very rough in places. Out in the middle of no where we believe we saw a wolf. We know it was not a coyote because of the color and long legs. Chaco Pueblo dwellings are spectacular with multistory buildings, large kivas and plazas. We visited some pictographs and walked through several of the pueblos. The pueblos were discovered in 1849 and were excavated in 1920-1927. The pueblos were started in about 850 and were mostly occupied to about 1200. Some have been back filled for preservation. Pueblo Bonito is the most famous having hundred of rooms
and many kivas (round holes in the ground).
They think Pueblo Bonita was mostly ceremonial while the other pueblos in the area were mainly for dwelling. There were 400 miles of roads linking a large number of pueblos. It was an amazing site to visit.
Day 43 Friday April 22
We drove to the Zuni Pueblo today to look around. They however were not too interested in having visitors. We stopped at the visitors center where they told us where we could drive which was very limited, where we were not even suppose to look, and that no photography was allowed today. After stopping at a few jewelry stores and the museum, we headed out of town stopping to buy a loaf of “Zuni bread.” They seem to be a very secretive society as compared to the Navaho who want lots of visitors to see how well they are doing as a nation. Off we went to El Morro National Monument where there is a huge sandstone cliff where people have been putting inscription for many years.
It was a stopping place because of a huge pool of water collected off the hills. It apparently has never been dry. The first Spanish entry on the wall was in 1650 with US military in the 1860’s and entries to 1904 when the place became a national monument. An amazing place to see. On the way back to Gallup, we stopped at another trading post where Judy finally found a bought herself a “naja”, a special pendant design.
Day 44 Saturday April 23
Today we went to the Gallup Market which is held every Saturday. There are roughly 300 vendors and you can get anything there: hay, rabbits, dogs, jewelry, new windshield, food, corn (ground and whole, white, yellow, blue), Indian ceremonial items, and junk.
We had a Navaho taco for lunch which was good and also inexpensive. Also, there were very few gringo’s there. After spending a few hours there, we stopped by Safeway for a few items and managed to survive the hordes of shoppers at Wal-Mart doing their Easter/weekend shopping. Then we went back home and kicked back the rest of the day.
Day 45 Sunday April 24 HAPPY EASTER
After breakfast, showered and went to the local Catholic cathedral, Sacred Heart Church, for the 11 o’clock high mass. Rain and thunderstorms today. Lamb for dinner.
Day 46 Monday April 25
We left Gallup and headed north on 491 to Cortez, Colorado. Road was very poor with pot holes and bumps. In Cortez took 160 east to the entrance of Mesa Verde, crossing over the road to A and A RV park space 50. After lunch, we drove to Cortez visitor and picked up a few things in town. We headed into Mesa Verde National Park going to the visitor center and then the museum.
Saw some wild horses along the way and three deer. They had two inches of snow at the RV park last night.
Drove 147 miles today.
Day 47 Tuesday April 26
We woke up to snow flurries this morning and freezing temperature. Forgot to pay my property tax so happily friend Karen reminded me so I mailed it in Cortez this morning. Then we headed off to Mesa Verde where it was in the 30’s most of the day, with blustery winds and a few early snow flurries. We did manage to drive all the roads and stop at the vistas.
Not much hiking today. Burr…..!!!! But a very fun day.
Day 48 Wednesday April 27
We left Cortez, sunny but cold, and headed East on 160. We went over Wolf Creek Pass, elevation 10,800 feet and still lots of snow.
None on the road. Stopped for the night at South Fork (Rio Grand River) at South Fork RV park space 4. We got set up and headed out for some rock hounding. Drove to a town called Del Norte and headed north a few miles. We found a bunch of chalcedony but not some of the agate the book promised.
Perhaps we did not quite make the right spot but it was fun anyhow.
Drove 162 miles today.
Day 41 Wednesday April 20
Today was a day around Gallup. We went to the visitor center, the Native Cultural Center, the Rex Museum were our “guide” said his family has lived in the area for 180 years. We drove around town looking at some of the old architecture. For lunch we ate at the El Rancho Hotel where famous movie stars stayed when they were making moving in the area. Checked out the Catholic cathedral in case we were here for Easter. We drove a little ways out of town to Red Rock park which is a city park with lots of RV spaces, a museum we went through, convention center, rodeo grounds and hiking trails. They did a great job putting the park together. And we even went into a few bead/jewelry stores.
Day 42 Thursday April 21
We went to Chaco Canyon today which is a national historic park. We drove from Exit 16 to exit 53 on I-10, then heading north to highway 57. Highway 57 was paved all except the last 20 miles which was very rough in places. Out in the middle of no where we believe we saw a wolf. We know it was not a coyote because of the color and long legs. Chaco Pueblo dwellings are spectacular with multistory buildings, large kivas and plazas. We visited some pictographs and walked through several of the pueblos. The pueblos were discovered in 1849 and were excavated in 1920-1927. The pueblos were started in about 850 and were mostly occupied to about 1200. Some have been back filled for preservation. Pueblo Bonito is the most famous having hundred of rooms
and many kivas (round holes in the ground). They think Pueblo Bonita was mostly ceremonial while the other pueblos in the area were mainly for dwelling. There were 400 miles of roads linking a large number of pueblos. It was an amazing site to visit.Day 43 Friday April 22
We drove to the Zuni Pueblo today to look around. They however were not too interested in having visitors. We stopped at the visitors center where they told us where we could drive which was very limited, where we were not even suppose to look, and that no photography was allowed today. After stopping at a few jewelry stores and the museum, we headed out of town stopping to buy a loaf of “Zuni bread.” They seem to be a very secretive society as compared to the Navaho who want lots of visitors to see how well they are doing as a nation. Off we went to El Morro National Monument where there is a huge sandstone cliff where people have been putting inscription for many years.
It was a stopping place because of a huge pool of water collected off the hills. It apparently has never been dry. The first Spanish entry on the wall was in 1650 with US military in the 1860’s and entries to 1904 when the place became a national monument. An amazing place to see. On the way back to Gallup, we stopped at another trading post where Judy finally found a bought herself a “naja”, a special pendant design.
Day 44 Saturday April 23
Today we went to the Gallup Market which is held every Saturday. There are roughly 300 vendors and you can get anything there: hay, rabbits, dogs, jewelry, new windshield, food, corn (ground and whole, white, yellow, blue), Indian ceremonial items, and junk.
We had a Navaho taco for lunch which was good and also inexpensive. Also, there were very few gringo’s there. After spending a few hours there, we stopped by Safeway for a few items and managed to survive the hordes of shoppers at Wal-Mart doing their Easter/weekend shopping. Then we went back home and kicked back the rest of the day.Day 45 Sunday April 24 HAPPY EASTER
After breakfast, showered and went to the local Catholic cathedral, Sacred Heart Church, for the 11 o’clock high mass. Rain and thunderstorms today. Lamb for dinner.
Day 46 Monday April 25
We left Gallup and headed north on 491 to Cortez, Colorado. Road was very poor with pot holes and bumps. In Cortez took 160 east to the entrance of Mesa Verde, crossing over the road to A and A RV park space 50. After lunch, we drove to Cortez visitor and picked up a few things in town. We headed into Mesa Verde National Park going to the visitor center and then the museum.
Saw some wild horses along the way and three deer. They had two inches of snow at the RV park last night.Drove 147 miles today.
Day 47 Tuesday April 26
We woke up to snow flurries this morning and freezing temperature. Forgot to pay my property tax so happily friend Karen reminded me so I mailed it in Cortez this morning. Then we headed off to Mesa Verde where it was in the 30’s most of the day, with blustery winds and a few early snow flurries. We did manage to drive all the roads and stop at the vistas.
Not much hiking today. Burr…..!!!! But a very fun day.Day 48 Wednesday April 27
We left Cortez, sunny but cold, and headed East on 160. We went over Wolf Creek Pass, elevation 10,800 feet and still lots of snow.
None on the road. Stopped for the night at South Fork (Rio Grand River) at South Fork RV park space 4. We got set up and headed out for some rock hounding. Drove to a town called Del Norte and headed north a few miles. We found a bunch of chalcedony but not some of the agate the book promised. Perhaps we did not quite make the right spot but it was fun anyhow.Drove 162 miles today.
and were lucky enough to meet up with a special tour of high school kids so we managed to see more than the average visitor. 
The 27 dishes the size of base ball diamonds are arranged in the shape of a “Y” and can be moved to different positions.
Very interesting two hours. Afterward we finished our drive to St Johns, AZ by turning North on 191 outside of Springerville. We will be stopping for a few days in St. Johns staying at Moon Meadows RV park space 102. After setting up we went to see my friend Helen for a couple of hours.
We spent the morning roaming around with me showing her some of the special places, the petrified wood, and pretty rocks.
We ate lunch at the shelter I had made several years ago, and it was still standing.
We went home in early afternoon and made a dinner to fix over an open fire. So we drove back to the shelter, built a fire and cooked our dinner and watched the sun set. It was a very nice day.
After lunch we took the back road to highway 191 and on the way Judy spotted three elk off in the distance.
They were nice enough to stick around and let me take a picture. In Springerville we stopped at Bashas grocery store to pick up a few things. Cooked dinner on the BBQ as it was not windy tonight.
The formation in which the petrified wood was formed in the park is the same one as my property near St. Johns. I believe the reason my wood is not as colored as in the park is that the local environment has a very important roll. High water levels above the log is a reducing environment giving colored metal salts of iron and possible mine area was in shallow water. Mine also appears to be more black which is attributed to manganese rather then iron. Besides petrified wood, we saw a pueblo, pictographs,
and pretty vistas of Chinle formation. At the Painted Desert Inn we had a personal talk with the artist in residence who was a photographer.
Very fun day, warm and not too windy. Ate out at a restaurant named Corky’s and had a Navaho taco.
Did a little clean up of a small area where previous owners lived.-nails, screws, burnt cans, etc.
We drove the road to the top of the mountain and took a two short hikes taking in the scenery. 
We ate lunch on the top of a mountain visiting with a nice couple who are full time RVers for the last 18 years. There was rain around and we got a few drops with lots of wind. We drove out the monument and took 186 to 191 north cutting off left to the Dragoon Road back to I-10 and back to the RV park. 
Can’t tell for sure until the rocks are all cleaned up. We drove around a bit stopping to check out various places. After going around the mountain we found a better road out of where we were, coming out at San Simon 14 miles East of Bowie. It was windy and temperature was in the mid-70’s so we had a pleasant day weather wise. Only critters we saw were cows and a few birds. Fun day. Hot tub after dinner. Can’t wait to clean up those rocks. 
Got up to 95 today so we quit early. We decided to go to the 
He is the well known guy who painted little Mexican kids with round eyes. We went over to Craig and Wanda’s for rib dinner (
What was really neat is that his great-great-great grandfather was one of the soldiers at the fort at the time. They also had soldiers who fired muskets and a cannon.
Our friend Wanda was dressed in period costume and acted as a greeter for visitors coming into the fort. We went home and cooled off as it was hotter than yesterday. At about 5:30 we went back to Craig and Wanda’s who took us to a Mexican restaurant which served good fish dishes. Yummy. Very fun hot day. 
Walked around town (main street) stopping in at Big Nose Kate’s salon. We had a beer and listened to this old guy play a piano and sing. We had our pictures taken there with “western gear” on.
Very touristy place and a lot of people. On the way back the mountains were 
We road a small mining train about 1500 feet into the mine stopping several times to look at different mining operations. Unbelievably there are over 2000 miles of tunnels under the mountain. Our guide was an old time retired miner and was a delight in his presentation and knowledge. Fun trip. Afterwards, we drove to the local huge open pit mine. No tours but an overview.
It is still operational but did not look very busy. Went to lunch then walked around town a bit. We hit a whole bunch of “antique” type shops. Most stuff was very pricey. Drove back home a different way. 
It appears to me that these cliffs break off pieces which fall on the ground and get covered up with dirt. The occasional rain then reshapes them a little. Had a nice dinner and then the hot tub again.