Sunday, April 20. 2008
Getting out of Dodge
The last few days? Bought a bed, went and picked it up in Grand Junction (longest day ever), then got sick and missed three days of work. Decided it was time to head to warmer pastures and ended up at Chaco Culture National Park near Nageezi, NM. It was our first time visiting New Mexico and was well worth it.
The park was very isolated and we spent a good 8 miles bouncing along a dirt road to get to the gate. Before that dirt road there was a sign that said the campground: FULL. Uh oh. We didn't spend too much time worrying about it though because the sign was so far away from the actual entrance to the park that I wouldn't imagine anyone would go and change it during the day. We headed straight to the campground (it was technically outside the park limits), grabbed a sign in envelope, and started scouring the sites. While looking someone alerted us that they were leaving and we could park outside their spot and wait for them. Yay! It was one of the neatest campgrounds we've seen in a NP. Our site was awesome, the perfect place to sit around a fire and appreciate the park. We didn't do any real hiking because I was still feeling kind of lousy but since it is a culture park a lot of the features didn't require too much walking. Here are a few pics for your enjoyment! (Click to enlarge)
If you only want to look at a few make sure you choose 'Pueblo Bonito from the inside' and 'Fajada Butte'. Those are the best two for getting an idea of the park as a whole.
The park was very isolated and we spent a good 8 miles bouncing along a dirt road to get to the gate. Before that dirt road there was a sign that said the campground: FULL. Uh oh. We didn't spend too much time worrying about it though because the sign was so far away from the actual entrance to the park that I wouldn't imagine anyone would go and change it during the day. We headed straight to the campground (it was technically outside the park limits), grabbed a sign in envelope, and started scouring the sites. While looking someone alerted us that they were leaving and we could park outside their spot and wait for them. Yay! It was one of the neatest campgrounds we've seen in a NP. Our site was awesome, the perfect place to sit around a fire and appreciate the park. We didn't do any real hiking because I was still feeling kind of lousy but since it is a culture park a lot of the features didn't require too much walking. Here are a few pics for your enjoyment! (Click to enlarge)
If you only want to look at a few make sure you choose 'Pueblo Bonito from the inside' and 'Fajada Butte'. Those are the best two for getting an idea of the park as a whole.
On the road to the park. There was a guy waving a big orange flag. Adam thought he needed a ride. I on the other hand new it would be something else but I was expecting it to be a piece of machinery
Adam at the park entrance. Wearing his pajamas.
Our beautiful campsite!
Pueblo Bonito - the largest great house
Pueblo Bonito from the inside.
Danielle and the ruins
They must have been a small people
Fajada Butte
Adam around the fire. Yes, that's a pallet ON TOP OF THE FIRE RING. It made me nervous for a very long time.
Home sweet home! Kind of...
Before all this other stuff happened I made this blanket dog for my friend Katie's baby. It was huge. Note to self: from now on look at the dimensions on the pattern packet.
