NM ADVENTURE - Day 1 PM

The car rental process went smoothly and I was soon driving northward on I-25 and 40-W to Riconada Canyon at Petroglyphs National Monument in Albuquerque.  Visitors must hike along a 1-1/2 mile trail at the base of a winding hillside covered with huge volcanic boulders from the recent Sante Fe formation dating from about 200,000 years ago.  Supposedly the site contains over 24,000 petroglyphs created by the Pueblo people between 1300 to 1600.  My expectations were very high for this location, but I was disappointed at how few I had found, probably less than 10 that were worth photographing.  The hike was easy and very welcomed after sitting on jets the entire morning.  I enjoyed the sight of a red-tailed hawk soaring above and common crows or ravens calling from the distant hills.


After my petroglyph adventure, I began a 3-1/2 hour drive northwest on Route 550 through the Zia, Jemez and Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservations, where political signs for "Lynda Lovejoy - Navajo Nation President 2010" dotting the roadside beneath sandstone cliffs.  


Rising elevation exposed new geological layers of time. I enjoyed photographing the  colorful formations in the warm afternoon sun.  After crossing the Continental Divide at 7,000 ft the Colorado Plateau was an amazing expanse of high desert.  The New Mexico desert landscape from Albuquerque northward was almost void of any vegetation except for the beautiful ochre colored rabbit bush and spectacular golden aspens along the Rio Grande and every other small riverbed. 


Near Cuba, I photographed some free roaming sheep along the roadside, surprisingly they were under the watchful eye of a black border collie that accompanied them.  As I approached San Juan County trees returned to the landscape. The low setting sun illuminated some very golden aspens bordering a horse farm near Farmington.  


Farmington also offered some vintage signage and lighting that made for interesting shots in the dusk light after sunset.   I checked in to the Hampton Inn where fresh Macadamia Nut cookies and coffee welcomed me.


P.S. -I'm sorry to report that I forgot to bring my card reader and I'm currently not able to upload photos to share along the way.  Gallery to follow as soon as I'm able.