Today we decided to drive down to Aztec, Bloomfield and back to Farmington and Shiprock to visit Trading Posts and just take it easy. Driving down state highway 140 you see a change in landscape and vegetation. Starting at Hesperus, CO., you're in the mountains, cool, streams flowing, evergreen trees and within 50 miles you're in the desert and very arid climate, sandstone, cactus, yucca plants. What an extreme change in such a short distance.
Carol found some beads for her knitting projects and I stopped at a roadside concession and purchased a loaf of stone baked bread and some cinnamon buns from a Navajo lady. They also had some nice jewelry but we passed on it. We filled up with diesel, only $3.97 a gallon, it was $3.85 in Bloomfield, but I waited thinking I might find it cheaper. Saturday we plan on visiting the Anasazi Heritage Center and then look for some more dwellings or pueblos.
Farmers Market in Cortez.
Carol picking up some Pinto beans at the Farmers Market.
Wild violet daisies growing in Mesa Verde.
Indian Paint Brush in Mesa Verde.
The Yucca plant was everything for the Puebloans. From medicine and food, used for weaving shoes, baskets, to tie objects together, roots used for soap, strings for bows and much more. One of the rangers said it was the Walmart of the Anasazi (Ancient Ones). The prickly pear cactus was also an important resource.
Wild colors in this sandstone I saw along the trail to "Long House"
On top of the mesa at Meas Verde looking southeast towards Shiprock. Look real close, you can see the mysterious Shiprock in valley far below.
Looking the opposite direction towards Cortez and the "Canyons of the Ancients"
A Hogan on the Navajo reservation .
We've seen many pump jacks and oil wells. Notice the work over rig in the back ground.
Another one of my reptile friends. This guy was only 4" long and fast.
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