From our perch high above camp we can see up the Pecos River valley.  The river meanders through lush green hayfields and between homesteads.  We watch farmers baling hay.  Cattle lull in the shade; one has a calf close by her side.  A pick up with stock trailer rolls past the cattle.  They pay little mind, at first.  All at once the cattle are running wildly.  They seem to be chasing the stock trailer that is now moving back toward the road.  A loud mournful sound erupts from the black and white “mama” cow.  She trots after the pickup trying to keep up but is stopped abruptly as the gate is latched between her and her calf.  She paces, stands, moves along the fence line, and runs in circles all the while emitting that sad, sad sound.  Almost makes one consider being a vegetarian.

Did you know that there is such a thing as performance casting? Pouring molten metal is a spectator sport.  Very cool I would say.  Even cooler?  Dashuhua….the throwing of molten metal up against the wall, in the dark no less.  They claim it is very spectacular with lots of sparks and a sort of firestorm.  Sounds a bit crazy too but I’d love to see it.  We will have to be on the watch for it as we travel; the performance here in Las Vegas took place at their motorcycle rally back in July.

If I can see it clearly out the windshield as we are driving down the road, that’s a big spider. I suspect it was a tarantula but it doesn’t really matter.  Yikes.  By the way, no, Kent did not run over it!

Meadow City Music Festival and Studio Tour sponsored by the Arts Council of Las Vegas. The above is their hashtag.  I like it.

Las Vegas is not exactly buzzing with activity but the plaza and surrounding streets are certainly much busier than when I walked through mid week.  The Arts Council studio tour includes 16 locations each showcasing local artists’ work.  My favorite stop was the   Highlands University Art Foundry.  Students learn pattern and mold making including lost wax and lost foam plus the more traditional wooden patterns and green sand.  They have mini cupola style furnaces so they can melt and pour pieces in brass or iron.  Besides the showy casting methods they also learn welding, have a forge, and even a hammer mill.  It’s just like making valves and fittings only a little more of the creative side makes it through to the final product.  One artist makes eco dyed silk using biomaterial from the area, rolling it up in a piece of raw or finished silk and steaming it some how.  The results are beautiful but I couldn’t think how I might use the fabric so I didn’t bring any home.

A series of performers takes the stage in the plaza. We heard Taiko Drummers, some “ok” rock, and some quality but pretty twangy country. Kent caught the singing dog contest…I missed it as I was wandering about checking out studios.

The weekend included workshops in song writing, rhythm and jam sessions all targeted for the aspiring artists who would bring their fledgling works to further develop and share. Seems like it could be a great creative event…we enjoyed being spectators.

It means “white cliffs” in the language of the Pueblo de Cochiti and those cliffs are the home of Tent Rocks National Monument.  Volcanic eruptions more than 6 million years ago deposited beautifully colored layers of pumice and tuft more than 1000 feet thick.  In time since, water and wind have sculpted that rock creating canyons and arroyos.  Erosion resistant boulders and cap rocks protect sections of the softer stone resulting in teepee shaped tent rock structures.  Fast moving flash flood waters cut narrow canyons as the water races downward. Our trail today takes us back into the narrow, twisting path of one of those slot canyons then up onto the mesa to look down upon where we have just been.  The canyon shade is amazingly cool on this bright sunny day and it is great fun to wind our way through the narrow pathway.  From atop the mesa we can see mountain ranges 36 miles away dotted with splotches of yellow aspen; the early signs of Fall.  A bird’s eye view of those weird tent rocks is very cool.

White cliffs was a busy place today with many families and foreign visitors. It got really busy when the two buses of grade school kids and all their chaperones showed up!  We stayed ahead of the throng through the canyon, which was a good thing.  They seemed to enjoy clambering among the rocks and experimenting with the phenomena of echoes.  I can see why it would be a popular place to get kids out-of-doors.

Just outside of Las Vegas NM we came upon a string of rock pools where hot springs spill into the river.   It was all once part of a resort but the area is now maintained by locals and free for all to enjoy.  We have seen similar pools in Colorado but this time we actually found one of them un-occupied and just the right temperature.  We tried a soak.  One has to be tolerant of a little moss but if you are ok with that, it feels great.  Oh, there is no where to change clothes except in the surrounding brush since the changing room is now locked up.  That’s a bit awkward but doable.  We hung out for an hour or so.  It felt wonderful.  The original resort, now called Montezuma Castle, is part of United World College and still stands on a hill high above the springs.  They give tours sometimes.

Refuge road Last time

We took the loop drive through Las Vegas NWR, Las Vegas NM.  Thankfully they have rebuilt the road since our last visit when we were hubcap deep in mud.  The drive was pretty quiet since most of the migrating waterfowl have moved on.

The elk were out though. First we heard them bugling then spotted a bull and his harem.  A band of noisy challengers was casing out the group looking for an opening to snatch some of the girls away.

The refuge is mostly open prairie so there are lots of hawks. I am still in the process of trying to identify exactly which species.

We go for a walk. The trail cuts through a seemingly endless rolling short grass prairie.  Ripe grasses moving in golden waves are dotted with tufts of nearly spent sunflowers and brilliant blues and whites of late season wildflowers.  The smell of Fall envelopes us (and makes us sneeze).  Hidden from view until we are nearly upon it is a narrow box canyon.  It is an amazing micro-climate that includes tall grasses, cat tails and cottonwood trees; completely different than the grassland path that led us here.  We spot mule deer and hear the drone of some pesky mosquitoes.

For centuries people have passed through here as they move from the Great Plains to the high mountains.  The area is now known as Glorieta Pass but long before that name it was watched over by the peoples of the Pecos Pueblo followed by traders who settled what is now Pecos, New Mexico.  The ruins of the Pueblo at Pecos recall a huge village perched atop a perfectly situated mesa positioned squarely in the path of all who approached.  It was defensible and perfect for trade from both sides.  The Spanish came through in the quest for riches and the drive to expand their empire.  Other tribes came through and traded but also raided the Pecos Pueblo.  Eventually location was the downfall of the Pueblo and the last residents departed, the huge adobe and stone structure began its return to nature.  The ruins are protected within the Pecos National Historic Park.

In what is now part of the same National Historic Park they commemorate and preserve the story and location of the Gettysburg of the West, The Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass.  A force of determined Texans moved up the Pecos River in attempt to take claim of New Mexico and parts of California in an effort to expand the confederacy and control western ports.  They were met and ultimately turned back by an equally determined union force.  This defeat is considered the end of confederate attempts to expand in the west much like the Gettysburg defeat ended attempts to strike North in the east.

Shops and more shops, the vast majority show casing crafts and creations of New Mexican and Mexican artists. You could build an entire wardrobe and decorate a mansion from along these streets.  We just window shopped…except at the candy store where we had to try the pinon nut penuche and a dark chocolate dipped orange slice.

The streets and square bustle with activity. There is a wedding setup in the square and another party taking pictures.  Yet another is loudly taking laps around the plaza in their limo.  A parade of restored ‘50s cars passes by.  Passers by stop to admire and haggle at blankets loaded with silver and turquoise jewelry that line the sidewalks.  Guitar, flute, and drum music floats to the streets from tiny alley-side courtyards.