Sort of a weird name but a fun experience. The National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque hosts a World Music Festival.  Performers, both instrumental and dance, from around the world entertain and educate.  We caught the music programs from Zanzibar, Argentina and Columbia made a quick check into the Afro-Cuban Mambo dance session.  There is nothing innocent about those moves!  It looked like a lot of fun.

Lunch included curried chicken, lentil stew (much tastier than I envisioned), delicious jerk chicken and interesting fried plantains. The mango, ginger, lemonade complimented all the spice but was a bit sweet for my taste.  We didn’t waste any though.

SEEDS: a collective voice. Murals created entirely with seeds lined the walls of the exhibit hall.  Some are amazingly intricate, others a bit more folk artsy.  All are an expression of community and a call for organic and natural farming techniques and living local.  I liked the series about bees.

Rows of shops offered a wide range of items from international artists and craft persons. There were many wonderful pieces and all were promoted as a means to develop worldwide markets for these artists and an income stream for them and their communities.  Here is hoping that the lion’s share of money from these sales actually makes it to those individuals.

There is a drum circle. As we entered the grounds we walked past a collection of percussion instruments setting in the main plaza.  As the day wore on, people just dropped in, played a bit then dropped out as the spirit moved them.  Sort of a jam session I guess.  The beat is infectious and one can’t help but move to the rhythm as we pass.

Quite the narrow, twisty, steep ride but we are safely settled into a river-side site in Villanueva State Park along the Pecos.  A cliff top trail provides great views of the valley.  The only downside (not always a downside) is no phone service or TV and only one radio station.  I guess we will miss the first great debate!

The town of Bernalillo NM runs this little spot along the Rio Grande.  There is some traffic noise but generally peaceful and convenient for forays into Albuquerque.  I even heard coyotes a couple nights.  We’d recommend it

Charlie’s Spick and Span Bakery and Café (not a great name if you ask me but we got over it). Douglas Ave Las Vegas NM.

We skipped the real food and went straight for the baked goods. They are famous for their Ginormous Cream Puffs and filled long johns which looked delicious.  However, I couldn’t pass up the key lime bar, good choice as it turns out. Kent went for a glazed donut and an apple fritter to continue his nationwide taste comparison efforts.  Yep, go there if you get close.  Maybe even try some “real” food

The Colorado doesn’t run free for long.  Just beyond the north end of Havasu is Davis Dam and long narrow Lake Mohave.  We dropped 2700 feet from the relatively cool in the low 80s to lake side and a scorching 95F. It is breezy and the lake water is cold so it all balances out to fairly comfortable.  We will spend a couple days checking out the lake from Cottonwood Cove campground, part of Mead NRA.

That is the name of the band that was just starting a set when we arrived at the Desert Bar. There is plenty of grey hair, whiskers, cowboy hats and boots on stage.  All four guitarists are pretty fine lead vocalists which brings lots of variety. The music ranges from good ole country to rock and roll and even a bit of Elvis.  Not much else had changed since we visited the place a couple years ago except that the road out there was in awful shape.  The 5 mile trip out took us 45 minutes.  It’s a Jeep road, and as they say on numerous signs, not regularly maintained.   It was worth the trek for the music and the very spicy bloody mary.  Unfortunately no batter dipped fries this trip, they sold out.

They roam BLM land all along the California side of this section of the Colorado.  We have heard them every evening from our camp at Buckskin Mountain State Park on the Arizona bank and even caught a glimpse or two as they move among the houses across the river.  Today we decided to drive 95 along the California side where signs repeatedly admonish drivers to be alert for wild burros on the highway.  We have seen them along here before but this afternoon our quest got off to a very slow start.

We were not to be disappointed though. We sighted at least 15 borros.  Some just ignored us and went about their business of noshing on watered lawns or tasty tree boughs.   Some watched curiously.  Some even approached the car, with hopes for treats, I suppose.