First NM post (with a little southern CO)

I’m nearly positive that I’ll have at least one more post from NM later in this trip, as we go to Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta, thus, the title for this post.

It’s REALLY dry. Like sand and rocks and cactus dry. There really wasn’t much to take pictures of around Santa Fe (where we spent a couple of days in a really nice, secluded B&B reading and sitting), until we went hiking in Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. That was really cool!

I just love striations of different colors in the rocks, and can’t stop taking pictures (I’ll refrain from overloading you, or at least I’ll try).

The tent rocks are made of soft pumice and tuff (volcanic ash that has been compacted) and have a cap of harder stone.

There was a slot canyon that we got to hike through, and this was a first for us.

Hopefully we’ll get to see many more in the future, as I was just mesmerized by the colors and shapes.

It got really narrow at times:

After the slot canyon, we saw some more tent rocks,

…on our way up to see the surrounding mesas.

Again with the tent rocks and color striations -

We then hiked back down through the slot canyon again

…before bidding adieu to the pretty rocks.

Entering southern CO, we immediately began seeing mountains and gorgeous swaths of aspens.

As with the striated rocks in NM, I couldn’t stop taking pictures of the aspens in CO.

Steve LOVED driving this scenic route on the way to Pueblo, CO.

We’ll be in south central CO for the next week, so stay tuned!