September 23st, 2005
I actually did make it to Williams, AZ today which was the plan. I'm in a Motel 6 on Route 66. Still on Route 66 despite my zigzagging.
We'll see about the train tomorrow or if I'm just going to plan the Grand Canyon for another time. To be honest, I'm pretty spent now after this marathon and anything that's going to involve queueing behind busloads of fellow tourists doesn't really sound that grand at the moment. I can't book my ticket online so I'll get up early and call about the train excursion. I'll probably do it if they have seats in the good coach available. Otherwise I'm going to begin the long journey back to San Francisco from here early and probably camp at a place I know of along the way then come in through 101 since I seem to remember something about Bay Bridge construction this weekend.
If I skip the canyon and get another night of camping in with enough daylight to set up and relax that would probably be a better capper to the trip than rushing up to the grand canyon, snapping a few photos and rushing back to California. My night in Texas at the campsite with the raccoon was incredible. I spent a good hour just stargazing. People don't stargaze in cities because it's not possible. It's really hard these days to escape light pollution.
So anyway, I got a souvenier. A log drum from Taos Drums. It's not small. Half the back seat is reserved for it. It's a hand made drum (they make them there) no Cosmic Percussion knockoff. The smell bothered me for a while in that small car but I'm either used to it or it's mellowed out. Probably both. You got to figure two giant slabs of animal hide are gonna give off a certain aroma that may not be exactly floral.
So I hit Bandelier and whatnot. Took a few hundred photos and still drove 500 miles. I'll spare you all of them, here's a few highlights:
New Mexico Still Life I
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier, New Mexico
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier, New Mexico
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier, New Mexico
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier, New Mexico
New Mexico Still Life II
Jemez State Monument
Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico
New Mexico
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