Jemez Mountains

One beautiful day, we took the Jemez Mountain Trail Scenic Byway. We picked up New Mexico State Road 4 out of San Ysidro. This scenic road climbs up into the Jemez Mountains passing through Jemez Springs and on to Los Alamos. However, the scenic byway branches off onto State Road 126 and proceeds over the Jemez Mountains to Cuba, New Mexico.

Gillman Tunnels

These two tunnels were built by the Sante Fe Northwestern Railroad who no longer use them. They are located along Forest Road 376 about six miles west of NM 4. 

The road was temporarily closed just prior to the tunnels to all motor vehicles, so it made a great hiking trail.

The railroad tunnels were blasted out of the rock in the 1920's.

The tunnels ceased to be used by the railroad in the 1940's after continued flooding and were later converted into a narrow-paved mountain road.

We discovered a cascading waterfall after we emerged from the second tunnel.

The Guadalupe River drops down through this box canyon.

The road continues 11 miles beyond the tunnels, but we returned to the truck.

Jemez State Historical Site

The State Historic Site is located in the town of Jemez Springs. This Gisewa Village was built in the 14th century. 

Restored Kiva

Access through the roof.

The San Jose de los Jemez Mission was built in the 1620's by the Spanish on top of some of the ancient foundations.

The Franciscans abandoned the mission in 1640 after only 20 years.

Fenton State Park

The paved portion of NM 126 ended at a fish hatchery, three miles past the state park. After all the recent monsoon rains, we chose to return to San Ysidro instead of completing the loop over the mountains on the unimproved mountain road.

Fenton State Park is 8 miles west on NM 126.

Soda Dam Hot Springs

This interesting formation along the Jemez River is made up of calcium carbonate and travertine. This is the result of a grouping of fifteen hot springs.  The deposit has built up over 7,000 years.

The river flows through the dome-like bridge created by the deposition of these minerals.

The hot spring water is heated by volcanic magma of the Valles Caldera.

Albuquerque

Returning to Cochiti Lake COE we completed a 500-mile, 8-week, circle loop tour of northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado.

Albuquerque ABQ Bio-Park Zoo

This is a very nice modern zoo that seems to be undergoing continuous improvements.

The flamingos are always fun to watch.

This handsome lion was keeping his eye on us.

Petroglyph National Monument

We visited the Boca Negra Canyon section of this National Monument, northwest of downtown.

Over 24,000 images carved by ancestorial Pueblo People have been identified, preserved, and documented in the Monument.

This looks like a piranha. We don't think they were in New Mexico.

El Pinto Restuarant

We are finding ourselves enjoying all the New Mexico Restaurants. We returned to El Pinto after stopping here for dinner in the Spring of 2013.

New Mexico Hatch Chilies adorn the front entry.

Los Alamos - The Atomic City

Los Alamos

Los Alamos is about 50 miles south of our "home" at Abiquiu Lake. The city became famous for its role in the WWII Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was an unprecedented, top-secret program implemented to design and build an atomic bomb.

Since Los Alamos is built on the top of three adjoined mesas, during the 1940's this road and gatehouse was the only way into the town.

Kurt standing between Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves.

Fuller Lodge was built in 1928 as the dining hall for the Los Alamos Ranch Boys School. This was used for meetings and housing scientists and visitors, during the height of developing the Atom Bomb. 

This historic lodge was built using 771 massive pine logs.

Adjacent to the Fuller Lodge is the Guest House used by General Leslie Groves who was the commander of the Manhattan Project. The house is now used as a History Museum.

Along Bathtub Row is Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer's home.

Physicist Hans Bethe's House and General Groves 1947 Plymouth.

Los Alamos Nature Center & Planetarium

Bradbury Science Museum dedicated to nuclear exhibits.

Redeemer Lutheran Church, our church home for two weeks.

Valles Caldera (VAH-yes) National Preserve

This 89,000-acre newest national preserve encompasses an ancient volcano.

This monstrous caldera is about 13.7 miles across. It is believed that when it erupted the result was 500 times greater than that of Mt. St. Helen's.

Fused ash from this volcano's eruptions is what produced the tuff from which Bandelier cliff dwellings were carved.

Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway

We took this 84-mile scenic byway beginning at Taos encircling Wheeler Peak, the highest peak in New Mexico at 13,161-foot elevation. The Byway continued by passing through Eagles Nest and Angel Fire, returning to Taos. 

Los Luceros State Historic Site

We stopped at this historic ranch, that is now a New Mexico State Historic Site north of the town of Espanola. This property was originally inhabited about 1200 AD by Tewa-speaking Puebloans.

The 148-acre ranch also houses a chapel built in the mid-1800's. 

The Hacienda, also called Casa Grande (Great House), was built in 1703.

The upstairs Grand Salon houses a Steinway grand piano.

Los Luceros borders along the Rio Grande River.

Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Our circle tour took us to Rio Grande del Norte, which consists of 245,000 acres of public land.

Wild Rivers Recreation Area is located within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

Big horn sheep enjoying lunch at the La Junta Point Campground.

A dramatic view from La Junta Point overlooks the confluence of the Red River and the Rio Grande River.

La Juanta Trail descends 800 feet into the gorge below.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

In 1964 Doc Westphall and his wife, purchased over 80 acres near Angel Fire, New Mexico, with the intention of building a resort. On May 22, 1968, their eldest son, Lt. David Westphall was killed in action. The couple chose to build a chapel on the site to honor his service and sacrifice as well as the sacrifice of other US veterans. The chapel was completed in 1971, making it the first memorial in the US to be dedicated to Vietnam Veterans.

Huey 64-13670 was used as a smoke screen ship in 1967.

The Peace and Brotherhood Chapel

Inside the chapel