Thursday, June 20, 2013

Mesa Verde...Day 1

Enterprise Rentals showed up promptly at 10:00 am yesterday morning and after a visit to their office to sign paperwork the adventure began. Mesa Verde is just 10 miles east of Cortez  and we were in the park by 10:30.  Next was the climb to the mesa and a trip to Chapin Mesa and the park Headquarters a trip of 20 miles, total miles yesterday to and from and in the park was 100 miles. Here is a sample of the roads and views.

The valley below as we climb to the Mesa.

Another look.

Twisty, turny roads. The most popular sign in the park is the u-curve sign with the 15 mph limit.

A few hills to climb. The decision to leave Mel back at the park was a good one.

Park headquarters at Chapin Mesa.

Our first view of a cliff house, this is the Spruce Tree House.

Stabilized, but not restored.

Nice long walk to get there, glad I had a telephoto lens that did the walking for me.

Lots of people made the trek down to check things out, I wasn't one of them.

In the park museum there are display of several types of artifacts that have been found in the park.




The Mesa was first settled about 550 AD and the first structures were on top of the mesa in the form of pit houses. That will be tomorrows pictures. The project for today will be the dreaded laundry which once finished will allow me to get back to enjoying the good life.

16 comments:

  1. I would have been up on top with you and not down with the cliff dwelling. We must be on the same wave length - laundry day.

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    1. It's a lot easier to look down than it is to climb back up.

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  2. Amazing craftsmanship of those buildings. Glad I wasn't the one to hunt down and lug all those rocks around. I'd rather do laundry... ;c)

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  3. So glad you have a wonderful time. I loved that place. It brought history alive.

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    1. Lots of changes since I was here in the 70's, but it still a neat place.

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  4. John,
    Your pictures are so good. Most people take the outside walls which are amazing but you got right in the rooms.
    Thanks for bringing me right into the experience.

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    Replies
    1. You can use these until you get to make the trip up here on your own.

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  5. You gotta figure out a way to use your telephoto lens on that laundry so you won't have to do it quite so often. If you make a pile of dirty clothes, and look at it through the opposite end of the lens, the pile should look much smaller. Since the pile is much smaller, you will be able to go a lot longer between laundry days. Now, the real key to this, of course, is to purchase enough extra socks and stuff so you don't run out...what with the smaller (bigger) pile of dirty clothes.

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    Replies
    1. Russ your comment was so long it went to the spam folder, I rescued it by reversing the telephoto lens when I looked for it.

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  6. Looks like you had a fun trip. I'm looking forward to exploring Arizona this August.

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    1. We will have fun this august. Just being together will be a treat in itself.

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  7. I think Mel was probably happy to sit this one out...but glad you made the trip. I enjoyed all the pictures, looking forward to your next post.

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    1. Considering the hills that we climbed and the fuel mileage for 100 miles, not to mention the wear and tear, I think the rental fee was pretty well covered.

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  8. "Nice long walk to get there, glad I had a telephoto lens that did the walking for me."

    Lol...this made me laugh! Thanks for the chuckle and the pictures.

    It certainly appears you got your money's worth from the car rental from all the things you mention on the comment above mine.

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