When we left Tuesday morning it was a beautiful day with blue skies and just a few clouds drifting across the heavens. It was also warm enough to cut the air conditioner on from time to time. The first part of the trip was through the high planes and then into more desert like surroundings, and at one point we cross a massive volcanic dike where magma surged up through a crack in the surface of the earth many centuries ago. As the ground has weathered away it has left what looks like, to me at least, a dragon laying across the desert, or perhaps an "earth" serpent swimming through the sands and rocks of the area.
So I stopped the car and produced the above picture. Not shown is the fact that on the right side of the rode the dike continues off to the horizon. You can click on any of these images to get a much higher resolution image.
After a restful stop for lunch in Espanola we continued north climbing in elevation and moved into the red rock area near Ghost Ranch. Someday I am going to have to take a day to go up there and just take pictures. As it was the sky was starting to spit rain drops, and while not really a rain it was apparently enough water flow to prompt the request for a pit stop, and being the good husband that I am we turned off for a short trip to the visitor center at Lake Abiquiu. Not one to pass up a chance we did manage to get this picture.
Ah, the black marks give away the secret that these are really composite pictures made up of several individual prints and then stitched together to make one big picture.
At any rate we arrived about 4:00 pm, settled in, soaked, then had dinner and soaked and then collapsed into bed. The next morning we walked across the foot bridge over the San Juan river and I decided to see how well I could manage to picture the area where they have the hot tubs. This was the result, and I can see that I need to be more careful to fill in the gaps.
The resolution in the original is just about good enough to tell which of the women are wearing bikinis, so I am a bit disappointed in how they are coming out in this posting.
For one final picture, we drove up to the top of Wolf Creek Pass where it crosses the Continental Divide. And here I made a big photographic mistake. I decided to wait until we came back before taking some pictures of the mountains, and by the time we returned the clouds had set in and rain obscured them from view. Oh well, I did take this one on the way down, and it gives you some idea of the park like effect in that area. And here it is!
Friday morning again dawned with lots of clouds and rain, so I did not even try to get back up there for more pictures. Maybe sometime in the future.
We took it slow this trip, and it paid in terms of being more relaxed and an incredible 33 mpg average over the trip. Anyone who tells you that their mileage is as good at 65 as it is at 55 is either lying or hasn't tried it. Our dog was glad to see us again, he hasn't hardly left my side since we have gotten home. The cats, however, are still somewhat pissed, but at least amber is not swatting at us every time we go by.
Ok, the field is open for criticism and advice on how to take, process, and post pictures here in blogdom. Feel free
Mike L
Mike, nice photos! The one of the hot tubs is beautiful - is that a waterfall?
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about posting photos but I've noticed that most of the ones I post are only 72 dpi. Are your's much higher resolution? That would make them smaller looking, though nicer.
- crystal
Oh, I forgot to mention, my sister says that most cameras have a place where you can set the quality of the photos - high or medium or low - so you might check that on your camera.
ReplyDelete- crystal
Crystal,
ReplyDeleteFinally figured out that if you click on the image you will be forwarded to the full size image, which does have a lot more resolution. Guess I need to note that in the text.
That used to be a waterfall, what you are seeing is the mineral deposits left as some of the water evaporated. They are doing a major expansion and have added 5 more large pools. Since they have a limited amount of mineral water from the springs, they have had to cut back on some of the water flow, and that fall is one of the cutbacks. I noticed a difference in teh water this trip, and on questioning they admitted that they are now mixing mineral water with standard water at about a 50/50 mix, and I suspect adding salt and some minerals to make it up. I am sorry to see that since if they raise the prices much more they will price us out.
There is another in across the road which is cheaper, has 100% mineral water, but is not available 24 hours a day. But we may be there next time.
Mike L
Mike, I'm still around. Liked the pictures. When you "comment" with "Michael" and I punch on such, I cannot get to your blog. But the variation on Michael, will go through. Jack
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are lovely. I'm trying to learn how to blog. If I read yours, will you read mine?
ReplyDeleteMary Sue
Hi Mary Sue, you must have been talking to June. Welcome and glad to have you aboard. I will be more than glad to include your blog in my reading, just send me its address.
ReplyDeleteI think the only thing difficult about a blog is trying to think of new things to post on it.
Hugs,
Mike L