Ruby Rose Ranch Mancos

... spa channel. Randi check it out...so soothing.
-What the hell goes on at Area 51?
-These Brits have got lots to do in DE, anyone interested please join.
-Reading Jack Kerouac's On The Road for the ump-teenth time. How could I not?
-My sunglasses give everything a earthy rosy tint and I like it.
-It's almost noon the next day and I'm having to close one eye to type some of this..I blame it on Lola's driving,
-Billy, love and new church sign: We're God's Stimulus Package

... the tour & even learnt a thing or two about the natives. As the tour came to an end the weather, as if on cue started to perk up! The sun began shining & the rest of the day was perfect sunshine & blue skies!

We ended up going on a hike longer than we anticipated and then sat and had a picnic overlooking the park.

... Emily sneaking in a run along the cliffs to some amazing rock art (the square spiral turning into the circular spiral was there...), & the kids sitting drawing cool artifacts in a museum.   Canyon de Chelly, where we went next, felt like a continuation of what we learned and experienced in Mesa Verde, but Canyon de Chelly is part of the Navajo Nation so ...

... the museum, that is acting as the visitors centre in time to book ourselves on the 1pm tour of the cliff top ruins. The tour involves a National park Ranger as a guide to give information and knowledge gained over the years of research and archaeological work done, since the ruins, were first spotted by white men, (two cowboys searching and rounding up cattle, spotted them from across the canyon) in 1880. Extensive research and the enactment of ...

... de Balcony House ou de Cliff Palace... Oui, génial, il y en a encore, mais je dois choisir; il n'est pas possible d'effectuer les deux visites le même jour! mince! J'opte pour Balcony House... car il faut monter une échelle de 10 m, gravir des marches creusées dans la roche et même ramper dans un petit tunnel! tout un programme! A 16h, je rencontre donc les autres joyeux lurons qui ont choisi cette visite et notre ranger, Joshua! Très sympa, on discute un peu et ...

... word for ceremonial rooms. They used these places for praying and I speculate for much more such as warmth in the winter as they were built into the ground and the family to kiva ratio is many in some of the dwellings. I could really go on for a long time talking about this place. I have always been very interested in Native American living and hold a lot of respect for how they lived in harmony with the earth.

... anything possible. We purchased wine and returned to town, having spent 3 hours enjoying the wine and John's company. It would be great fun to be able to talk at greater length with him. After the wine tasting, it was back to the RV to get packed up for the next leg of our journey and, of course, another dinner at Tequila's. As we walked the dogs that evening, there was a phenomenal sunset to mark our last day in Cortez.

... and up and down steep steps. All of this is completely worthwhile just to see these amazing remains. The kids completed another Junior ranger Certificate which was great as they had to concentrate and think about the things they were looking at. We visited the museum too which was very informative for us and the kids. After Holly and Zach had pledged their promises to keep all National Parks clean and tidy, held their hands up with the Ranger ...

... top. Next we went on to the Spruce Tree House, and on the way we were lucky enough to see a coyote (or maybe a fox) crossing the road - he was small, golden tan and very hard to spot again once in the trees. Evidently is is quite rare to see one. We walked down the winding hill to see the Spruce Tree house (another one dating back to the 1200's and it was a place where people lived). This had a Kiva that we could climb down into, complete with a reconstructed roof ...

... in the mid afternoon. Also, wear clothing that’s appropriate for the site. All of the accessible ruins are located at about 7,000 feet in elevation. The altitude and the high desert climate can make for some tricky conditions when touring the sites. Visitors are highly recommended to monitor the weather reports and dress appropriately.

After a long day at the park, we made our way back to Cortez. We were pretty hungry after all our hiking ...