Amole Canyon

 A few miles down the road is Amole Canyon, a popular cross-country skiing and snowshoeing spot. Winter is exciting with Subaru's trying to avoid skiers crossing the roads and rowdy snowshoers getting into everything everywhere.

But there isn't snow yet and the canyon is quiet. And we prefer it when it is quieter.

And warmer.

We arrived early and I took a couple pictures to set the mood and establish the setting

Damn aster jumped up and blocked the view

Try again, dodging the aster

A typical view of the park

The group pavalion is very nice
and unused
since it's covid and closed

Maybe the next family reunion can be held here

And looking to the south, we spied our first wildlife

OK OK
I can't fool you

That is cow
But they are black cows
And I was taught 
Never trust a black cow

But this stout fence protects us, separating us from the beasts

And we head down this trail because it looked the easiest.

And Cyndi immediately spots a witch's best friend

I guess the cows have been busy

We saw quite a few of these

Stumps that burned ... or had been burnt

And now-gone roots somehow produced these root casts in the soil.
Very well preserved.
And shallow

Lots of lichens. 
This one is blossoming

Further down the trail

We came to a clearing
and saw what appeared to be a stone circle
And their Siren call immediately drew Cyndi close

Moments later I caught up to her
and found this

Her arms full
unable to carry any more rocks
there was no reason to continue the hike
so we headed back

!!  OMG  !!

The cows eluded that fine fence and are now threatening us !!!

Then Cyndi was flabbergasted when she saw

She's been convinced her whole life that cows don't have horns.

She's a Hoosier. 

At least she's pretty

As we left the park and returned to near-civilization, I took one final photo

High Road

 You may end up reading too much in the post. Don't.

It's just that I like cemeteries and tombs. It has nothing to do with the dead or death, but those places are peaceful and often pretty. Colorful, even. 

And easy to photograph. The markers don't move around much. They don't complain. 

So, as for the High Road. A scenic alternative road heading south out of Taos. A Native Pueblo or two, several small, old towns. Churches and graveyards. 

And lots of art studios, which are mostly covid-closed. 

This first photo has nothing to do with the High Road, but I need a ooo-wow! photo to catch your eye and this seemed the best option. Believed to be a beet blossom, found in our garden where daikons were expected.

Back to the road trip, the day started out quite nice

I will bet you figured out that was a sunrise and those are sunflowers. 

Good job.

On the road, we stopped for a view of what I incorrectly call the Penasco Valley. 

A year ago a C+W entertainer from Texas drove to Taos late one evening to perform at a local bar the next night. She decided to stop for a meal. And a drink. And then she stopped again. And again. And then, running late, she sped up the hill. 120 mph was estimated. Blood alcohol about 4x the legal limit. Lost control and ran head on into a 18 year girl from Taos. It was right here.

I drove more carefully. And, in spite of the "High" in the description, I was sober / straight and that is safe, but maybe kind of sad, too. 

So a few miles away is Trampas and the 260 year old San Jose de Garcia Church. Historic marker. Original mud bricks, mud walls. Trampas is quite small and close knit and the church is important to them.

And the church yard graves

Don't be afraid! The souls are well contained by the churchyard wall

The plaster is re-done every few years but some of the mud bricks are original.

Like I said, don't read too much into all of this dead people stuff.

But before we move along any further, I'll included some cheerful but unrelated pics from our yard.

Don't let the cat out!

Smiling? Relaxed and Content?

Let's fix that. Further down the road we came to the Los Llanitos Cemetery. There are lots of cemeteries along the road. This one had a motor cycle in it, but I forgot to take that pic.

If you have to be dead, you might as well be some where beautiful and lively.

Continuing with the theme of dead things, we stopped at an overview a few miles further and found this

Sing along with me Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road ... 

And continuing with the theme of beautiful and pleasing things, I present the Love of My Life

When we left early in the morning, Cyndi decided she didn't need to take a shower. 

Now I'm not going to say she stank or anything

But

when I got out of the truck, I couldn't smell the dead skunk.

Har har har, right?