Day 29

Thurs
10-8-15
Ancient Cedars RV Resort
Cortez , CO

Today was Mesa Verde day.  Despite the fact that some of the sites we wanted to see were closed we had a full day of it.  We toured 2 cliff dwellings, Balcony House and Spruce Tree House and viewed several more from a distance.  Balcony House might have been called Obstacle Course house.  We hiked down a steep path, walked down many steps and then once at the house you climb a 32ft ladder made of tree limbs to get into it. But there is more! Once inside you squeeze through narrow cracks in the rocks to pass from one room to another, crawl on your hands and knees through a narrow tunnel and regret the extra helping the night before. You climb up more ladders made of round tree limbs and up rock faces where small notches were carved as toe and foot holes. Will be sure to add pictures of some of that.  

The Spruce Tree house was easier.  It was a steep path to it and lots of switchbacks but once there you could see what you were allowed access to easily.  It was much larger, 3 stories at least. Much like an apartment building. The Anasazi were way ahead of their time. We did a driving tour to see several other styles of dwelling, Besides the cliff house there were partially submerged houses, all above ground and some almost completely under ground. We got some distance pics of the crown jewel Cliff Palace. A month ago we could have gone in but not today. The finale was as we were leaving the park exhausted and thirsty a healthy looking coyote appeared along the road beside us.  He looked right at us but by the time we got the camera out he had decided he did not like our looks and turned to leave.  We got a pic but he was leaving.

Tomorrow we are heading to Albuquerque hoping to catch the tail end of the balloon festival.