Our stay in Albuquerque was pretty much a non-event. We did meet up with a couple that we had met in San Antonio and enjoyed dinner out with them. Otherwise, we did that wonderful thing called...relaxing! We stayed at Kirtland AFB until the 7th, then packed up and headed for Heron Lake northwest of Taos. As we were leaving, it started to rain and I decided to call up to the lake area and ask about the weather and the possibility of RV slot availability. Turns out it was 22 degrees, snowing, and expected to stay that way for several days. We abruptly decided to head to Navajo Lake and the San Juan River in northwest New Mexico instead.
The weather here has been pretty good, cold at night (25-35), but nice during the day except for some wind now and again. We have a spot on a low bluff above the lake with a great view. The nearest "town" is the Community of Navajo Dam (maybe 200 people) and the nearest after that is Aztec (population 6,800). Heinz has done some fishing, I've done some reading and a little photography and we have both been totally unambitious.
Navajo Lake at sunset from our camping spot
Tucked in for the night
Makes one wonder what prompted the installation of this yellow sign...
Monday, the truck was blowing lots of smoke out the exhaust - we took it to the nearest Ford dealer in Farmington (38 Miles). Turned out to be a bad fuel injector - many dollars and a day later, we have the truck back in fine working condition. The town of Farmington is not exactly a tourist destination if you like bright lights and whistles, but the people are friendly, the food is good, and there's a neat little bookshop in the middle of town called Andrea Kristina's with a very eclectic mix of books that range from fly tying for New Mexico rivers to women's studies, great jazz on the stereo, and a cafe with a variety of coffees, teas, sandwiches, and salads. This is a bookstore that would be more than at home in Berkeley CA.
Heinz has spent quite a bit of time out on the river in the mornings with our "next door neighbor" George. Heinz has caught a few in the "catch and release" part of the river. He's also been going out in the afternoons to the "catch and keep" area (3.5 miles further downstream), but hasn't had any luck landing any fish. But that's ok, I've stocked up the fridge with "Plan B" meals. Tuesday he and George went out with a local fly fishing guide and got his first formal lessons in fly fishing.
Fishing the San Juan River
Catching a nice Rainbow Trout!!
The catch and release part of the San Juan River (right below the dam).
Further downstream on the San Juan River.
Yesterday Heinz went out fishing with George again and apparently had quite the encounter. As he tells it, "... the fish hit like a ton of bricks, and took the line almost out to the backing (80-90 feet). When reeled in close, George got an eye on it and said it was a good 20-24 inches - by far the largest fish we've caught yet. Trying not to break the line, I worked it for about 20 minutes before it tore the hook out of its mouth. It was a rookie mistake... and a lesson learned about playing a fish." Of course, once again, there is no fish to show, no pictures to share, no proof - just a fisherman's tale...
Aztec Ruins
Excavated Kiva
Interior of house wall, the two tone stone is a technique used at Chaco Canyon also.
If things go as planned (and we all know how well we stick to a schedule), we will be here for another week and then head back to Albuquerque for the International Gathering of the Nations Powwow, one of the largest annual gatherings of Native Americans - it will be the last weekend of April.
Here's our friend of the day. Spotted him out at the Aztec Ruins.
He's a little early for Easter... no doubt scoping out egg hiding spots?!?!
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