The David Thuis Blog

Today we began Day 2 of our Road Trip by rising early (but not too early) and after a hearty continental breakfast at the hotel we began the 1:15 hr 54.5 mile trip to Mesa Verde National Park. 

After paying our entrance fee  ($15.00 per car) and driving 15 miles up a winding steep road (even by Colorado standards) we reach the visitor center.  A line of people waiting in line for guided tours wrapped around the surprisingly small building.  We decided to forgo the guided tour and head into the center to see what the park had to offer “self-tour” wise.  After talking to a helpful Ranger, picking up a Mesa Verde Jr. Ranger Handbook (FREE), and a few self guide pamphlets (free to borrow, $.50 donation if you choose to keep) we headed back to the car and back onto great adventures within the park.

Our first stop was barley a mile away to a small site called Far View.  The Ranger we talked to back at the visitor center said this is a must see.  Lots of history and rarely visited.  She did not lie.  When we arrived there was only one other family at this site, and they soon left after we arrived.   This site was a large Anasasi Farming community from A.D. 900 to about A.D. 1300 and consists of a small looping trail (about .5 mile I am guessing) in which you get to see the “middle age” of the Mesa Verde park.  We spend over an hour and a half leisurely walking the trail and seeing (now on retrospect) some of the best Mesa Verde has to offer.  Personally, the most interesting item on this trail was Mummy Lake.  A huge man made reservoir made around 900-1100 A.D.  Now dry, I found it interesting that ancient people could make such an elaborate system to hold water.

After we completed the trail back in the car we went and headed down about 5 miles to the “Spruce Tree House”.  This spot is probably what most folks think of when they think of Mesa Verde and consists of a large cliff dwelling established in the late 1200’s. 

We did not head down into the cliff dwellings as we were getting hungry and the Spruce Tree House does have a small cafeteria, so we had to eat.  The food was pretty good, but not great.

After lunch we made a quick stop in the Capin Mesa Museum so the boy could finish some research for the Jr Ranger program.  The museum was an interesting stop, but if it were not for the Jr Ranger program I think we could have skipped it, but I digress.  We located a Park Ranger and Michael was sworn in for a second time in two days as an official Jr Ranger of the National Park Service.

Finally, down the steep trail to the only Self-Guided Cliff dwelling in the park called the Spruce Tree House.   Although interesting I didn’t think it was “all that”.  Most of the dwelling is off limits (understandably) and was just a bit of a let down after having full access to the ruins of Far View.  We spent maybe 20 minutes exploring The Spruce Tree House and headed back up the trail (which was a bit harder than coming down I tell you) to the car.

By now the boy is hot and getting tired so we decide to finish up this portion of the trip by driving the 6 mile Mesa Top Loop.  This loop highlights nearly 1400 years of history showing the Pit Houses built (A.D. 600-900), the pueblos (A.D.  900 –1300) and the cliff dwellings (AD 1190-1270).  This loop is perfect as it is by car with short walking stops along the way to the views or ruins. 

After completing the loop we headed out of the park and headed Southwest to the Four Corners National Monument.  A bit disappointed with this stop as the monument seems to have been transformed into a rickety, cheap flea market for the Navajo Nation, but a stop we made nonetheless.

After a brief walk around the monument we headed off to Farmington, New Mexico to spend the night.  Staying at the clean (if not crowded) Hampton Inn and having dinner at the delicious Spare Rib BBQ Company.

Tomorrow it’s off to Santa Fe to visit my Brother-In-Law Vic.

You can view photos of today’s trip by going here!

Last Friday my son and I sat down at the computer and planned a little Colorado Road Trip/Vacation for this summer.  Little did we know we would actually be taking the trip so soon, but the wife got some time off from work so here we are.  As I do on every little trip we do I’ll try to blog our experiences as we go along.

DAY #1 – Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Originally planning to hit the road this morning at 7:00 am we got off on a bit late start leaving about 7:30 and begun the 178 mile, 3 hr trip to The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. It took a bit longer than planned as we had to stop for breakfast and money at an ATM, but we actually arrived only about an hour after we planned.

After we paid our 6 dollar entrance fee we headed to the visitor center to see what there was to be seen.   Michael decided to sign up for the Junior Ranger program (.50 donation) so the first item we had to do was watch a short 10 minute video about the park.  The we walked a short hike around one of the loops (I forget the name) as Michael worked on his Jr. Ranger handbook.  It was a bit chilly and we were regretting wearing shorts.

After about an hour at the visitor center we headed down to the dune to do a little exploring.  Our greatest surprise was the Medano Creek was still flowing (a small creek that flows around the dunes caused by melting snow).   Although the creek is running low this time of year we still had to cross it to get to the dunes.  So off came the shoes and through the water we went.  The creek is only one or two inches deep and was only about 15 feet across, but the water was freezing.  I was shocked to see so many kids swimming in the water having a great time.

By this time the temps had started to climb and it was reaching about 80 degrees.  Still not too bad for exploring.  However the wind had really started to blow at about 30 MPH.   At this wind speed the dunes had become a sand blaster and it actually hurt to walk.  Sand was hitting us everywhere like small tiny bullets.  When a gust would come up it hurt like hell, and blew in our eyes blinding us…. but of course, the boy wanted to go on.  He climbed a dune and then rolled down a dune… Up, down, up, down having a ball if not filling his teeth and everything else with blowing sand.  I am guessing we spent only a half hour on the dunes before mom and dad said enough was enough and we headed down the dunes and back to the car.

We the sprayed off most off the sand at some showers at the bottom of the dunes, we couldn’t get totally clean as these showers are outdoors and you have to stay dressed but we got most off it off Michaels face, legs, and feet.  Then back to the visitors center for Michael’s swearing in as an official Junior Park Ranger.  He was pretty proud of himself and was presented a patch for his accomplishment.

We headed out of the park to head further west on our adventure.

We traveled slightly south into Alamosa, Co for a late lunch it was already 2:00 PM, and other than a few snacks we hadn’t eaten since breakfast.  We looked for a local “joint” to eat at but we must have been in the wrong part of town because we couldn’t find anything.  We settled on a Long John Silvers/Taco Bell Hybrid and continued on.

The next leg of the drive was just getting to Durango where we planned on staying the night.  The 176 mile 3.5 hr drive was long but very scenic.

The night was uneventful with a dinner at the Carver Brewing Company and a soak in the pool at the Best Western Durango Inn & Suites were we spent the night.  Food was good, the hotel was clean, and we even saw a deer muching away at some grass while the boy swam.  All and all a great trip so far.

Lots of photos HERE

Tomorrow: Off to Mesa Verde.