Music touches the soul via the ears; we believe visuals can do the same but through the medium of the eyes.
Should this be a valid premise, we suggest sitting back, relaxing and enjoying some of nature's offerings. What we
have found over the years is that there's no limit to what's available. One should be bold and grab it.
Most of the photographs that follow have not yet been published or won't be. The one of Jen returning from Ice Lakes Basin
in Colorado is of a time and position with much meaning and beauty for me.
What follows is a varied selection rather than restricted to a single hike as we normally do.
Blogs will be posted erratically, if at all, for a while.
Below the pictures, our home buying experience in New Mexico follows:
'Now I've seen everything.' Admittedly, it was cold and snow covered the mountains but...
Dog Canyon, near Alamogordo, NM as we rise to 3,300 feet.
Color as we head towards Perrins Peak in Durango, Colorado.
A visit to White Sands National Monument, an unforgettable experience.
Reaching Perrins Peak as hail threatens... and carries out the threat.
The mountains were angry with us that day...join the queue.
Setting sun sits on sand dune at White Sands Monument, NM and then we skipped up and over it
If you're going to sit in snow, Mount Wheeler Peak is the answer, New Mexico.
An edge at an 'unknown' park, Kashe-Katuwe Tent Rocks Monument, New Mexico.
On the way down from Dog Canyon, Alamogordo. Gypsum sands across the way.
Looking down into the arroyos from Perrins Peak and onto the town of Durango.
Still savoring the experience to-and-from Wheeler Peak, New Mexico.
Morning sun 'hits' the walls in an area tucked away between mountains in Nevada.
'Caught in the headlights' at dusk, White Sands Monument.
Passing the first blue lake on the way up near Ridgway in Colorado.
Dog Canyon, a trail with a long history, distance and elevation, NM.
Storm brewing and hail falling at Perrins Peak.
A morning south of Taos along the Rio Grande River.
On the way to 'Hogsback' in the mountains surrounding Durango, Colorado.
"Hey, Mom, what are we looking at?" Rio Grande Monument, New Mexico.
Jenni struggles towards Wheeler Peak, New Mexico.
Time to rest at the peak of Angels Fire along the 'enchanted circle', New Mexico.
Can't remember a steeper climb or descent (even worse)—Hogsback Peak, Durango, CO.
A another distinctive Colorado peak.
The confluence of the Rio Grande and Red Rivers in Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, NM.
Walking into the sunset; getting ready to return from White Sands Monument, NM.
On top of the world at Mount Wheeler, NM.
Outside 'Little Wild Horse Canyon', Utah.
A scene along a tight path towards Lost Lake near Red River, New Mexico.
Ice Lakes Basin, Colorado.
The sun strikes the boulders at sunrise in 'Valley of Fire', Nevada.
Negotiating a very tricky sloping path at Perrins Peak trail.
Coming down Pino Trail on Sandia Mountain, a view of Albuquerque.
Sunset at the dunes.
Two more strides and the tired muscles come alive while the eyes soften and the soul delights.
Wheeler Peak, the highest at 13,161 feet in New Mexico.
The best for last. Returning from 'Ice Lakes Basin', Colorado as the weather turns nasty.
That they should appoint Jenni and me to find a missing lake, ‘Lost Lake’, tells you of the naiveté of the good people of Angel Fire in New Mexico. We’re happy to go a week without getting lost ourselves. We should admit that since we've been contemplating obtaining a ‘smart phone’, we have not been lost. We don’t know what it means but we like the concept. It does get a little funny when Ellie, our granddaughter of six-and-half years, asks why we don’t get a ‘proper phone’ so she can do ‘face-time’. We’re learning the language of the generation although not sure it’s a positive. I retort, ‘I like ‘voice-time with you, Ellie’.
When we arrived at the time-share in this town, we realized what we were missing in not having our own condo or house. We crossed the threshold and were taken aback. The bedroom is large with a Jacuzzi in the corner. In addition, there is a bathroom ensuite including another tub. The living room also has a bathroom, providing a tally of three tubs and only two showers. Thus far, we have only found two commodes but we have not searched the place diligently.
Besides an almost full kitchen, there is a small fridge and microwave in the bedroom. “That’s great,” I mentioned to Jenni.
“What would you use it for? Besides, there is a bigger one in the kitchen.”
“I could make popcorn.”
“But you never eat popcorn,” she insisted.
“Yes, but how many people feel they have to live in a big city because of the ballet?”
“What’s your point?” She asked, her eyes beginning to roll.
“Most don’t go to the ballet but feel comfortable because in theory, they could go. That’s how I feel about popcorn and a ‘micro’ in the bedroom.”
Needless to say, things started to go downhill from there. The bedroom is big with an outsize king bed. It makes it very difficult for me to catch the editor. She is far too quick. On the first night, we were lying in bed staring at the attractive pine ceiling. I was saying how much I liked it when suddenly it seemed the person above us had fallen through it into our bedroom.
The kitchen has a large refrigerator which works extremely well. Like most units, it has an adjustment wheel which allows the temperature to vary. We generally arrive at a place, set the knob to the extreme, allowing the 'fridge to cool and then return it to midpoint. The problem with our unit is that the settings are theoretical. It freezes the food no matter what the setting. Mind you, the frozen cabbage shake is not too bad, after a while. Fortunately, the 'fridge is so large that when the editor blows her top, I find putting her in the ‘fridge to cool works quite well. Nevertheless, we are enjoying the luxury. It also encourages us to forget about the ‘dumb’ peaks covered in snow outdoors and rather sit on the comfortable loveseat and watch the world go by. I’m really starting to enjoy that activity. Adventuring is overrated.
It's nice to have kitchen sink. It looked like the previous occupant threw everything into it including...we were going to say the 'kitchen sink'. While Jenni prepared dinner, I was able to watch unusual things float on the brown water. A blocked drain will do that. The garbage disposal unit was jammed so we got no assistance from it. Anyway, we had a small sink in the bedroom and two bathroom basins as backup.
They don’t allow pets in the apartments. However, this did not hamper us. Only this morning we were getting ready to head out to find the ‘Lost Lake’ but had to check the computer for emails and other work related issues before leaving. I noticed a movement out the corner of my eye. Yep! It was black, furry pest, a mouse. I ended up chasing the bugger around the lounge while the editor gave instructions from a somewhat elevated position with her feet way above floor level. What would I do without her? So it looks like we have an unwanted pet/s. The management was responsive and an exterminator was sent for to lay traps. It's not nice living with intruders in the home, especially rodents.
As an aside, the week before we met a couple on the lower slopes (they were struggling a bit) and got talking. They each live in different states but we did not inquire further. She mentioned a dream she had experienced after undertaking a hike filled with splendor. Briefly, in the dream she was surrounded by much beauty complemented by sounds of an orchestra filling the skies. She thought she had reached heaven. Then she woke because a mouse crept across her face. What do you think we thought when we linked her story to our situation?
The day before, we reported the blocked drain, two-broken dishes and a gas leak. We did not know what we were missing not having a house. But we will repeat that the place is wonderful.
Each day we arrive back at the apartment tired from a hike. The editor does not let up. Apparently, she loves the snow and there’s a lot to love over in Northern New Mexico. Anyway, we have these electronic cards that one inserts into the door and usually it opens. Ours, unfortunately, clicks positively but then fails to open. So we spend some time outside the apartment looking at the door each day. The management says that’s strange. We also think looking at a door is unusual.
We also have a stove. The editor is rather smart. On the first and second nights, she baked and burned ‘brownies’. She then calculated that the high button produced a low temperature but the low button, the one she was using, was actually the high temperature. As of writing, she is making dinner but the oven has gone into neutral. Heck, did we mention what a comfortable unit we have. Those extra tubs sure make a difference.
My favorite appliance is of course the washing machine. So far, it's functioning well. I don’t know why but I love cleaning the clothes so much. The other day I went searching for a few garments to justify doing another load. Nothing was dirty and so I came up short. Not to be defeated, I had to resort to spilling a Diet Coke over Jenni’s outfit. Desperation.
Actually, I just remembered, we were supposed to find Lost Lake. We did a hike of ten miles with over 2,000 feet elevation gain, in thick snow. Near the top, we gazed at the gorgeous sights of snowcapped peaks. Just for that, it was worth it. By the way, they re-stock the lake with fish by means of helicopter. After following the trail we understand why they don't walk. We wonder whether they use flying fish though.
Unfortunately, we failed to find the lake. It seems to be truly lost. We struggle to understand where it could hide. Nevertheless, we won’t give up easily. In the morning, I intend popping into the library to undertake some research. Hopefully, Jenni will return to the tough trail on her own and continue the search. As we mentioned, we hate to give up easily.
As to the new home, we're holding onto our sleeping bags and tent for a while longer.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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