Taos, Rio Grande, and Ojo Caliente

Left the ranch and took the back way to Taos on a dirt road, up through the snowfields, snaking through switchbacks, past one of the highest elevation golf courses in the U.S. (buried under snow), and down into Taos.  Settled into a nice RV park and bicycled into town, where we meandered the streets surrounding the plaza.

From Taos we headed to the Rio Grande Gorge, crossed the second highest bridge(distance from river to roadbed) in the country, visited the Earthship Community (radically sustainable housing), and then set up camp in the remote and beautiful Rio Grande del Norte National Monument - Wild Rivers Recreation Area.  Backed the truck up to the edge of the gorge, made camp, went for a great bike ride on a flat road with no traffic, but views of Colorado mountains in the distance.  Then, embarked on a mile-long hike down to the river (and of course back up). It was a moderately difficult walk following sharp switchbacks.  On the way down we passed a group of kayakers hiking out after paddling a section of the river -- one of them even knew a kayaker we know back in Maine.  We were passed by a husband and wife team of trail runners who quickly disappeared in the distance.  Got back to camp in time to cook a delicious dinner, enjoy a glass of wine, and play a game of cribbage just before the sun set. 

 

Every night we cook supper in the camper, and in the morning it’s coffee and breakfast.

A day of biking and hiking required a recovery day of sedentary soaking(?); so off to Ojo Caliente where natural hotsprings “soaked the bones”.  This is a lovely spot with its own RV park, hotel, spa, wine bar, etc.  We ambled from pool to pool enjoying different mineral baths.  Went back after supper for another soak.  So far northern New Mexico has been fabulous!