MESA VERDE N.P. - CHAPIN MESA

We are off to visit a few of the ruins of the prepuebloans who lived in the area around Cortez, Colorado. On the way we drove through a good deal of the Navajo Reservation, stopping several times along the way for photographs of isolated formations, and a thunderstorm east of Kayenta.

We spent two days in Mesa Verde National Park visiting ruins, hiking, and seeing petroglyphs. The evening we got to the Park, we signed up for a tour of Long House with a Ranger, and went to the Montezuma Valley Overlook to get a feel of the area.

Our first full day was filled with several adventures on Chapin Mesa. We took the hike to Petroglyph Point which was about 2.5 miles along the edge of a canyon and at times a bit trying with a rocky trail climbing and descending along the way. It was worth it as we had some great views and a nice panel of figures to see. Along the way we met a Ranger who pointed out a ruin across the canyon from us which I believe she had just found.

Mesa Verde Approach

Chapin Mesa Museum

A Distant Cliff House

Petroglyphs 

Rocky Ascent

 Back at Spruce Tree Terrace we enjoyed a light lunch before heading for the self guided tour of the Spruce Tree House Ruins. As we started down the trail it began to rain. We soon stopped and put on our light ponchos, and soon were glad that we did. The rain came down quite hard for a time, and actually flooded the trail for short time. While standing among the ruins we were dry, but there were waterfalls occurring over the lip of the canyon. 

The rain came down quite hard for a time, and actually flooded the trail for short time. While standing among the ruins we were dry, but there were waterfalls occurring over the lip of the canyon.

Our departure was delayed by the flooding of the trail but it subsided after about 20 minutes and we were able to get out of the canyon and up to our car.

It continued to rain the rest of the afternoon, so we headed back to Cortez.

HUMBOLDT REDWOOD STATE PARK

We thoroughly enjoyed the drive down the Oregon Coast to California. We stopped in Trinidad for the night where we stayed in an old motel park and then enjoyed a walk at Trinidad harbor and beach. We picked up dinner at the local

grocery on the way back to our cabin.

The next day we drove onto Santa Rosa with a slow trip through Humboldt State Park. We had a wonderful 2.5 mile hike in the Drury-Chaney Grove with the trail mostly to ourselves. We visited a couple of other small groves and then touched bases with Shirley and Dick in Founder’s Grove. This park contains the John D. Rockefeller Grove as well which contains the last grove of old growth redwoods in the world. 

Looking Up

Within the Grove

Root Structure

A Sense of Size

Post Holes for Sawing Down the Tree

Have a GREAT Day

 In Santa Rosa we touched bases with Vida Rose of Mule Days and then called it a day.

This was the end of this Summer Road Trip. It was a wonderful trip and it has wetted our appetite for more trips.

Next up is a visit to Indian Country in Colorado and Eastern Arizona.

OREGON COAST/WALDPORT

We spent four very relaxing days on the Oregon Coast at a beach house in Waldport, owned  by our good friend, Lin. We thoroughly enjoyed the walks on the beach, exploring Cape Perpetua, Waldport, and Cape Foulweather. Here we also celebrated our anniversary with a delightful dinner right on the Coast at The Adobe Inn in Yachats. This stay also allowed for time to get the car serviced, grocery shop for the next week, and do laundry. We visited the Farmer’s Market and found a gem of a trail nearby called the Woodland Trail that started right in town.

Devil's Chasm

Indian Pipe

What is that plant?

Cape Perpetua Cove

Sunset at Waldport

Sunset Color

Tree Sculpture and Sunset Color

Cape Foulweather is a very high promontory on the coast and is pretty calm and mundane in July. It was named by Captain Cook while explored the Oregon Coast. Captain Cook experienced two weeks of very bad storms while investigating this area. 

Banana Slug

Cape Foulweather View

Seal Rocks

Seal Rocks 2

Seal Rocks 3

Sand Pattern 1

Sand Pattern 2

Coastal View

We visited Cape Perpetua twice and enjoyed hikes both times in the lush forest as well as along the coast. It was fun photographing spouting surf at Cooks Chasm, seeing and read about the travails of the building of the the West Shelter built by the C.C.C. in the 1930’s. The Shelter is built high on the cliff above the ocean.  It was used as a coastal watch station during WWII. It has a commanding view of as it is perched high on the cliff.

Up There is West Shelter

Bridge at Heceta Light

Heceta Light Bridge

Heceta Lightkeeper's House

Beach Art

Keyhole and Surf

Sea Stacks

From here we headed South to California.