Last night in Taos

So tonight is my last night in Taos. As is the case almost every night here, the sunset was spectacular.

It's just hard to beat such magnificent views from the road. Most of the time at dusk I feel like I'm walking around in a pastel painting.

I got a short hike in today. These juniper berries just happened to be catching the light in a really lovely way.

Originally I had wanted to drive up to El Salto waterfall, of which I have pictures from April. However, I decided that the road was just too rough for the Cruiser (I've already had to have one tire repaired from a puncture), so I turned around and found another hiking spot. I felt good about my decision when I saw this car:

... just kidding, this was where I did end up hiking, but parked safely up above.

Nature's spectacular light show

How is it that nearly every sunset in the southwest is spectacular? These two pics were taken in southern Colorado on the same night, but in different directions. Amazing. Apparently there was a meteor shower later that evening as well, actually between 3 and 5 a.m., but we, like most of the other campers, were fast asleep.

Terra Encantada

So, New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment. It could not be more aptly named. I just returned from a week-long visit that included Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos. I wasn't truly drawn in until I drove into Taos, turning a corner with the backdrop of unbelievably huge mountains and the Rio Grande gorge in view. Oh, and the stars... you have no concept of how many there are up there until you shed some of that man-made light below. WOW. So, I think the next thousand entries will be dedicated to the beauty of New Mexico. I'm thoroughly enchanted.