New Mexico/Texas Eclipse

Early rise again today as we started our day up in the high country around Los Alamos in the valleys of Bandeleir National Park.  We were the first ones I the park for the day and had the alcove houses and kivas to ourselves and were able to imagine the thriving culture of the area and learn a little bit more about how the Pueblans related to the skies above.

 

After that it was an exercise in patience and creativity.  The recent rain and snowfall made the dirt park roads into Chaco Canyon impassable or ill-advised for travel.  We shifted gears and headed south to Albuquerque and the Petroglyplh National Monument.  We were able to see numerous examples of petroglyphs left by the native peoples including one that seems oddly alien-esque?  Its date of creation is confirmed … as Ms. Hein pointed out, we are not alone nor the first in thinking about life elsewhere or what else is out there.  Art in all its forms provides a connection across the centuries that binds us together.

 

From there we headed out to Grants, New Mexico for some well deserved down time.  Another early day is ahead of tomorrow as we head to the Very Large Array and some modern astronomy!