Oklahoma-Arkansas-Mississippi in Late April

By this time we needed to hightail it back to Florida, but we had to make several stops in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi.  Here they are.

The trailhead to Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma and our dry campsite.

On the trail at the three mile rest stop.

The top of OK!  We made the 9 mile round trip hike to our 43rd high point in record (for us!) time of three and a half hours with a 45 minute rest and visit at the top.

Oklahoma's Capitol tour.

First stop in Arkansas is a short hike to the high point, #44.

A beautiful Spring day and stroll through the woods.

Wildflowers and butterflies all along the walk.

Little Rock, AR visit.  The Clinton Presidential Library.

The Clinton Presidential Library is next door to this historical building, now the Clinton School of Public Service.

The Clinton Presidential Library.  Madeline Albright's "Pins with a Purpose" exhibit was on special display during our visit.

Little Rock.  The Viet Nam Memorial with the Capitol in the background.

The "Little Rock Nine" sculpture in the rear of the Capitol.

The old Capitol Building is downtown and now a museum of Arkansas.

Sitting room in old Capitol.

Alternate spelling was considered, because of the hillbilly reputation.  Actually the term hillbilly was coined here.

Here is a couple.

Governor's Mansion in Little Rock.

The Mobil Station was the Visitors Center for Central High School National Historical Site.

Central High School in background is still operating and was where the "Little Rock Nine" played a large part in desegration.

A small but beautiful National Park on our way out of Arkansas.

Jackson, MS Capitol tour, our 47th.

Jackson, MS Capitol tour, our 47th.

We met a young, newly elected State Representative who gave us a quick history lesson in the construction and renovation of the building.

His desk was the sloppiest of all and near the back of the House Chamber.

The Governor's Mansion in Jackson, MS.

Street walking towards the old Capitol building, now a museum.

The Peace Memorial next to the old Capitol.

Blues Boy King's Indianola, Mississippi Museum.

Dennis and BB.  (Mary, Don, Susan--Doesn't BB's expression remind you of Warren?  We think of him often.)

WE BE JAMMIN!

Approximate route of our summer trip beginning July 6th.

New Mexico in mid-April

We spent only a week traveling through New Mexico but saw the Capitol (our 46th), the high point, (our 42nd), and 6 National Parks (our 337th).

A permanent water source at the bottom of the rock formation behind us attracted all.  Most who passed through carved  inscriptions into the sandstone.  The earliest non-native inscription was in 1605!  There are over 200 inscriptions, some of which are beautifully done calligraphy.

There were also native ruins on top of the formation.

Hiking on the formation near the ruins and boxed canyon.

The name of this National Monument means "bad land".

There are lots of old lava flows and tubes.

A caved-in lava tube and a little snow.

This place was impressive, and likely a re-settlement from Mesa Verde area.

Some of the ruins at Aztec.

GPS suggested route to Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

We opted for the "smoother" road.

We made it.  If you visit the Mother of all ruins, you REALLY have to want to.

We are beginning the hike to the Pueblo Bonito (the grandest ruin) overlook.  Other ruins are everywhere.  There are even 12 ft. wide stairs carved into the rock, bringing people into the canyon.  The roads run due north-south and east-west.  Archeologists think that this was a place of gathering and trade. 

On the rim above one of the ruins.

Still on the rim, but not yet to Pueblo Bonito.

Above Pueblo Bonito.

Judy is on the guided tour.  Our guide, a great volunteer, told us of ceremonial vessels that may have contained chocolate!  If so, these folks needed to trade with folks in the tropics.  After we arrived in Ocala, I searched the topic and indeed, chocolate was consumed by the builders of Chaco. 

The picnic area on the way out of Chaco.

The state Capitol, New Mexico tour, our 46th.  We plan on visiting WI, MN, and NE this summer.

The Capitol tour.

Blooms on the tour.

Santa Fe city tour.  This is the oldest house in the country!  Across the alley in front of me is the oldest church.

Free standing staircase.  History? Legend? says that the nuns that worked here needed a way to get to the second level.  Along comes a carpenter and agrees to build the stairs.  He constructed these stairs without help or nails and then left without goodbyes or pay.  Architects and engineers continue to be marveled and puzzled.

More ruins.  This place was occupied by Natives, then Spanish, and then both.  An uprising drove off the Spanish, and the Natives returned and built a kiva (a ceremonial place) in the church yard to let all know that this was their place.

One of the kivas.

Even more ruins.  This is our 336th National Park visited.

Climbing to the cliff dwelling ruin in Bandelier.

In the kiva of the cliff dwelling.

Along the valley wall ruins in Bandelier.

A road construction stop (20 minutes) on the Rio Grande between Santa Fe and Taos.

On the Taos Plaza.

The "most" photographed adobe church in Taos.  An unexpected and terrific tour from the parrish priest who was waiting children making their first confession.

Our visit to the highest point in New Mexico.  Of course we did not make the summit, but it was our 42nd visit to a state high point.

A lunch stop where we leave Wheeler Peak and New Mexico behind.