Dale & Debbie #64: Goodbye Colorado, Hello New Mexico

18th Dec 2025

After Lisa left Silverton, Dale and I took one last hike before we headed to NM.

Apparently, we weren’t alone. These were fresh tracks!

This is a wildlife crossing overpass in Colorado.

We made a stop in Taos, NM. On the hike below, I spotted a lone ram across the canyon.

We also hiked at the Rio Grande Bridge. On a previous visit, we walked across the bridge. This time we hiked along the gorge.

We saw two tarantulas. I almost stepped on one of them! We also came across these stunning purple wildflowers! They were the only pop of bright color on the entire hike.

Looking into the gorge in the opposite direction of the bridge.

Our next stop was in Santa Fe. From there, we visited Bandelier National Monument. Below is scenery along the drive.

The Ancestral Pueblo people lived in Bandelier from approximately 1150 - 1550.

We revisited the New Mexico State Capitol building in Santa Fe. On our first visit some years back, there was not a tour guide available, so we decided to tour with a guide this time.

Much of the building looks like an art museum. Each artist is from various regions across the state.

The Buffalo is my favorite. It’s made from recycled paint brushes, papier-mache, scrap metal, and much more!

Below are photos from the streets of Santa Fe. There are over 40 Christian churches, 6 synagogues, 4 Buddhist Temples, and dozens of spiritual temples supporting other beliefs.

There was a petroglyph site very close to the campground.

We made a couple of day trips to Albuquerque. One long day was to attend the International Balloon Fiesta with friends, Barb & Henry, who boondocked in their motorhome for the entire 10-day festival. This was our second time at the fiesta, but it was just as amazing as our first.