Wed July 8 Tolby, Ghost Ranch, Taos

 Wednesday, July 8

51 degrees this morning!  We had breakfast and then drove a short way to the Tolby Trail.  After a short time the trail splits, one going uphill , the other flat.  

 There were supposed to be some old CCC type buildings, but after walking uphill for 1/2 mile or so, we determined that they must be on "the road not taken", so gave up.  Got the blood flowing at least.

Continued through the Canyon, past the development at Eagle Lake and on a winding road to Taos and beyond. We follow the  Rio Grande for a while, where we spot people rafting.

 

As we head northwest things become more arid and rugged.   This is Georgia O'Keeffe country, where she lived and painted. 

Pretty, arid, high desert country.

First stop is the Abiquiu Inn (in town of same name) and the O'Keeffe Visitor Center.  Nice display and the Inn has an extensive sculpture garden that we enjoyed.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Tours of her house in town, a refurbished old adobe, were totally booked so we continued on to The Ghost Ranch. The Ghost Ranch, a 21,000 acre area, is home to another of O'Keeffe's homes as well as an artist retreat center, with classes, workshops, lectures, etc.  

This old cabin, just before the entrance, was used in the movie City Slickers.  You can just see a large lake behind it - one of the few bodies of water in the area.

We visited some of the buildings, including the adobe Ghost House which was built in the 1880's and once was a refuge for cattle rustlers.  Redone in the 1930's by a rancher and purchased by O'Keeffe in 1933.  Disappointed that we saw very little of O'Keeffe's work - it is at a large museum in Sante Fe.

The Agape Center is a beautiful adobe chapel.

There are also two museums on the grounds, mostly archeological(which were closed); a ranch for rescued horses, and assorted other buildings.  

This flamingo was at a gas station and country store on our way back to Taos. It DID get our attention, which I guess is the purpose. 

We headed back into Taos and visited Taos Plaza which is a traditional gathering place surrounded by shops.  Some construction going on in the  plaza, so it wasn't at its best.  There were some beautiful shops and galleries, mixed with a few "tourist souvenir" type places and restaurants.  All beautiful adobe buildings. We had been to Taos Pueblo a few years ago which is a much more interesting destination, imho.

We continue a little north of town to Columbine Campground in Carson National Forest for the evening.  Pretty basic with faucets for water and pit toilets but nicely wooded with rocky mountains across the way.  Many noisy stellar jays.  Even though the evening is cool, there are no campfires, as there have been fire bans everywhere.  Of the 28 campsites only a few empty ones.

We break out the cribbage board and the luck goes Beth's way tonight.