Ojo Calliente, NM

 "Warm Eye" in Spanish

As one of the oldest natural health resorts in the U.S., Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa opened its doors in 1868.

Steeped in myth and legend, these ancient springs have been a gathering place and source of healing for thousands of years. The use of the waters can be traced back to the earliest human migrations in the region. The ancestors of today’s Native American Tewa tribes, built large pueblos and terraced gardens overlooking the springs.

Tradition tells us that often-warring tribesmen would set their weapons and differences aside to gather in peace at the springs to enjoy the benefits of the waters, and to trade and heal their wounds and ailments without conflict.

In the 1500’s the Spaniards, in their quest for gold and the Fountain of Youth, also discovered the springs.

 We had tried to make plans in years past for a visit. This time we made it happen. They have beautiful hotel rooms and cabins that include early entry to the springs without a charge. We stayed with the  riff raff in the treed RV section for $40 per night and would walk over to the springs and restaurant and pay for our use of the pools.
Mornings and evening was the best and most comfortable.

  We got a chance to be a kid again in our unique Mud Pool. Where else can you slather mud all over your body and bake in the sun until done? Toxins are released from the pores of your skin as the  special blend of clay dries. You come away feeling cleansed and refreshed!

The mud bath was a new experience. Slather mud from a fountain all over the body, lay in the sun until it dries. I did wear my sunhat which now has the ring of red mud on it "souvenir". Then step into the cool mud bath water to rinse off some of the mud. Then stand under the buckets to rinse off the rest of the mud. Mike offered to take some dirt from New Mexico so I could do it all again once we left and he would hose me down. But the appeal isn't the same. We left all of the dirt there.

The unique combination of four different sulfur-free mineral waters: Lithia, Iron, Soda and Arsenic, with more than 100,000 gallons a day steaming to the surface revitalizing us.

A Native American legend tells that the giant rock in the Iron Pool guards the place where the ancient people of the mesa once received food and water during times of famine. The warm, iron-rich water bubbles up from the natural pebble floor, providing hot spots to discover in this mystical outdoor cliffside pool. Iron is considered to be beneficial to the blood and immune system.

The people visiting the hot springs seemed to be moving in slow motion. I move and talk fast often and found this a bit odd. Maybe the minerals and arsenic was starting to affect them. 

 Every so often a person from the front desk would walk around carrying a paddle with small chimes that read "whisper zone". After a while, I started to slow down a little bit. It could have been that I was getting relaxed from all of that warm water.

Ojo's Santa Cruz Church built by the Spaniards in 1793. They were determined to convert the Natives Indians to Catholics.

Back at the spa...

Smoking mesquite 

National Historic Bathhouse

I had trouble disconnecting while walking the labyrinth. I just kept looking around at everything instead of clearing my mind. I guess that is how I roll.

The hiking trails from the Hot Springs went into the national forest. The Posi Trail and River Bosque Trails.

The waters at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs have been deemed sacred by the 8 Northern Pueblo tribal communities for nearly 3,000 years. Pueblo ruins rest just above the property.

Pottery chards along the trail

This group was going through a smoke purification ritual before their hike. It was getting pretty warm as we returned from our hike.

Old roundhouse.

Old ovens



 We put in for a 6 am wakeup call (set the alarm on my phone) which startled us. Once we remembered why the alarm was going off, we got ready for an early morning hike up to Joseph's Mica Mine. As we walked the 2 miles up to the mine, I wondered how a person would decide where to start digging a mine. As we walked up the last rise before the mine, the ground started to sparkle in the morning sun. At first I though someone had crushed glass all over the side of the hill. When we looked closer, we saw it was "fools gold" mica.

Mica was sparkling all across the face of the hill.

I could have missed this horned toad if he hadn't moved.

Even though we stayed at the hot springs RV park for 4 nights we only used the hot springs one day and opted for massages the next. It was a good base to hike and visit other sites nearby. The temperatures in New Mexico's desert were in the 70s and 80s which sounds great but gets toasty in the sun making electric hookups and air conditioning a good thing.

The restaurant had amazing food. Blue corn and pinon nut pancakes with berries and burrito with green chile and tomatillos. This place was definitely A1!

Taos, NM

Taos was 20 miles up the road and had a Walmart for us to stock up. The town is an old village with plenty of gift shops, art galleries restaurants and more traffic than a person could imagine. Our first trip into town was on a holiday weekend which made the traffic understandable. The next trip was a Monday morning and things hadn't changed. We found a great coffee shop

across the street from the laundry mat and grabbed the last treat which happened to be a chocolate croissant. I usually don't eat croissants but that one could have changed my thoughts on that.

Taos Pueblo UNESCO site

 

There is a UNESCO World Heritage site on  the Taos Pueblo that we needed to check out. For $16 per person you can get a guided tour with a person that lives on the reservation. Even though it was still morning, the sun was heating up. Rather than listen to the stories for 1 1/2 hours in the sun, we did a quick look around and headed into town. I decided to read about the Pueblo online.

Earthships

An Earthship is a type of passive solar house that is made of both natural and upcycled materials such as earth-packed tires.

 

The Earthship  concept began to take shape in the 1970s. The architect wanted to create a home that would do three things: first, it would utilize sustainable architecture, and material indigenous to the local area or recycled materials wherever possible; second, the homes would rely on natural energy sources and be independent from the “grid”; thirdly, it would be feasible for a person with no specialized construction skills to build. Eventually, the vision was transformed into the common U-shaped earth-filled tire homes seen today.

A person can pay $8 for a quick once around the visitor's center or purchase a guided 1 hour tour. We were good with a drive around the area. If you are interested, there are a few available for sale $250,000 or use AirB&B.

 

High Gorge Bridge

One of America’s highest and most famous bridges, the route 64 crossing of the Rio Grande near Taos, New Mexico.

There are several platforms that bend out from the roadway that allow pedestrians to stand several feet out into space - away from the comfort of the main railing and sidewalk - adding to the unease of being so high above the ground. The popularity of the span has also made it a regional suicide magnet with approximately 3 jumpers a year.  The sheer cliffs of the gorge make it an all day affair for the local fire and rescue teams to retrieve the bodies.

A little more Sierra Hermosa RV Park

Each evening was a show as the sunset. The light and changing color was entertainment for us as we sat by the fire. Sierra Hermosa RV Park was a great little place.

The red sky was reflecting on the mountain causing this.

Red River Canyon

We enjoyed our next trip to Red River which is slow 13 miles "up" the road which makes for a very nice 13 miles back down. Fortunately, it was a cool morning and the road was pleasantly shaded as we rode up between the steep canyon walls. There aren't a lot of people in Red River this time of year, known as the mud season. The time between summer and winter skiing.

The tarantulas are out in full force in the fall. 

 

We could have stayed longer but it is time to head down the road once again.

More Questa

Fall

It feels like fall here in New Mexico's mountains. The RV Park has emptied out and very few people on the trails.

 

Questa has been a great stopping off point. The town looks like it has seen its better days on the surface. The Molybdenum Mine closed down. Many people walked away from their homes to build a new life. You have to take a closer look to find the businesses. Once you walk inside, there are some great places and people. The contractors that are reclaiming the mine make up for some of the lost business. Chevron has purchased a large portion of the land overlooking the town. Hopefully, they plan to make an open space. 

Pescado Trail

 

One of the less-traveled paths in the Rio Grande del Norte is the Pescado Trail that connects the Red River Fish Hatchery with the Wild Rivers Visitor Center. This trail gains about 800 feet the first mile and is considered a moderate trail.

We started at the Red River Fish Hatchery. I prefer uphill first and it is a short 3 miles up the road.

\Once we arrived at the rim, it was a nice easy walk with great views. We continued on to make our hike a little longer stopping at the visitors center for a snack.

I walked right over to the edge and looked down after taking this picture. What is wrong with me?

 

The elk came out into the field behind us in the morning and evening a few times. One night, we could hear the elk bugling. It is September. Later, the bobcat started snarling as he walked along the pond next to us. No, we didn't try to see him. I google the sound to see if we were right. I thought about playing the sound next to the window and see what he would do. That just seemed wrong.

We found two groups of bighorn along the Arroyo Hondo River that were nice enough to pose for us on the way to Taos.

St Anthony Church 

 

  It took five years and the devotion and effort of the people to repair a divide in the community and resurrect St. Anthony’s Church. In 2008, the 170-year old walls of St. Anthony’s Church in Questa collapsed. This created a divide in the community, those who felt it wasn’t worth saving and those who felt it was worth saving.
Demolishing the church was not an option for a group of volunteers who began the project to save the Church. After the restoration started, it became apparent, to all of the people of Questa, that the importance of keeping the structure was about more than adobe bricks. It began to attract more and more volunteers, lessening the divide and re-connecting the community.

 

 

Funky homes on our drive in the national forest.

The caboose house

Our morning view

We found some roasted Hatch green chile!

The people we meet along the way make each experience even more special. The neighbors came to enjoy Taos's music festival. They planned to return half way through the day to check on their dog. We offered to dog sit Cassie so they would not have to drive the 40 mile round trip. He marched out with the keys and said thanks. They were so happy. Six month old Cassie reminded us why we don't have a dog. She has more energy than grandkids. We did enjoy spending the afternoon with her.

 

We also met Gregory, a photographer, who has some amazing pictures. Every time we saw him, his camera was in his hands and a story to tell. Check out his pictures at God's Country Gallery .

The two weeks flew by. We need to return to northern New Mexico in the future to visit Ville Vidal, Chama and the Bisti Wilderness Area which are still on the "list".