Last day

On the way back to Albuquerque, we found a number of fishing areas open to the public, and we took a couple of strolls through the bright yellow cottonwood trees (main blip and 2nd Extra, which features Sue in her black vest against a spectacular landscape).

We came to some striking red rocks on Jemez Pueblo (1st Extra), and we wanted to walk in and have a look, but there were signs posted saying no entry except with a tour guide. We inquired about that, and we were told the only way to walk among the red rocks was to commit to a two-hour tour with a Native American guide. We would have loved that, but I wasn't up to walking for two hours, and we had to get back to Albuquerque to hand in the car, check into our motel, and make plans for the shuttle on Saturday morning, so we had to give it a pass. We saw one person striding into the red rocks alone, but we mused that it could have been a Native person, and given how much has been taken from the Jemez people, we weren't about to violate their rules about the little land left to them. We drove on. 

While we were at the car rental return, we got a phone call from the motel in Chimayó, saying one of their staff had tested positive for Covid, so we should be aware that we have been exposed and could be infectious. So far we feel OK, but we will test ourselves for the next few days and be cautious about seeing anyone. We masked from that point on.

I didn't make a single photo on Saturday, which was all airports and shuttles and plane changes and bother. My Last Big Trip is over. It was more spectacular than my fondest dreams, and I will be thinking about it, reviewing the photos, and writing about it for a long time to come.