Chaco Canyon - both the place and the people - envelops you in its magic, making it difficult to leave. I have found this to be true every time I visit.
I just returned from Chaco - a week later than planned! Can you relate? This is the first time I was actually able to stay, since I have created my work (editing and writing) to be mostly mobile.
Hence my lag on blog posting, since I was without internet access for over a week longer than expected. Oops!
The good news is that I have lots to write about for upcoming posts, after nearly a month in fabulous northern New Mexico: Santa Fe and Chaco.
See what I wrote about the spring equinox in several earlier posts.
Why couldn't I leave (i.e, my excuses)?
- My friends, the park rangers and volunteers, twisted my arm really hard - honest!
- OK, so my arm twists easily, and I am good at doing it myself.
- They put sugar in my gas tank, and punched holes in my tires, so I couldn't leave. No? Well, they threatened to ...
- I needed more time in the canyon, to do all the back country hikes, and visit all my favorite sites (a common excuse).
- I had a chance to ride a bike through the canyon - highly recommended. (Watch for an upcoming post.)
- I volunteered to stay and help when it was expected some large groups (~150 and 75 people) would be coming into the canyon (The Longest Walk 2 and the Hopi Sacred Runners). Turns out they did not come through as expected, but it sure would have been interesting to see them.
- Then the stormy weather made leaving on the south road potentially dangerous, so I waited for better weather. I got to see snow!
- Tried taking some star photos, then had to wait for more clear night sky to try again! I did get some decent shots, to be posted later.
What else is it about Chaco that makes it so difficult to leave?
- Abundant wildlife: elk, ravens, hawks, turkey vultures, bats, rabbits, badgers, birds ...
- Refreshing, energizing high desert air
- Gorgeous scenery and 360-degree vistas
- Ancient Anasazi sites, with their beautifully crafted masonry walls
- Learning about and connecting with the ancient Chacoans
- Back country hiking
- Incredible night skies, full of endless stars
- Weather and strong winds that strip you to your essence
- Chaco lets you simply Be, Now, in this Moment
What are your reasons for not wanting to leave Chaco?
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