on Thursday night for $8 sub and salad combo with a $1 movie rental from Hastings.
Given the incoming bundle of joy, we took every weekend opportunity to hike and camp New Mexico. We had months to attempt what would take years to accomplish.
As Gus and Call fans, we found ourselves hiking a small slot canyon on the Cochiti Pueblo reservation, searching out the Lonesome Dove movie scenes. It was a great day and lasting memory; Maggie and I were alone in the wilderness, climbing and being told not to climb. Good stuff.
Things have changed a bit these last 15 years. Tent Rocks the hidden gem is now Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, run by the BLM, with a pay station, parking lot, rules (about climbing things; apparently, the Mrs. was right on that one; something about "heritage site"). And being Memorial Day, it was just a bit crowded. Easily 200 people throughout the hike; as we went up the slot canyon, we had to wait for others to come down (the narrow passages); as we went down, we waited for those going up.It is just possible that the adults in the family grumped a bit.
Back in the day, there was no one here.
We just stumbled upon it and hiked right in.
I liked this place better before it was discovered.
It's not cool anymore.
Maggie and I were having a great time making sure our kids didn't have a great time, until the Mrs. blurted out, "We sound like hipsters!"It cut me like a knife.
It was a close call.
In hindsight, our petrified memories were doing their best to prevent us from a loverly day, including:
- crisp blue sky with cumulus clouds rolling along,
- a 4-mile hike up a canyon with 5 of TheBowling6 having a great time,
- No one falling off any ledges or down any ravines,
- 12 perfect legs and 6 perfect heads,
- Post hike picnic with fresh tortillas, smoked Patak meat, and a High Life,
- Followed up by a roadside-stand purchased Navajo Taco (the Pueblos call it "Indian Taco", but we all know the truth), and
- A small bit of memory romance with my Mrs.
