We began in southwestern CO, where I just had to take this picture of a high mountain meadow (10,000 feet - almost as high as top of Timp)

1. the meadow, 2. sign for Lizard peak above the meadow, & 3. Lizard peak.  As beautiful as are our mountains, Colorado has more than 50 peaks above 14,000 ft.

The next stop was the ruins at Mesa Verde, just east of Pueblo, CO.  Only took a couple of pictures of the exits out of the ruins, which are actually located in openings in the sides of cliffs .

1.  18 foot ladder we had to climb, and 2.  opening through which we had to squeeze.

Next stop was Albuquerque and the balloon museum.  The annual hot air balloon festival (the largest in the world) is held there each October.  The museum has all kinds of balloons that have been used since people began to use them.  Didn’t feel like pictures could really justify.

Next was another set of native ruins at Chaco Canyon,  New Mexico (northeastern). Unlike those at Mesa Verde, these ruins are above ground.

1.  Info sign, 2.  Layout of the original complex, and 3.  some of the ruins

Next stop was Sedona  Arizona (northwestern).  However, on the way there in western New Mexico, we came across the Very Large Array (VLA) of receivers that make up the world’s largest radio telescope, operated by the NRAO (National Radio Astronomy Observatory).  By placing 27 large receiver dishes in a Y-array, they are able to simulate a a receiver dish that would be 22 miles in diameter.   They are on tracks that allow them to be arranged in a variety of configurations.

The mountains of northern Arizona are very nice, so the trip into Sedona from NM was very scenic and enjoyable (just the stuff for which motorcycle rides are made).  Sedona is very beautiful and is nestled in the mountains south of Flagstaff.  There is a spiritual mystique associated with it that attracts all kinds of people such as artists searching for inspiration for their work and other kinds of spiritual guidance.  Unfortunately (from my perspective), it has become very touristy (e.g., take Park City or Jackson, WY times 10 for gift and crafts shops and jeep tours).  But, it makes for a very interesting visit.  Unfortunately, we had been a bit too leisurely on our trip to that point, so weren’t able to spend but a couple of hours there.

1.  A shot of the area surrounding Sedona, 2.  intro to the road north to Flagstaff, 3.  a shot back at the road (very nice ride)

We stayed the last nite in Blanding, Utah (very southeastern corner), but on the way there from AZ, we saw a couple of very interesting sites I’d previously heard of, but hadn’t visited.  The first was monument valley, which is a large flat, kinda barren valley, but from which protudes some very interesting formations (e.g.,)

The second was Mexican Hat, which is the name of a very small town, BUT is named for a very interesting formation as I’m certain you’ll agree

As it turned out, when I stopped to take the first picture, I felt something biting my leg, and looked down to find myself standing in an ant bed.  For the next few miles, I was patting my legs and bottom, killing ants — not fun, but not too serious.

Surely everyone can see why God created motorcycles!!!