Aztec National Monument and Four Corners, April 26

Above, the butte which greets you as you arrive in Chaco and looms in the distance as you leave.  Goodbye Chaco.

The drive on  thirteen mile dirt road from Chaco to the paved section did not seem as bad going out as it was going in.  I noted that the campground was beginning to fill up with weekend visitors as I left. I did note, most were truck campers or tent campers....

Ahhh, the sound of smooth pavement as I turned on to Highway 550 heading north towards Highway 64 towards Farmington, NM. Sandi had noticed on the map that we would be just a short distance from Aztec National Monument so I took a short detour to Aztec to see the ruins.  (Oh no, not another ruin!)The monument was very different from Chaco in that you could only go in parts of the ruin, and there was a paved path all the way around  it.

 The masonry was different than some of the ruins I saw at Chaco.

 An unusual T shaped door.  There was no explanation for the T shaped doors.

 One of the Kivas at Aztec:

 This is a replica of what a Kiva may of looked like.  There are small individual rooms behind each window, possibly for observers.

 This is what it may have looked like inside as you step down.

 The ceiling was interesting.

OK. Another Monument Stamp for the National Passport Book, and we were on our way to Four Corners Monument, run by the Navajos.  I had heard that it was worth the stop and a good place to see lots of Navajo artisans at work and sample some native food.

 Normally the booths are filled with artisans, but again, this is April and the season is not quite underway.  The place looked pretty deserted. I did see a few Navajos working on pottery and jewelry and  I did get some Fry Bread with cinnamon and sugar.  Ymmm.

OK.  I've officially touched all four corners.

Four Corners monument has a small tribal run campground, which I planned to stay at.  Closed.  Don't they know there are people like me who like to avoid crowds and travel at weird times?  I ended up pulling off for the night near Mexican Waters.  Sandi wasn't too thrilled about parking off the highway on a very large dirt pull off.  I gave her my baseball bat and large flashlight which holds four D cell batteries for protection.  Shhhh, don't tell her husband.  He would have a fit.

Moving on.  Next, Canyon de Chelly, another national monument I have been trying to see for several years so stay tuned.