Sean mentioned Mesa Verde as a possible destination for our trip North. Mesa Verde is a National Park near Cortez, CO. Let me tell you, it is more than a National Park.
A view from 7,500'. Rain storm blowing in.
Well there you have a predictable National Park type view, but Mesa Verde is so much more. It is a possible view of our future.
Cliff Palace made by the Ancient Pueblo People
The Anasazi people or Ancient Pueblo People use to live on the top of these Mesas, around AD 600. They farmed corn and grew communities around the area. Everything seemed to be going well until AD 1200. The Anasazi had totally logged (deforested) their land, and years of drought had wrecked havoc with their farming. A time of horrible violence began, and a once peaceful civilization began to spin out of control. Smaller groups of Anasazi fled into the cliffs to find safety in hard to get to and easier to defend locations.
Balcony House, a dwelling of about 40 people.
While exploring these cliff dwellings, and understanding their history, one cannot feel a bit of a chilling similarity to our modern history. History, they say repeats itself and today one could not deny it. Our current history seems no different than the Anasazi's history. What cliffs will we flee to?
The sun begins to set at Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde is not a one hour in and out kind of park. It took a good part of our day and there was so much more to do. This space forces one to ask a lot of questions about our own time line right now. So many questions came to mind, however as the sun began to set we needed to go. We started to drive back down to the US 160 late in the day.
As I drove Sean and I carefully down the mountain road, I noticed a Park Ranger SUV following us. I was taking it easy as the Benz at 7,000' isn't the fastest, so his SUV was following us closely. I decided to pull over at a pull out designed for slower vehicles to let other pass. I soon had the red and blue lights behind me.
The Park Ranger who came out of the SUV had a side arm, this was serious. I didn't walk off any path, I didn't pick any plants, what did I do? "I have pulled you over because you didn't signal your pull over" he said. I thought to tell tell him I pulled over to let his tail-gating ways to pass me, but figured this kind of logic was beyond him. "My turn signal relay is broken sir" I said, which is true, "It hasn't worked right since we left Moriarty in the morning. "Oh, that's no good" he said. "Were both of you wearing seatbelts?" he continued. "I wasn't (it's a god damn park where you pull over every 5 minutes to take a picture!), but my friend was" I replied. "License and registration please" he said. I handed over all the appropriate documents. While the Ranger did whatever they do, I thought "I paid to come in this park and this is what I get?". Twenty minutes ago I saw an couple in their 60s steal wood from the park, yet they made it out of the park because they owned a 2011 Dodge with working signal lights! It is not so bad getting pulled over in a National Park. After all the time they make you wait is filled with breath taking views of nature.
The Ranger returned to my window, "Here you go, consider this a warning" he said. "Thank you sir" I replied. The Ranger continue to idle behind us. "Do you think I can get out to take a picture of the view?" Sean asked. "Sure why not" I replied. Sean got out and the Ranger continued on his way.
My idea was to make it to Moab, UT today, but we decided to take it easy and stop in Cortez, CO. Cortez is small community that serves the tourists of Mesa Verde, and I highly recommend people stop here. We had a great meal at Main Street Brewery, and let me tell you they brew a good beer here too.
Hops growing outside the Brewery!
A great day awaits tomorrow. The Moab and all the South East Utah has to offer!
Don't let the man get you down!
ReplyDelete