While we are definitely having an amazing experience, life comes along with us. Our blog is about the wonderful things and great times we're having, but the frustrations, unexpected setbacks, and stresses life brings us all are still very much a part of our lives.

We love to read your comments and answer your questions. You can also comment on individual photos in the linked photo albums as well.

Next Up

You never know what life will bring, so our itinerary is tentative. Our plans are to head west in 2023 and eventually make it up to Alaska in Summer 2024. Hope to see you along the way!

• Mar 19 - May 13: Kanab, UT
• May 13 - May 20: Phoenix, AZ
• May 20 - Jun 24: Los Angeles, CA  
• June 25 - July 29: San Francisco, CA 

Santa Fe was a logical stop along the way to the National Parks we want to see. It is also close enough to Taos, which we heard is spectacular, to be able to visit on a day trip. 

Embarrassingly, we didn't know that Santa Fe is within the southern part of the Rocky Mountains. So that was a definite added bonus for us.

Just like a home, there will never be a perfect Airbnb. As long as our non-negotiables are met, we'll book it.

• Within Budget 
• Room for our kids
• Good Reviews
• Safe Area
• Reliable WiFi

• Areas for us to work
• Washer & Dryer
• Functional Kitchen
• Room for Kim to get away from Dave

We love being able to catch up with old friends as we travel the country!

Former boss Janine and coworker Diane live just outside Albuquerque so we were able to meet for a wonderful lunch. They are loving the retired life and traveling as much as they can. As all of us are recovering Harcourt editors, we had plenty to catch up on with that as well as our personal lives.

So much fun ... loved seeing them!

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We haven't had much experience with snow, so it's always fun for us to experience a snowstorm. As long as it's not a lose power shut down the city no internet kind of storm.

Aside from Dave's slip and fall on the ice in the driveway while taking out the trash (miraculously, no injury incurred), we loved watching the snow fall and accumulate.

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"Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of rugged but beautiful canyon and mesa country as well as evidence of a human presence here going back over 11,000 years.  Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities."

We keep saying all the parks, monuments, etc. are stunningly beautiful, but truth is truth. And Bandelier National Monument is just that. Other-wordly. Breathtaking.

The thing we've been looking forward to most is to be able to explore the well-known national parks ... Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, etc. Of course, we know these places are going to be stunningly beautiful as well, but we have been in awe of all of the places we've visited thus far which we had never heard of before.

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"Pecos is a cultural crossroads through which hunters and gatherers, traders, conquerors and explorers, immigrants, soldiers, ranchers and tourists passed. Walk the trails and imagine Pecos through the centuries. Explore sites where cultural demonstrations and traditional practices continue today - a living legacy of the people who passed this way."

Another beautiful park, and it was really cool to see all of the old structures from the Pueblo Indians and the Spanish. We got to see several Kivas, used for religious and ceremonial purposes, remnants of housing/shelter, and church ruins. And stunning views of vistas.

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"At 650 feet above the river, The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is the second highest bridge on the U.S. Highway System and the fifth highest bridge in the United States."

So beautiful. We couldn't stop looking and taking pictures.

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We loved our neighborhood. All of the homes were adobe homes which, of course, is a big change as to what we're used to. The earth tones fit in perfectly with the New Mexico landscapes. A scenic trail was right around the corner from our house.

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"Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago. These images are a valuable record of cultural expression and hold profound spiritual significance for contemporary Native Americans and for the descendants of the early Spanish settlers."

There was a steep, rocky, and precarious climb to the top of the main hill, and lots of petroglyphs to see. A really strong wind didn't help. But the views from the top were well worth it.

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"The most popular tour in our area, this National Forest Scenic Byway circles Wheeler Peak, the highest in New Mexico at 13,161 feet. Throughout the drive, you’ll see some of the oldest rocks in the southwest – quartz and feldspar that date back two billion years."

Spectacular. Breathtaking. Unbelievable. A must if you're anywhere near Taos. Taos is a 90-minute drive from Santa Fe.

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"This alpine lake park,  is located on the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway  and is surrounded by the stunning scenery of the high mountains of the Moreno Valley, including views of Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico."

While this park is meant to be used in summer, it was breathtakingly beautiful in the winter. The entire lake was frozen over and the views were spectacular. And MAN was it windy!

Next post will be about our time in Kanab, Utah. We're staying there for two months so look for the next post in late May. 

Hope to see you on the road!

-D&K