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Heading EAST today on Interstate 40.   Driving out the Albuquerque this morning the sun was filtering down through the clouds to create Jacob’s Ladders in front of Sandia peak.

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Half way to Albuquerque we stopped at El Morro National Monument.   Twice before on our travels we had passed the sign on Interstate that indicated the turnoff to El Morro.   This was just something I could not do for a third time.   El Morro is a sandstone bluff (a headland) that has had for hundreds of years a reliable waterhole at its base.   Given the scarcity of surface water in this part of New Mexico this has made El Morro a popular campsite for hundreds of years.  Over the years the Puebloans, Spanish and American travelers carved petroglyphs, signatures, messages, and dates into the sandstone.  They all felt the need to in some way make a record of their presence at that place.   Its neat to walk along the cliff face and see the names of Spanish Conquistadors next to those of a settlers heading west.   The simple carving made by a native next to the names of the surveyors for the Union Pacific Railroad.  

After reaching Albuquerque we took Will to dinner at Sadie’s (see entry for May 22nd).   It wasn’t as good as the first time – we will hope that was because this time it was a busy Saturday night.  




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