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March 28: Petroglyph Rocks and Tent Rocks

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

<– Day 10 – March 27: Caverns & Aliens | Overview | Day 12 – March 29: Holbrook, Arizona, and Route 66 –>

Today we drove north from Tularosa to explore Santa Fe and “Tent Rocks”. Our final destination was Holbrook, Arizona.

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Thursday’s drive from Tularosa to Santa Fe.

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Part of the slot canyon at “Tent Rocks” National Monument

There is no way you can start off a morning wrong when you have hash browns smothered in green chiles and cheddar cheese. It was delicious dish we enjoyed at the local Tularosa gas station restaurant.

Following breakfast, we trekked north for a stop at Three Rivers Petroglyph Site run by the BLM. Within a relatively small area 21,700 petroglyphs have been identified. Within five minutes of hiking we were surrounded by petroglyphs of all sizes and shapes. It seemed every rock was marked.

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After Three Rivers, we renewed our drive northward. On the way we discovered that Tinkertown wouldn’t open until Friday. Moreover, not too far from Tinkertown is Madrid, the town made famous by the WILD HOGS Movie. After pondering our options, we decided that we would have to save Madrid and Tinkertown for some other time.

Our final destination for the day before we turned westward was supposed to be Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. However, my darling wife missed the exit, while I was busy preparing posts. When I looked up from my work, I realized we were driving through Santa Fe (meaning we missed our exit). So, since we were already there, I took her to the old town center, which has been around for 400 years. Some of the bead sellers peddling their wares might just had been around since the beginning.

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Santa Fe, New Mexico, Old Town Plaza

With a quick trip to Santa Fe completed we headed to Tent Rocks. This time we made the mistake of having SIRI guide us. She was off by about five miles, taking us to the center of Pueblo De Cochiti. When SIRI announced our arrival we were surprised to see a governmental building where a National Monument should have been. Unwilling to allow SIRI’s deficiencies to thwart our efforts, we turned around and discovered some signs that guided us a short distance to the park’s entrance.

By this time it became clear that Tent Rocks and the Cochiti Tribe were intertwined, suggesting shades of our recent visit to Canyon De Chelly. However, the fact that this park wanted to charge us a fee gave us a reason for optimism. And, in complete contrast to CDC, our experience at Tent Rocks was excellent. From good vista views to hearty hiking through slot canyons, we had a great time. I can highly recommend it!  Here are just some of our pics.

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Hiking in Sandals and a Sundress . . That’s my wife!

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Once we finished hiking, we headed west until we reached a motel in Holbrook, Arizona.

On Friday we planned to head west along Route 66.

 <– Day 10 – March 27: Caverns & Aliens | Overview | Day 12 – March 29: Holbrook, Arizona, and Route 66 –>

 

2 Comments on “March 28: Petroglyph Rocks and Tent Rocks

  1. James D

    I’ve been here! It was a cool trip. If your down in Arizona, I liked havasupai falls. Hope every thing is well. Looks like you two are having fun!

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