A Quick Stop in Colorado

We had gotten a bit ahead of our road trip schedule by the time we were ready to leave Moab.  It could be because we have such efficient travel skills....although the original plan was pretty vague so maybe not!

Anyway, we decided to take a quick trip across into Colorado to visit Mesa Verde National Park and make the most of our time.

Mesa Verde is a bit different from the previous parks we've been to, it has plenty of rocks and canyons of course, but it is also the site of the cliff dwellings of the Ancient Pueblo people who lived in the area until about 1300 AD.  

We took a ranger-guided tour up into the section called Balcony House, this involved squeezing through a few tunnels and climbing ladders up the cliff face which was quite fun, as well as educational!  The ladders were put in by the Park Department, the people who lived here would just climb up and down the cliff face - we were glad that we didn't have to do that.  

The buildings were really impressive and amazingly intact considering how old they are.  We learnt loads about their construction and the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people, well worth the $3 tour fee!

Afterwards we went to the museum and around one of the larger dwellings called Spruce House.  This was a 'self-guided' tour so I was being the guide using the tour notes booklet - I thought I was doing a great job, Rosie kept wandering off though!  She didn't do that on the ranger's tour!

We have been warned about bears again at our campsite tonight - still hoping for a bear sighting (from afar!). This could be our last chance.

Practicing my rock grinding skills!

I had a bit of a nightmare flashback to Angel's Landing on this section with the chains!

I'm explaining the architecture...but where's my audience, Rosie?!

Heading down into an underground chamber (Kiva)

No bear spottings - but I got up in the night and was surrounded by eyes!! I didn't know what they were at first until my eyes adjusted and I could tell they were just deer. We must've put the van in a particularly tasty spot because there were at least 8 all around the van. I was still a bit scared of bears on the walk to the bathroom but when I got back I sat up and watched the deer in the moonlight for a few mins-it was really cool.

Tomorrow we will turn back West and start making our way back to LA :-(