What I did last week: A Photo Essay

Last week we went to Santa Fe to celebrate Dan’s graduation from Nursing School. (We’ll use any excuse to go see Erica!) Here is our week in photos. Click on each photo for the full size.

SUNDAY  
We arrived in Albuquerque and drove up to Santa Fe. Up? Yes, Santa Fe sits at 7,199 feet above sea level, making it the highest state capital in the United States. We all took our supper at Maria's New Mexican Kitchen.

MONDAY
I woke up early (I woke up early all week!) and took a two mile walk through the arroyo behind the hotel. It was enjoyable, but I would regret it later.

Looking back toward the hotel.

Later, Mary spent the day with Erica and I went with the Beckwiths to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. We started the hike at 5,731’ and ended at 6,299’

view from the top of Tent Rocks

TUESDAY
The Beckwiths headed to Bandelier National Monument while Mary and I went to Ghost Ranch. This was the drive up to Ghost Ranch and me just hanging out at the cabin.

WEDNESDAY

I woke up and went the other way in the arroyo behind the hotel.

Actually, I left the arroyo and discovered this trail

In the afternoon we went to Dan’s Pinning ceremony at Santa Fe Community College.

THURSDAY
Mary and I looked out the window of the hotel, saw some mountains, and decided to go explore them. We wound up at Arroyo Hondo Open Space. Here you start at 7,045' and end up at 7,284'

looking down on Santa Fe

Then we drove down to Albuquerque for Dan’s graduation. This was held in The Pit at the University of New Mexico. Here is Dan getting his diploma and his whole family. It was nice to get to meet the family! They came from England and Australia for this event.

FRIDAY
The Beckwiths headed to Colorado and we headed to Arizona to go to the Grand Canyon. Here I am in Winslow, Arizona.

We visited the Grand Canyon National Park Saturday and Sunday. Photos cannot do justice to this magnificent park. Actually, two days is not nearly enough to see the park either.

We were able to briefly hike the South Kaibab Trail down into the Canyon. The trail begins at the South Rim which is at 7,200’. Ooh Aah Point is 6,600’

We discovered that Mary is sensitive to changes in elevation. I, on the other hand, am insensitive to these changes. As Mary said, Like most other areas of life!

Sunday we drove down to Phoenix for the red-eye back to Charlotte. This was a great trip!