Travel Log 2019 #8: The End of the West

I didn't finish the log of our Nov/Dec. traveling. Once we got to MS near family I lost the desire to write about it I suppose. Actually, after our time in MS, Johnny and I could write a book. We are still processing everything and seeing what stirs in our hearts and minds as we continue to seek God's direction and guidance in our lives. In the meantime, here is the last part of our Nov/Dec. trip.

12/11/19
We got up that morning (in Cortez, Colorado) and spent the day exploring:

 The park preserves lots of Native cliff dwellings and other living structures. They are amazing. Sustainable living at its finest. Once deserted, they will eventually erode (unless preserved by humans:).  Really thinking about they way they lived makes me sick sometimes when I think about the way we live. All of the modern amenities and conveniences...they are nice, but they don't come without a cost. Of course, I quickly realize my hypocrisy, as I sit with a computer in my lap on the balcony of a 21 story high rise condominium resort. But I always entertain how our lives would be if we lived in a community of family and just worked the land. There are lots of intentional communities popping up that are choosing to do things like this. I have always been interested in reading about them. Back to Mesa Verda...

 When we left the park, we drove over to one of our favorite little stops in Colorado from a past trip: Pagosa Springs. There are natural hot springs along the river in town.

 Seeing it with the snow was an added bonus!

We stayed the night in Sante Fe, New Mexico.

12/12/19

In Sante Fe, snowboarding it was!

 We stayed 2 nights in Sante Fe and then began the trek back towards MS.

12/14/19
We celebrated John Gannon as he turned 14! On the other side of Amarillo (not the Cadillac Ranch side but the east side) we stumbled upon the Volkswagen Ranch! One of Johnny and Jackson's stops for coffee and a bathroom paid off!

We stayed the night in Henrietta, OK.

 12/15/19
The next day looked like this:

Don't worry--they had their seat belts on. They just removed the chest strap. Other than the good looking man driving us down the road, this was the best thing I seen: 

We were on the road for 27 days for that trip. We stayed in MS through the remainder of 2019 and then left for our next adventure.

*We learned we could enjoy life in Utah, Arizona and Nevada (we still go back and say we will retire in Buena Vista, CO one day). We know 100% we have no desire to live in North MS anymore--unless we need to take care of family or other unforeseen circumstances arise (Or God laughs at our foolish and temporal thoughts and says "Watch this!") 

Live a Meaningful Life!