We were able to go to
Mesa Verde National Park in early March 2020 Park because our Xscaper friends Roger and Kate allowed us to say on their land near Mancos, Colorado. Thank you so much to Roger and Kate!! Their place is beautiful with amazing views of the San Juan National Forest.
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| our RV spot, looking toward the road leading to Mancos |
At the time, the COVID-19 virus restrictions were being put in place and we were not sure if we'd be able to stay on BLM in the nearby National forest. Our go-to app to find land,
iOverlander, a non-profit run by volunteers, did show available spots in the forest and across the freeway from the National Park. So the forest was our backup plan this time.
We arrived in Mancos after a 4-day day at the
Sandía casino in Albuquerque, NM. We were in Albuquerque because the Larry H. Miller Dodge RAM dealership needed a Texas VIN inspection on the new truck, which I delivered on the 9th. It was 4 days for them to generate a check for the money we spent on that
wasted trip (story to come later) to El Paso for the inspection.
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| the 'backside' of Sandia Casino follows their golf course |
We had always wanted to go to Mesa Verde having heard over and over about the famous cliff dwellings there. A fellow park host volunteer at
Enchanted Rock in 2018 had told me to see the park, no matter what. He said it was not to be missed if we were ever in the area. So, since we were close we decided to go check it out, with no plan.
Of course, my park host friend was right. Mesa Verde NP is unique in its character and purpose. The National Park functions as (what I believe is) a repository for the collection of items found there in the Indian cliff dwellings and villages on the Mesa. When you first go into the visitor's center, there is a research facility to the right with windows looking in. As if you're in an Indiana Jones movie, there are all kinds of artifacts that have been collected there in the park or removed and then later donated back to the facility.
Here is our album of the park.
