mesa verde
In 1994 I got a crazy idea. I would drive from California to Michigan with only our eight-year-old son. My one real fear was that we would get a flat tire somewhere. But as we pulled off the freeway in Las Vegas the car in front of me got a blow-out, so I figured that he had gotten our flat, and I relaxed. The eleven-day trip was such a success that we drove home alone as well.
For some reason I was intrigued by Mesa Verde National Park and its Anasazi cliff dwellings dating back centuries. The Anasazi (Ancient Pueblo people) left the Four Corners area in the 14th century and their elaborate dwellings and lifestyle lay undiscovered until the late 19th/early 20th centuries. Mesa Verde is the only National Park dedicated to the work of human beings. All other parks celebrate natural beauty. We planned our return trip to visit this park. After staying at the Far View Lodge, taking a tour and gathering materials, I hoped one day to take David back with me to experience this fascinating place.
And so, as we were planning our cross-country trip with our grandson Campbell, I made reservations to return to Mesa Verde, and booked rooms and a tour of the Long House. After waking on the second morning of our journey, we grabbed breakfast and drove 40 minutes further into the park, walked 15 minutes to the trailhead and received our orientation on what would be included in our tour.
David had seen photos of the cliff dwellings and thought that they indeed looked beautiful, but as we rounded the bend in the trail and had our first glimpse of Long House, he audibly gasped and said “Wow!” My eyes teared up, for after almost 30 years I was once again sharing the experience with two of my favorite guys. It was a most satisfying stop on our trek across the West.
Love, Liz
