Today was a driving day, up from Santa Fe to Farmington in the northwest corner of the state. Much of the country was what I call terrible beauty; the cliffs and mesas look as though they have been heavily mined, when they haven't, and valleys and long vistas of rock and scrub do make you wonder (as John asked) how people ever settled out here. There is obviously enough water to sustain a bit of grazing, and in Farmington there are three rivers. Our B&B sits on one of them, which is quite full and fast-moving.
The B&B is odd and charming, run by a couple. Our room is a bedroom in their house. John says B&B's are always run by eccentric women - I wouldn't know, but of course I like eccentrics. The swamp cooler is broken, and the guy who fixes it has been having to take care of his mother and then his truck broke down, so would we be all right with just another fan? We would (even though it is hotter than hell here.) The house doggie is lying on the floor of our room enjoying the fan.
This visit is my apology to Farmington for dissing it a few years ago. When I was through here last, I saw only the worst side of town, and I had no idea that Bisti was up here. Tonight we drove through a quaint downtown, had a good dinner at a local brew pub, and are sleeping at the edge of the river. Sometimes I have to remember to look a little harder.
Tomorrow: up insanely early to beat the heat out to the Bisti Badlands. Yahoo!
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