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ABQ: Hot Hike in the Petroglyph National Monument -- Rinconada Canyon Trail (May 23rd)

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The information about this special location in ABQ is fairly straight forward:  "The Petroglyph  National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago."   I did a 3 mile loop-- under a fairly hot sun-- to see these relics, and it was well worth the visit. I enjoyed reading the placards about them, and admiring the natural sprawl of the volcanic rock. As you can see, there were also some great vistas in the clear, bright air of New Mexico. The desert indeed holds its own brand of beauty, especially in the spring, with all the cactus blooms! 
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Jan's Neighborhood in the NW Valley: Land of the Peacocks! Month of May... part one

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After returning from Texas, I spent the month of May at Jan's...exploring more of ABQ and its various wonders, including the proliferation of peacocks in what is known as the North Valley area. These birds were photographed a few blocks away from where he lives. They have taken up residence there in the yards and trees of the residents. Some appreciate them, some consider them an absolute nuisance. Their cry is certainly quite loud! I enjoyed watching them stroll around the streets like they own them...noble birds that they are!   
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Palo Duro State Park, Texas: my last stop before returning to NM! (May 3rd through 5th)

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  Visiting Palo Duro State Park and its canyons was unquestionably the very best part of my month-long sojourn into Texas. I unwittingly saved the best for last, as it were! I was so glad to finally feel my health and energy restored, as great hiking awaited!  First of all, I was completely amazed that such a magnificent natural wonder was "hidden" amidst the otherwise flat, boring plains of western Texas. As I drove toward the Park, I was convinced that Google Maps had to be wrong. I only saw miles of flat prairie, far as my eye could see, with a bare smattering of farmlands and houses throughout. How would it be possible that SUCH different terrain could somehow appear in all this boring flatness? I would soon find out! My GPS was accurate, indeed... as, late afternoon on the 3rd, I suddenly came upon a long line of cars, barely crawling along, about a mile shy of the Park's actual entrance. Holy moly!  Yosemite transfers itself to Texas?!?! It took about half an hour t...
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