We just returned from a couple of weeks in Colorado, which is where our family often goes during the summer. I had to work a little for Jethro Management while we were there, but that’s okay. It was nice to get out of the heat. We’re in a real drought and heat wave here in San Antonio. Temperatures over 100 every day and almost no rain. Water rationing has begun.

On the way home we made our first trip to Mesa Verde, ancient home of the Anasazi, sometimes called ancient Puebloan people. The canyons of Mesa Verde are massive, a smaller version of the Grand Canyon, and there are thousands of cliff dwellings throughout the park, most of them inaccessible and unexplored.

The largest dwelling at Mesa Verde. Click for larger image

If you want a high resolution panorama photo of the cliffs, I created one that you can download view or download here.

Reiley and I took a 3 mile hike on a very rugged trail that led us high into the canyon walls to some petroglyphs left by the Anasazi.

Anasazi Petroglyphs - Click for larger

If you want a high resolution panorama of the petroglyphs, I created one that you can download view or download here.

Some Hopi gave their best translation of the glyphs in 1941, though it should be stated that the exact relationship between the Hopi and the Anasazi is unknown. The word Anasazi might mean ancient ancestors or ancient enemies. The Hopi may well of taken the land from the Anasazi, though the current, gentler version of the story is that they are direct descendants. But their interpretation, based on their ancient stories is as close as we will get. There is a swirl at the top right which is the vortex out of which their people were born. A trail leads to another vortex, which might be their arrival at Mesa Verde. Along the way "Whipping Kachinas" kept the peole to the right path, while animal symbols represent the various clans separating along the way. Mountain Goat Clan, Bird Clan, etc. etc.

It was very cool to see. It was just as cool to spend time with Reiley, who is as curious and excited about things like this as I am. Reiley is 20 now, and we’ve shifted into a friendship relationship, which I love. I don’t expend much energy parenting her anymore. None, really. She's her own person now.

While we were on the way, we stumbled across a small set of ruins that was not on the beaten path, so we got to see them up close.

We had a great time being together, all five of us. With Reiley now in her 20s, I keep wondering when will be our last time on vacation with the three sisters. She will have an increasingly complex life of her own before long.

I'm glad to be back home. I have a number of things to write about, and I'm kicking my next book into high gear as well.

rlp