Our goal was to visit Hovenweep National Monument and surrounding sites just north of the 4 corners. And we decided to spend some time in the Jemez Mountains both on the way north and on the way back home. So this was a trip of mountains and forests and deserts and ruins and rocks. 

In the Jemez mountains - Santa Fe National Forest 

San Gregorio Lake - about 9000 feet above sea level

Pine Needles fading in the sun

Dennis relaxing at our campsite

Hovenweep

We also visited the Canyon of the Ancients in SW Colorado

And the Lowry Ruins - that are believed to have been the northern-most reaches of the Chaco Canyon complex

And the Kachina Petroglyph Panel - in SE Utah along the San Juan River. This was a long dark-stained cliff wall with thousands of glyphs believed to be up to 3000 years old. 

Driving across the Navajo Nation. (The first time I visited here the roads were still mostly dirt and the people were still often living in hogans. Not now.)

Shiprock

Life in the Jemez Mountains

Dinner for two