June 15 – Full of culture today. Did our laundry, bought groceries and gas, and hooked up to travel to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. A fabulous museum which addressed every pueblo in the area. I loved to see the pottery of Maria the Potter of San Ildefonso in partnership with her husband, son Popovi, grandson Toni and those donated by her daughter-in-law, Anita Da. There is a better representation here than in the Smithsonian. We left Albuquerque and headed up the canyon to the forest and Jemez Falls Campground. The Jemez Cultural Museum called us in. Very helpful young lady gave us lots of advice about the area. We are IN THE FOREST.

We got set up with anticipation for visiting the Valle Caldera Wilderness in the morning. June 16 – It is like real camping now. I fixed us a great breakfast for campers. Our first hike was to Jemez Falls whose trail head is within the campground. It is beautiful and a lovely hike.

From there we drove on to Valle Caldera. We got there and checked in by 11:30. Such an amazing place which goes back to a Spanish Land Grant. For years I have passed this 100,000 acre beauty and wished I could go in. Twice I have seen movies being made in the valley and in front of an old house. The USA has now purchased the property from a trust. It took time to decide if it would be run by the National Park Service or Forest Service.

We drove the roads just to feel the vastness of the valley and check out the possibility of hikes for the next day and snacked on apples and cheese. We had rain, lightening and the roads were muddy. There is supposed to be great fishing in the streams that run through the property. We pulled out around 5 but not before we photographed the tipi used in the Lone Ranger by Johnny Depp.

We had a good supper and rested up for the next day which would start early.