hearing about the owl, and our kayaking adventures (read below).
The kayaking is great! We kayaked from the Rec Area and around into a little cove that was lined by incredible quartz and other chunks of pretty rocks. We didn't even get out of the kayaks and just looked at the rock from in our kayaks. I saw a particularely interesting looking bank that I thought had the potential to hold some fossils. I pulled my kayak onto shore and climbed up the steep, slippery slope 20 or 30 feet until I got to the bank. Suddenly something big flew out of a crevice right at my feet! I soon realized it was an owl after it landed on a knarled pine tree across the cove. Out of instinct I looked into the crevice and saw something I've wanted to see for years but haven't, a baby owl. It pretty much looked like a ball of feathers with two little eyes on the front. The only way to tell that this bowling ball sized baby was alive was because it was heaving out and in like a ball inflating and deflating every few seconds. Laying right in front of it was the product of it's mother's hard work and honed hunting skills, a large rabbit. By now the mother owl was hooting at me every 10 or 15 seconds, obviously irritated. I didn't want to scare her off so I slipped (literally) back down the slope and into my kayak again.
Another day we also kayaked across the lake to Tetilla Peak campround straight across from where we were. The wind started blowing hard on the way back. The front of my kayak scooped up the water, as I went through the waves, like a shovel. Once we finally got back to our side of the lake we faced another challenge, climb up a really steep gravel bank for 40 or 50 feet to get to the road at the top. Dad and I each grabbed the front of our kayak and drug them behind us. I didn't really want to slip because of the large rocks and logs at the bottom of the bank, but unfortunately I was wearing sandals so it was hard to keep my footing. At long last we made it to the top and looked back down the slope and waves we had just conquered. We had fun... and it gave me a great story to tell ya'll.
There are some amazing churches, some that look like cathedrals, and others that look like spanish missions. Somewhere I'd definitely recommend going is the Palace of the Governors. The Palace of the Govorners is the oldest government headquarters in the US. It was actually the seat of Hispanic govornment since the 1600's until it came into the hands of the US. All the doorways are very short to help keep heat from transfering from one room to the next and for defensive purposes. Someone coming through the door would have to duck down when walking through, giving the person inside the room an advantage if there were ever an attack. The "palace" covered several blocks, most of which was a large courtyard in the center, so that the entire city's population could stay inside during a raid on the town outside. There is also a very nice city park which the kids really enjoyed. It has some very unique "toys" that the kids played on. Next to it is a really long walkway with a wooden arch over it. When we were there, vines were just starting to grow around the edges of it. It should be really pretty once it's covered over completely.
My Aunt Mary and Uncle Dave came down and stayed at an inn near the big town square. We went to some of the churches with them and a interesting market being held next to one. At the market there was a man selling fossils from the area. I got talking to him and found out really how many fossils are around the Santa Fe region, a lot! I was really interested, becuase I enjoy fossils and fossil hunting. He gave me some tips and gave the kids each a shark tooth, then we moved on. There are a couple fossil shops in town, each of which is definitely somewhere I'd stop if you like that kind of stuff. The one was more like a store, and the other more like a museum. We also ate at an authentic New Mexican style resturant that was really good, although I'm sure the "authentic New Mexicans" didn't eat like that every day... (ha ha)
with it's wierd pointed dirt domes, and narrow canyons. We went out there a few times, and each time we noticed new things. The wierd "tents" were formed by steam vents from underground lava tubes. Wherever there's a "tent" is where a steam vent was, although some smaller ones have been formed by erosion. One of the times we went, we hiked up a slot canyon trail. It was awesome! The canyon narrowed until it was no more than a couple feet wide and 50 or 60 feet tall. It kept opening up into little ampitheatre type areas that had really wierd formations. Once we got up on top of the ridge, the view was incredible. We could see Cochiti Lake and everything else for mile and miles around. We also found lots of Apache Tears up on top of the canyon. Apache Tears are formed when Obsidian starts to melt into another rock. They are about pea sized and jet black. They are also illegal to take, but they're amazing to look at. Tent Rocks is a must see, I'd say, if you're ever in the area.
We did a lot of stuff and had a lot of fun at Santa Fe and Cochiti Lake. I really look forward to going back!
