Gila cliff dwellings, hot springs and more

It's been a while since my last update because there's been very limited cell service and no data.
Someone at Cherry Creek Campground told me about the Gila hot springs Campground, where you can camp for $8 a night and have 24 hour access to 3 really nice soaking pools. So on Friday the 28th of April we went there and arranged to stay four nights.

I could have stayed forever. It was very quiet not crowded and dogs were allowed to roam free as long as they got along with each other which Duchess did an excellent job of.

The hike up to the cliff dwellings was amazing. It's a one mile loop with quite an elevation gain but you can actually walk through the Gila cliff dwellings.
The Hot Springs Campground is a stopping point on the Continental Divide Trail where hikers can spend the night, soak, meet other hikers, exchange food and other items and just generally relax. I met and spoke with eight or nine different hikers and as I was leaving left some food and a small tent in the travel trailer that's used as a place to recharge devices and exchange items. Someone had left a very nice acoustic guitar in a case in there, obviously because it was too heavy to hike with.
There is a general store called Doc Campbell's Post just up the road from hot Springs. Hikers on the trail have packages of food and other things mailed to them there.
Most of the hikers I met were prepared but there were two young guys who were almost out of food and we're buying ramen, potato chips and m&m's at Doc Campbell's.
Several people including one on Twitter had told me about El Morro National Monument near Grants, New Mexico which has a free fourteen day stay campground so I decided to head there and check it out. It is an amazing place.
We left the Hot Springs on Tuesday May first and drove to El Morro through some incredibly beautiful country and arrived that afternoon. It was sunny and warm and just barely windy. That is where I am currently recording this to upload at a later date when Wi-Fi is available.

We met an interesting couple, actually a triple the first night we were here. We'll call them Art and Little Dove and well go ahead and call the dog Bronco which was his name. He was a good boy.
Little Dove was a very sweet part Apache part Hispanic, I don't know that entire genealogy but just a very nice lady who fed me vegan black bean green chili lettuce tomato taco that was delicious and I still appreciate to this very moment.
Art was a Vietnam veteran around my age probably. We differ politically 100 % but being both Americans we were able to sit across the table and talk while we ate and around a fire while we drank.
We got along great considering the fact that I am as die hard liberal as they come and Art said that Trump has never told a lie.
Still, you can tell a lot about a couple by their music selection.
Little Dove was flipping through a container of CDs that had pretty much everything that I would listen to myself. Lots of really good old classic rock and folk music and the very first thing that she put on was one of my favorites by John Prine.
Anyway, I helped them set up their very cantankerous, old Coleman pop-up travel trailer. They offered beer and food so we ate we drank we built a fire and talked. The dogs got along incredibly well and I was sad to see them go the next day.
So Art and Little Dove once again I wish to thank you for your hospitality and your friendship.
And Art if you're reading this, no way I will ever say "I understand" but I wish to say as they do in the land which gave us the Statue of Liberty and freedom fries, Vive la difference and God bless America.
The next morning, Wednesday May second we woke to twenty six degrees, then later drizzle which turned to light snow, then sleet so most of the day was spent in the tent.

Later the sky cleared and we had the last fire before they issued a burn ban. A park ranger came around and zip tied laminated flyers to the fire pits.
Thursday May third I took the half mile loop to the pool that drew people here originally. There are some old petroglyphs and inscriptions from passing settlers.

I didn't realize dogs were allowed on the trail so Duchess stayed in the truck.

That night, just after sunset, I saw Mars rising in the east and Venus setting in the west.
Friday, May fourth I decided to take Duchess on the two mile loop to the top of the rock. That was a mistake. She would not stay on the trail, stopped unexpectedly several times and almost tripped me. We made it the half mile to the top to the dwellings but then the previously well marked trail disappeared.

I was beat from the climb and frustrated with Duchess so we turned around and went back.
I made black bean, green chili and onion corn cakes for dinner and have leftovers for a couple of days.
Saturday, May fifth we slept late enjoying the sun warming the tent. After getting in trouble for letting Duchess off leash in the campground we went to a Cinco de Mayo festival at the El Morro Cafe, Cabins and RV Park. It was mostly vendors selling arts and crafts which I can't afford so we went back to the camp to hang out.

Sunday morning, May sixth I woke up ready to travel so packed up and headed out. I'm sending this from Santa Fe on the way north.
I'll update this post with photos at a later date.
I'm lying in the tent this morning listening to the wind so decided to slowly upload images.