A slow morning, the sunrise fills my eyes. I look around and all is peaceful. The campground is quiet. I just lay moving with the slow wave of cool air. I realize that this will not last. The rising sun will soon take all this away until it sets below the horizon once more.
Today we will ride to the Salmon Ruins site where Nancy was on a dig unearthing this village fifty-two years ago. This is the history that I found on the museum’s website:
“The ruins found at Salmon, a large Chacoan Anasazi living complex, date back to the 11th century. Once the largest outlying Chaco Canyon colony, Salmon Ruins was occupied by an estimated 200 to 300 people. The structure stood three stories high and featured a central towering kiva, great kiva, and more than 200 rooms. The distinctive style of stonework used is the same as that found at Chaco Canyon (Chaco Culture National Historical Park). The first or Primary Occupation began A.D. 1088 and the Secondary Occupation began after the abandonment of Chaco Canyon and involved major modifications of the original architecture. The remodeled Pueblo became the largest on the San Juan River until it was officially abandoned in the late 13th century. Salmon is unique in that research at the site continues. In 2008 Salmon Ruins archaeologists discovered a Summer Solstice and Lunar Standstill Observatory”.
Nancy has a much better knowledge of this history than I, for a better understanding click here
We begin the tour by walking through the replica village, the introduction before going to the ruins.
Moe is very tired with the heat so we fill a water bowl for him to have while he waits for us to finish the tour in the car with the AC keeping him cool. He doesn’t like missing out on the adventures but I’m sure he is happy to not be walking in the sun for two hours.
The Salmon ranch in the 1870’s:
The Village:
Nancy and I are exhausted and thirsty by the time we get back into the car. Moe looks to be in better form than the two of us and happy to be united with his pack.
After a light cold dinner we walk with Moe to the rim of the lake. We finish the day with watermelon that has been in the cooler in ice water. A perfect ending.
