In trying to speed blog, I forgot totally to mention how utterly beautiful the country was today that we traveled through. I'm getting tired and still need to stretch but I want to say a few words. Along FR144, it's mostly at 10,ooo' and above and you really get the feeling of being in a high altitude alpine setting. It's cooler up there for one thing. Other than lots of dandelions I didn't notice a whole lot of other flowers because it's still early. The dandelions are stunted at that altitude - the flowers and leaves are smaller and give the plant the delicacy and the beauty of a true wildflower and not just a domestic, hated weed. The effect of a meadow carpeted with emerald green grass and speckled by short, yellow dandelions is a happy one. The spruce and fir forest is quite captivating even when just seen while driving along the road. Everywhere there are meadows that invite you to stop and explore their secrets. Aspen are plentiful and the place puts on a magical, golden extravaganza in the fall.
From both sides of Tschicoma there are beautiful views - the Jemez Mountains and Valles Caldera toward the south and west and the Nacimientos, Pedernal, Polvadera and Ghost Ranch country toward the west and north. For that matter, the views from all along FR144 are spectacular as well. It's really a Rocky Mountain high experience but without driving up to Colorado!