Day started early, being on the road at 5:15. Soon, though, through the Cibola Natl Forest the sun rose to reveal the beauty of the mountains encircling me with a sunny 32degrees. It was then I chuckled at the next town, Chilili, when it was indeed chilly. Have to find out what a land grant is, since there were areas specified as land grants. I arrived early to Salinas Pueblo Missions, but soon the gate was opened to enter and I walked the trail around the visitor center. There were many egg-like things on the ground which I later found out were wild gourds. 
Franciscans had come to bring salvation to Indians; but, requiring the Indians to give up their “demonic” practices shows the lack of respect for centuries-old practices. There were 3 sites with ruins. The main visitor center is one block away from its map designation and signage, so a kindly man outside the library in Mountainair NM assisted me. After viewing video and museum I headed to El Malpais on a scenic route.
El Malpais is equivalent to Badlands, interesting to look at but not so good for gardening. Three videos at Visitor Center explained the history of the land. There is a labrinth cave beneath the desert there, lava tubes, and also Sandstone Bluffs and La Ventura Natural Arch. Fascinating to me was the reference that the area shows the timelessness/eternity of Mother Earth and I think that we, too, carry within us all the events in our lives as timeless beings in the present. On route 117 viewing the creation with lava, rock formations, and wildlife, I saw about 15 elk. I heard agonizing animal sounds in the distance. A male and female elk stood on the road, trying to decide whether or not to go investigate the source of the sound. The male changed directions at least 3 times, until finally both the male and female darted in the direction of the sound. The others in the herd stayed in the field.
Cracks me up that there’s a town in New Mexico called Truth or Consequences! There was quite a large expanse of land for Tierra Grande, referred to as a covenant community; wonder what that is. It’s cool there’s banks called, My Bank-so when someone says they’re going to My Bank, that’s what it’s called; reminds me that my dad played at a piano bar called “the Office”, so patrons could tell others they were at the office even though it was a bar!
Now Is Heaven 
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