Joan and I spent a weekend camping, seeing post-Pueblo Revolt structures and images in the “Land of Enchantment” with our good friends Holly and Dan.
Joan met Holly a few years ago at a job they both worked at. Over time, we built a strong friendship with both Holly and her partner, Dan. Though they now live in New Mexico, we still meet up regularly.
Joan and I camped out, enjoyed a quiet evening off a dirt road at a spot we have used before, and met Holly and Dan the next morning.
On this trip, we visited post-Pueblo Revolt structures called pueblitos—a part of New Mexico history not widely known outside the region.
The Pueblo Revolt saw Pueblo people drive the Spanish out of New Mexico for over a decade. When the Spanish returned, many communities built pueblitos, small defensible sites tucked into cliffs and mesas. Both the Diné and Pueblo people constructed them and mingled their cultures.
The revolt forced Spain out for a time and stands as one of the most effective Indigenous uprisings in North American history.
For someone who grew up in New England, the equally lesser-known but very impactful King Philip’s War inversely comes to mind.
Heady thoughts as we made our way down the canyon on a sunny day.
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Later that night, we camped at Navajo Lake. The campground was clean, well-kept, quiet, and even had hot showers. It also felt eerily quiet. The marina has closed indefinitely, something we are seeing more of in this very low-snow year and likely a sign of things to come. It felt almost post-apocalyptic.
Makes me wonder how long this and similar campgrounds will stay open?
At least we had a cooler of good craft beer.
The following morning, we headed up another canyon and found an impressive, large structure in a quiet area.
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More thoughts on the waning of eras and the ebb and flow of history. Wars, climate, and leadership. It all shifts over time.
But the beer stayed cold, the friendships stayed strong, and the person I share it all with remains an anchor in my life.
