If it's Tuesday this must be Taos.

Tuesday we awakened to weather forecasts of rain, thunderstorms and just generally not great weather. We decided that this would be the day to take off for Taos. The first thing that we did in the Morning was to go to the Santa Fe Farmers Market. We got some roasted garlic flat bread and a couple of fresh tomatoes for our salads.

















The tour guide we had on Monday suggested taking the "high road" to Taos so we decided that this sounded like a great idea. This involved some very beautiful scenery and a game of "name that pine tree." It also involved a game of "why does this town exist?" and "wow am I glad that there wasn't a car coming there."









We stopped in Chymayo and checked out two traditional weaving studios/stores. One thing that surprised me was that their looms were the kind that you stood at. Give a a good loom bench any day. One place the gentleman explained the differences in the patterns and how their weaving had evolved over time and which patterns were from which era.

Back on the road for more clutching the dashboard and wondering when the rain was going to start. We did make it to Taos.






It was amazing how the landscape had changed from Santa Fe. Things were actually green up here. We found the first weaving destination with little or no trouble and enjoyed looking at their gallery and other items that they had for sale. Luckily there is very little room left in the luggage so I did not buy any yarn. The next place sold wonderful fabric, the sort of fabric that one does not find in your average fabric store. There was this cashmere shawl with hand knotted fringe that was calling my name, but I resisted. Then on to lunch at a place called Orlando's north of town. Another one of those places where tourists just don't show up. We had blue corn tortilla enchiladas filled with shrimp. Yum.

One more weaving shop then back on the road for Espanola. We took the "River Road" back. This meant that we drove along the Rio Grande for most of the way. We found Espanola just fine, but finding the Espanola Valley Fiber Arts Center was a little more challenging. It was worth the effort once we did. They have a combination of school, store and gallery there. We poked around and spoke with the woman there. She primarily weaves tapestries, I've done, don't want to again, but she was able to answer some questions on a few pieces and on some yarn.

Bob/Rob/Robert has been a great sport being dragged from fiber place to fiber place. I do remind him that I did go on two hikes so this is payback. Hopefully he remembers this.