Sunday May 25, 2014

 

Non-Travel Day

 

We awoke to a cold rainy morning, so we decided to stay
home and relax. After lunch, with  
clearing skies we headed east to Chimney Rock National Monument. From the Visitors center we drove up themountain side on a gravel road. Chimney Rock is a massive stone pillar atop a mountain; it does look like a large chimney protruding from a roof top.

 The site also includes the ruins of several pueblo structures dating back over 1000
years. After reaching a paved parking lot near the mountain top we met up with our guide for a walking tour of the ruins which included a hike up the mountainside to additional ruins; that is
off limits to the public without a guide for a closer look of the Chimney Rock. Our tour guide was exceptional, both for his knowledge and his enthusiasm.