Hey everybody, welcome to the Gila (pronounced Hila) Cliff Dwellings .Bill and I headed this direction and WOW is it amazing! The brochure says "The Mogollon People built the cliff dwellings with rock, mortar, and timbers. I say THEY WERE NUTZ!! Think about it, to get home you had to climb up at least a mile and a half, and live with all the rest of your relatives, NO privacy! But..... I have to give it to them, the cliffs were amazingly designed, with a big area where they kept a fire in the winter. The trek is a mile straight up, and hard for those of us who are a bit "trekking "challenged, the steps were hard to maneuver, but thank the good Lord, they had plenty of stops & benches to sit on. Good thing,this ole hiney wouldn't have made it otherwise! I was a bit envious of all the young people hoppin' up those stairs like goats! Bah... It was a challenge, but one more than worth it! We spent the better part of 2hrs. just inspecting the caves! The view was to die for,and if I could put an elevator in, I may consider it Home Sweet Home! We also learned that this was the birthplace of the Apache,Geronimo, not necessarily in the caves, but in this area. His given name was Goyahkla, Nope, don't know how to say it, I'll stick to Geronimo!
Pictures on the way up, look at those stairs!! OW,OW,OW.......!
These people were incredible! There is a room that looks like it would be quite comfortable, the roofs are missing, vandals (didn't think people like that went that far) tore them down , the one picture looks like 2 seats, the movies maybe? Perhaps it was for the guards,it was really cool in that part of the caves! One room had separations, maybe a family? Most all had "peep" holes to watch for the bad guys, smart! Certain parts you could only imagine, but the ceiling of the cliffs showed that fires had been lit. It was very comfortable and the view was amazing! They even had special places where the sun and wind hit at just the right times to dry meat and veggies. No wash machines tho, Ratz, back down to the river gals!
Whoo~hoo, this is the way down from the cliffs, by this time my legs felt like rubberbands, but I was determined, after all, who was up there big enough to carry me down and Bill threatened again to "help" me off the narrow ledge! (Just Kidding), He wouldn't dare!
This sign was when we were almost down, it made me laugh until I realized that it was the shadiest area of the whole walk, guess there could have been a bit of ice there, but not today, it was almost 80*! Nice of them tho!
At about 3:00, it dawned on us that we hadn't eaten since 8am, so stopped at this restaurant~hotel, the sign said "Fine Dining at it's best", below is what you see, it was OK, but not Fine, and yes, it is a Reuben, and yes, I ate it all, almost forgot to take a picture of my "New Mexico" cuisine! The inside of the restaurant was quite eclectic, and fun. Whiles eating our lunch we looked out onto an area that had several bird feeders, and saw this little scamp, stealing a lunch from the birds, another chipmunk came along, he chased him away, and then graciously waited for several of us to take a picture. I do love my critters!
On the way down from the cliffs,we saw this Trading Post, just HAD to stop, only to find out they were out of business, and sent there dogs out to "greet" us, RUN.........
These are two State Parks within 10 miles of our RV park. We just drove through them, both are places that you can hunt for rocks and take up to 15# each day. Maybe next time?
These people were incredible! There is a room that looks like it would be quite comfortable, the roofs are missing, vandals (didn't think people like that went that far) tore them down , the one picture looks like 2 seats, the movies maybe? Perhaps it was for the guards,it was really cool in that part of the caves! One room had separations, maybe a family? Most all had "peep" holes to watch for the bad guys, smart! Certain parts you could only imagine, but the ceiling of the cliffs showed that fires had been lit. It was very comfortable and the view was amazing! They even had special places where the sun and wind hit at just the right times to dry meat and veggies. No wash machines tho, Ratz, back down to the river gals!
Whoo~hoo, this is the way down from the cliffs, by this time my legs felt like rubberbands, but I was determined, after all, who was up there big enough to carry me down and Bill threatened again to "help" me off the narrow ledge! (Just Kidding), He wouldn't dare!This sign was when we were almost down, it made me laugh until I realized that it was the shadiest area of the whole walk, guess there could have been a bit of ice there, but not today, it was almost 80*! Nice of them tho!
At about 3:00, it dawned on us that we hadn't eaten since 8am, so stopped at this restaurant~hotel, the sign said "Fine Dining at it's best", below is what you see, it was OK, but not Fine, and yes, it is a Reuben, and yes, I ate it all, almost forgot to take a picture of my "New Mexico" cuisine! The inside of the restaurant was quite eclectic, and fun. Whiles eating our lunch we looked out onto an area that had several bird feeders, and saw this little scamp, stealing a lunch from the birds, another chipmunk came along, he chased him away, and then graciously waited for several of us to take a picture. I do love my critters!
On the way down from the cliffs,we saw this Trading Post, just HAD to stop, only to find out they were out of business, and sent there dogs out to "greet" us, RUN......... 
These are two State Parks within 10 miles of our RV park. We just drove through them, both are places that you can hunt for rocks and take up to 15# each day. Maybe next time?
Road Runner, the coyotes after you, Road Runner, if he catches you you're through! This guy was running across our parking lot, I just couldn't resist. I also saw a Big eared Rabbit, but he was to fast for me!
Well guys and dolls, this is all the pictures the machine will allow, so guess it's time to hop off to bed, tomorrow we head for the "Cat Walk", gotta get up early it too is about 80miles away, so.....See ya! Smiles,Love and prayers. Arlette & Bill too, and the happy Sassy, she got to go!
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