We left the comfort of our Deming Walmart RV Parking place early this morning. We want to visit both sides of the Gila National Monument and that required a lot of driving over very narrow and winding roads.
The west side of Gila NM features the Catwalk, a walkway built over a creek. It provides an interesting perspective of the narrow canyon and rocky creek bed.
The west side of Gila NM features the Catwalk, a walkway built over a creek. It provides an interesting perspective of the narrow canyon and rocky creek bed.
Working windmills can be observed at several places along the road. Spinning in light winds, pumping water into tanks.
Being on the west side, this water surly flows into the Colorado River. At one time I could say into the Pacific Ocean but all the Colorado River water is used for drinking and agriculture before crossing into Mexico. Of course, the United States has a treaty with Mexico to provided a set amount of water but we have never lived up to that treaty --- or just about any other treaty we’ve signed on to.
The drive from the west side to the east side of Gila retraces the drive from Silver City. Then from Silver City to the Gila Cliff Dwellings is over even narrower and winding roads. The view is spectacular with many pullouts provided.
The 1-mile Cliff Dwelling hiking trail loop takes you thru the under the dwellings. Once at the far side, you climb up the canyon wall to reach three dwelling chambers. You have some access into the buildings.
We returned to Deming via an alternative route that proved to be an easier drive then the route from Silver City.
We spent the night at the Deming Wal-Mart --- in the same parking space.
(I'm running out of battery power --- see all the pictures on our picasa site)
