Taos Pueblo

Visiting the Taos Pueblo was on my list of things to see while staying in Taos. The area had been closed to visitors the past week for an annual tribe only gathering but the Pueblo was open for guests again this week.

Although my legs are pretty beat from yesterday, I grabbed the bike and began my pedaling journey down the side roads to avoid the traffic on the main artery. The bike had begun making grinding noises from the freewheel while coasting and it was only a matter of time before I was going to end up pushing it home.

But not this morning. Passed through downtown then made the turn up the veterans highway onto tribal land. A little unmanned booth marked the entrance where I missed the sign that said no bikes.

I continued on a few more miles and arrived at the Pueblo. The kid at the kiosk pointed me the admissions window. Another guy said “hey, no bikes! But you’re already here so just stash behind the kiosk.”

The structures were constructed between 1000 and 1450 ad. Considered to be some of the oldest continuously inhabited buildings in the world. I anticipated ruins but the people still live here today. It’s beautiful. I spoke with a local who had stepped out of his house for a smoke. They have a duty to keep their apartments in good condition and live at least 4 months of the year. I asked him what the inhabitants thought of all us gringos wandering around their neighborhood. He replied that they have always been a welcoming people. Going back to the arrival of the Spanish and then the white man. He attributes the fact that they have always stayed on their ancestral lands to this trait. They are the only indigenous group that was never moved off their homeland onto reservations. In the Pueblo today, most ceremonies and activities are open to all.

I found a bench and sat for a while next to the creek before heading back down the hill into the town center to catch the noon AA meeting. About 16 people at a local church.

Time to address the bike issue. I rode over to Goathead Bike repair and Jeff took the wheel apart and confirmed that the flywheel was on its last legs. He didn’t have the part but he had some old ones that might work. He took down my number and I wandered off on foot feeling oddly naked without the bike.

Luckily, his shop is only a couple of blocks from camp. I stopped at Guadalajara Grill for a couple of tacos then returned to the RV for a needed nap. Fifteen more miles on the bike already today.

Around 3:30, I walked back with the bent wheel from the other bike to see about straitening it. I had backed the racked bikes into a lantern post back in Arkansas. The bent wheel was beyond repair but we moved the flywheel over to mine and it’s good to go.

Having transportation again, I was wanting to see the Saint Francis of Asis adobe church. I rode down to the south end of town and wandered around the plaza.

The church was built in 1815 by Spanish missionaries. The area was closing up for the day. My usual fate, people see me coming and quickly close the door. I peeked in the gift shop then headed back home for some dinner and rest.