This week, Anne inspires us with a Virtual Scavenger Hunt.  Be sure to visit her page for the list of what to search for.   It felt like a gift for me. Little did she know a scavenger hunt was exactly what I was doing last week. 


With fingers crossed I whispered to myself…

“Please don’t have a Winnie the Pooh moment”.

We were at Mesa Verde National Park. I listened intently to the ranger who gave the safety briefing for the guided hike to Balcony House Ruins.

The original entrance to the ruins was through a series of narrow tunnels and ladders. He nonchalantly mentioned if it felt tight we could shimmy through the rectangular door on our side. It would be possible to readjust on the inside or once we got through.

I went second. I watched the guy in front of me get wedged in, and as told, he snaked in on his side and got through on his hands and knees. I immediately let the college kids behind me know there would be no stuck photos of me on instagram.

They agree.

I smiled to think the wildlife must love the entertainment.

Assuming we would all make it, the ranger encouraged us to look for signs of life on the other side. Of course some were more obvious than others, and thus began the scavenger hunt of sorts. The circular kivas (living and ceremonial places) are impressive, not to mention evidence of the stellar workmanship that stands today, thousands of years later.

Patterns
Circular kiva

We talked about the children, the food, and the water seeping from the sandstone that still lures wildlife today. When I mentioned the bugs must have had their own monoculture within the ruins, he smiled.

He pointed to original markings above the pools that could only be…a dragonfly.

Later, a hike to Long House Ruins allowed us to view one of these magnificent architectural ruins from a distance.

And I still wonder about all the unanswered questions, that maybe don’t need answering.

Because maybe John Muir was right.

The earth has music for those who listen.

Wind Kisses, Donna