The Old Swimming Hole

July, 2024

It's just a place we have returned to, again and again, starting long before we moved to New Mexico. It's not the most spectacular trail, so I don't have any photos with the "good" camera — just a few grab shots with the iPad. But on a warm summer day, in the middle of the monsoon season, it's the place to be.

The road drops out of the high desert into a valley of astounding lushness.

River bottom vegetation reclaims the trail very quickly. I plan to return with my loppers to perform some much-needed maintenance. But the dew clinging to the willow branches is a rare desert delight.

The towering trees along the river provide most welcome shade on a warm summer day.

Distant hillsides shimmer in a veil of smoke and water vapor.

Crossing the river. It's a bigger challenge when sediment clouds the water.

One week later, the water was even murkier, and twice as deep.

The swimming hole. If you can call it that. The water is only a few feet deep.

Debra blissing out on the river bank.

What we came for!