The Great North Road

The Chacoans built elaborate road systems covering over 1,500 miles.  Most of the roads connected to Chaco Canyon.  The Great North Road leads from Chaco Canyon to Kutz Canyon.  To the Puebloans a road is a type of altar, a channel for the life's breath, and to travel the straight road to the center place is to strive for equilibrium.

Approaching Kutz Canyon the North Road becomes a narrow corridor crossing a private commercial fracking fluid soil recovery farm.  The North Road is criss-crossed with bulldozed roads for fracking soil trucks.  Surrounded by the fracking fluid soil recovery fields Arena Alto Great House is several hundred yards from Kutz Canyon adjacent to the North Road.  This sacred site's great kiva was recently bulldozed by road construction.

The North Road is more tha a guide or corridor linking Chacoan Great Houses and features.  It is a map to a lifeway, it holds the stories of the Chaco civilization. 

 Click here to view the North Road at Kutz Canyon. 

be strong, be safe, Talon

Soaring Like Eagles

Pierre's Chacoan Outlier

In the Native American culture eagles are honored with great care and shown the deepest respect. They represent honesty, truth, majesty, strength, courage, wisdom, power and freedom.  

The view from above has always held a special feeling for me.  Freedom of flight.  No longer constrained to your feet.  Spent quite a bit of time over the years making photographs from helicopters and fixed wing planes.  Remember every moment of it.  Loved every moment of it.  This past August received my FAA Remote Pilots License.  Certified to soar like eagles.  Working on the soaring.  

The Greater Chaco Landscape Project incorporates an aerial perspective.  Documenting sacred sites that are effected by the industrialization of the surrounding landscape.  Work which represents honesty, truth, strength, and wisdom.  Work which carries the deepest respect.  With over 10,000 new oil and gas leases proposed for the Greater Chaco Landscape, there is much work to be done.  Help become a part of this important work.

be strong, be safe, Talon

 

Paul Hollywood Rides into Madrid New Mexico

Heard a rumor Paul Hollywood star of the UK "Bake Off" Netflix series was going to be riding a Big Dog chopper into Madrid.  Paul is working on a new special riding his motorcycle from New York City to Los Angeles.  Stopping along the way at unique locations and eateries.  Had to check it out.

Sure enough.  Paul pulled up on his rigid frame Big Dog chopper just as I put down the kickstand on my LowRider.  Following a short welcome to New Mexico we shot the breeze about bikes, two lane highways, and the freedom of the road like a couple of biker brothers.  I asked Paul.."I'm not a baker, but I am a biker...do I still get the handshake?"  Got the handshake.  Paul is the real deal guy.  Sure enjoyed our time together.

Thought for the day...Listen to rumors you never know where they may lead you.

be strong, be safe, Talon

Bison Advise

Riding across the Standing Rock Reservation last June working on a story for Harley-Davidson came across some good advise.  Felt the need to share it again.

Cherish wide-open spaces

Stand your ground

Have a tough hide

Keep moving on

Have a strong spirit

Let the chips fall where they may

Roam wild and free 

be strong, be safe, Talon