Let the Beauty of what you Love be what you Do...
~Rumi

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Gettin' Outta Town

I had actually planned my summer vacation long before the fires started. But I'll be honest,  soon after the Las Conchas fire started & blazed out of control- threatening Los Alamos National Lab & quickly surpassing the largest wildfire ever recorded on NM record... I was anxious to leave & felt like I was just counting the days until I was finished with work. The skies always seemed hazy, sometimes with large plumes of smoke & sometimes eery sunrises like this one. All the surrounding forests were closed (rightly so!) and on June 30th, even our local trails in town were shut down. Though some people were not worried, I was on constant edge.... not just about the rapid spread of the fire, but of reports of danger from above ground stores of plutonium at the lab & what would occur should they ignite. (Not to mention pesky nuclear waste that "may have been disposed of in the -now burning-canyons surrounding LANL".) *Gulp*

Sunrise through smoke filled skies,  July 2nd 2011
So, needless to say, I was happy to get on the road today. (Having traveled for many years before settling in Santa Fe... I tend to get anxious if I am in one place too long anyhow... and it had been 6 months in the same place!) Below is the view as I left town~ 

Smoke from the Las Conchas fire looking toward Cochiti from I-25. You can hardly see the mountains & mesas~ click to enlarge.
The most recent reports from the inciweb state the Las Conchas Fire has now burned 127,821 acres & is 27 % contained. The Pacheco fire is now on monitor status @ 55% containment after having burned 10,250 acres. They have set up numbers to call for smoke concerns, as well as mental health concerns. I must not have been they only one anxious over these fires! In fact, this tells me that there were a considerable number of people that shared these concerns. At any rate, I am glad to get away for a bit... and will have some road trip pics to share soon. Hope you are all well...













8 comments:

Linda Starr said...

I look forward to hearing about your travels; I too have traveled quite a bit so I know what you mean about getting that urge to travel again; I feel it quite often myself. Those fires are so devastating and what a lot of smoke that valley shows, just terrible.

clairz said...

Have fun on your trip, Becky. I know you love Santa Fe--it must be really hard seeing it this way. Hopefully, all will be back to normal when you return.

Randy said...

I know what you mean. I even had to get out even if only for a day so I want down to Albuquerque on Sunday for the whole day. I take it you won't be here for the Fold Art Market? It really is something to see and the procession at the Railyard will make for great photos. Enjoy your trip and be safe.

Ms. Becky said...

I'm looking forward to your travel pics. and happy to learn that the fire situations seem to be improving at least, and not moving in the other direction. it's such a devastating loss - all that forest and wildlife, etc. I hope you have a grand time on your excursion to wherever. see you when you return home; be save and take good care.

tw3 said...

No good risking mental and physical wellbeing. Get out of there. I feel so sad for you after your move full of promise last year.
I know I am suffering of vertical diplopia at the moment, but are there really two suns one above the other?

Pat said...

Glad you are getting out of Dodge! I saw that dust storm in Phoenix on the news. That was unbelievable! Looked like a movie! Hope all is well for you on the road and that you arrive safely to you destination!

Barb said...

Glad you're on the way! Get to some clean ocean air, Becky. Are the pups with you? Safe trip. Why does the smoke of fires make such beautiful sunrise/set photos? I guess it's "don't believe what you see." Raining here as it has for the past 2 evenings. I'm so glad for continued moisture in our forest.

Kate said...

i saw a house burn not too far from ours years ago, and it scarred me for life. I understand your concerns! I hope that you return before our trip so that we get to meet!

Have a fun time!! Bring back many good ideas for your art!