GEORGIA O'KEEFFE COUNTRY - PT. I

You know how you can just "fly" through an area with an eye focused only towards your eventual destination?  It might make an impression, you may want to return sometime, but you just didn't take the time to discover or explore during the original pass?  Well, that describes my first breezy dash through rural Northern New Mexico and the Chama River Valley several years ago.

I've always admired Georgia O'Keeffe's vision and her paintings,  but I had never explored Ghost Ranch or Abiquiu, the areas she captured on canvas so passionately.  

The constantly changing colors and shadows in the area was akin to seeing a new panorama every minute -- the land and sky a unique, kaleidoscope of powerful, brilliant hues and texture, and daily thunderstorms make the gaudy landscape and skies even more intense and vibrant.

Lake Abiquiu, a Corps of Engineers project between Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch is a sizable nicely-developed recreation area with economical camping and boating  opportunities.  Not to mention splendid, 360-degree vistas...

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...and magnificent views of the iconic Pedernal

Ubiquitous "Four O'Clocks" -- this image was taken before four!

Then they show themselves in full glory when the clock strikes four!

Storm's coming this way.  Lightening strikes illuminate the shoreline.

ABIQUIU

Although spending several nights at Lake Abiquiu, I did not explore the village of Abiquiu or O'keeffe's home and studio -- maybe next time.  To depict the area in words would be ineffective; these and the images that follow in Part II, will simply have to do.