Last "weekend" (in quotes because it was really a Monday, and yet, for me, a Sunday) I saw several natural occurrences here in New Mexico, more specifically on the way between Santa Fe and Los Alamos, that I had never experienced before.
On the way our of SF on 285 heading North the highway is flanked by mountain on one side (the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ mountains named for the rich red color they turn during sun sets) Mountains) and rolling hills on the other (home of the Santa Fe Opera - an "outdoor" opera experience). Scattered thunder showers rolled around the peaks of the mountains, and the sun was getting low in the west, over the opera. A rainbow was inevitable. What made this one so amazing is how close the end of the rainbow was. I looked real hard, squinting my eyes into better focus (don’t worry, MaK was driving) but I couldn't see the gold. The rainbow met the ground about 100 yards from the car. And it was a full rainbow. One could easily say "Dang."
Soon after, another unique experience. Here in New Mexico (and I am sure some other states have this too, but we had it here first) we have what's called "verga." Basically, it's rain that evaporates before it hits the ground. It is not uncommon to see storms off in the distance where the rain doesn't make it to the ground. This time, the Verga was nearly right above us. You could look up at the cloud, and see the rain coming right at us, but some how disappearing before it got all the way.
A short while later, as the car was beginning to climb up into the tuff mesas upon which sits Los Alamos when I looked up to see a large chunk of tuff crack off the side of one of the mesas and start an avalanche of red dust and rock. The avalanche lasted a couple of minutes as it picked up speed and more rock down the steep slope. I was half expecting a shower of rocks to come tumbling down upon us as we reached the top of the giant horse-shoe turn.
Ah, yes, New Mexico. Land of Fuego.
...fuego
