A Crest, a Cave, Tinkertown, and Camping

Last weekend was Fathers and Sons Campout and boy were Austin and I excited. While the girls played with their girlfriends at home us Teichert boys headed for the mountains.After picking up our friends Michael and 'Than it was off to the Owl Cafe in Albuquerque. Who won't be ready for life in the wilderness with green chili cheese fries digesting in the stomach?Next we ascended the climbing road (NM536) up the backside of the Sandia mountain range to Sandia Crest, which looms high above Albuquerque.
At the summit we hiked to the old Kiwanis cabin and looked across amazing vistas and felt the winds persistand reminders that we wanted in no way to be as close as we were to the cliff edges.After our summit hike we descended in route to Sandia Cave. Austin and 'Than passed out and slept through the rugged 4X4 trail to our next destination.Discovered in 1935, the cave has been the center of incredible controversy regarding pre-Folsom occupation in the Northern Hemisphere. Today, the cave has been marred by graffiti but is still an awesome place for fathers and sons to explore on a quite Friday.
The cave goes back in the dark almost 300 yards and the boys were all little troopers excited to cut the dust with their flashlights as if harnessing the power of real light-sabers.

After dusting ourselves off and hiking off the trail it was on to "Tinkertown" and eclectic roadside destination not far from our camping spot.Tinkertown was the brainchild of Ross Ward, an amazing wood carver and humorist. At the musuem we met Mr. Ward's widow who told of his story traveling with the circus painting. When he was home in his mountain retreat he would carve and layout the most amazing "bottle village" and museum to the carnival and wild-west.Tinkertown is an amazing destination and is preserved by the love of Mr. Wards family and incredible imagination. I particularly love his quote, "I did this all while you were watching television." (For more information on Tinkertown visit here)Finally, we made it to camp, set up our site and enjoyed nature as only a five year old can do (by getting amazingly dirty, climbing on everything and making lots of noise).It was sure fun hanging with my little camping buddy. Certainly, we have camping in our blood now and can't wait to get out again!