Day 18 Taos, NM (APS)

This morning we got up early, grabbed breakfast, said adios to Santa Fe, and headed out for Taos, New Mexico. I didn't really know what to expect from Taos since I hadn't really researched it, but Hall had filled me in a bit.  He had been reading a book, Blood and Thunder, which was about a local man, Kit Carson, who was a rugged frontier man who played a key role in opening up the West.  Taos is a neat little artsy town that is located right in the middle of both ski slopes and rafting!  Since it is June, we decided to try our hand at rafting the Rio Grande and had a wonderful time!  The waters were quite "refreshing" to say the least so I was glad that we all stayed in the boat!  That was until our guide asked if anyone wanted to float through the last rapid and Lillian and Jack couldn't resist!  It took a little coaxing to get MC in, but in the end, all three floated through the rapids - blue lips and teeth chattering the whole way! After rafting, they gave us a little snack and then we headed back up River. After rafting, I had some crazy allergy attack due to something that was blooming!  It was crazy and came out of nowhere so I guess I won't be moving to Taos full time anyway-  that was aweful!  Nonetheless, after a little Zyrtec, we found a really cool bed and breakfast in town, Casa Benavides, and got ready for dinner. When we were in Santa Fe, a shop owner had told us that we needed to walk over the Gorge Bridge (a mini Grand Canyon) which was a great suggestion!  It was quite impressive and gave a wonderful view of the Rio Grande. From that high up it looked so small!  After the bridge, we set out to find a place for dinner. The gorge is a good bit outside of town, so we wanted to eat off of the beaten path and were successful!  We found the neatest restaurant EVER - Taos Mesa Brewery!  Not only did they have great beer and wine, but also live music every night, frisbee golf, and great food!  We sat out there for quite awhile and then headed back for a good night's sleep!