4 of 60 - Petroglyphs National Monument

As I drove along, another site popped up on the map. I stopped for gas and saw signs pointing the way, and decided I had time for a quick detour. Down near Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the Petroglyph National Monument. This includes a Visitors Center and a number of trails. There isn't any fee and you don't even need to check-in to visit. 

I took one of the shorter trails and walked for a little while -- but it's pretty hot mid-day, so I definitely recommend hitting this early in the day. (And take lots of water.) The petroglyphs are 400 to 700 years old, and drawn by Native Americans and Spanish settlers. 

I don't know how they drew these -- and some you can tell are definitely part of a story. And a few are even in some pretty tough-to-get-to-places. But to me it's amazing that these drawing have survived the harsh desert climate for hundreds of years -- when even my deck needs to be re-stained every few years because of the intensity of the desert sun.