SW16: "New" Mexico, New Territories

Sunset View of the City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico:

Day 7: February 12

The “Dirtbags” were starting to arrive for tomorrow's competition. They are so young, so fit, and so cute.

We birdwatched a bit and packed up for the next adventure. It began poorly with an irritating stop for fuel (no signs, wouldn't take our credit card, rung through as cash not credit, etc.), we headed to New Mexico.

We took a scenic route along CR 90 smack dab between the US and Mexico. There were rock piles (like Inukshuks), Mesquite decorated like Christmas trees, shrines to the Virgin Mary (maybe as guides to Mexicans crossing the desert?), and US Border trucks and track traps. If anyone crossed that desolate landscape and survived, they deserve to be let into the US.

Our destination was Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus, NM (Mandy's 21^st state). We're in beautiful Site 18 ($14 E/W) and we settled for a relaxing afternoon watching a few birds:

We met Rick from New Hampshire, one of the many “singles” we will meet and like on the road.

Here's the view of me in my chair:

Day 8: February 13

There was a beautiful sunrise over the desert (and the ubiquitous Tire Shop)! It's cold in the mornings (32F) and nice and warm in the afternoons (70F+). We rode our bikes into Columbus:

...and visited the museum at the park (dedicated to the Battle of Columbus, 1916 involving The US Army and Pancho Villa. This park is on the grounds of Camp Furlong which was the US location for the push against Villa:

We had lunch at Irma's:

...a delicious Mexican feast (it is only three miles to the border):

I walked to the museum at the former Train Station and was disturbed from my wanderings by the Volunteer, “Cowboy”, who gave me lessons on Vikings (I had mentioned Newfoundland), Dakota Indians and Christianity! Too much information.

We had a nice beer with Rick to end a great New Mexico Day.

Here's the view of of our site's own garden:

Day 9: February 14 Happy Valentine's Day!

We packed up quickly and headed north to the City of Rocks State Park as recommended by Rick.

We passed through our first Border Station (just Hi and Bye) and travelled north through the desert with the mountains in the background. Beautiful. There were acres of Pecan Trees and a “Caution Dust Storms May Exist” sign!

We got to the park before 10:00, found site E5 ($14 E/W) and settled in for two nights. We immediately met our neighbour, John, a Bernie Sanders lover whom we related to immediately. We hiked around the area. The sites (non electric), built into the rock formations, were beautiful. This place was formed by a “very large volcanic eruption that occurred 34.9 million years ago”. 

We had a very pleasant Happy Hour with John and even enticed another “single” neighbour, a woman from Oregon, over for a visit. Another day of sights and good conversation.

Here's the view from my chair:

Day 10: February 15

We were up early, and I decided to check out the Bird Feeding Station, though, because there was very little feed, there were very few birds. I met a Paediatrician who was heading out for a bike ride. But before he left, he regaled me with some politics and Catholic Christianity. I keep attracting these types.

Before we decided to ride one of the Hike and Bike Trails, my Paediatrician friend dropped by and he and David had an interesting conversation about the Constitution, Ted Cruz, some misconceptions about Canadian Healthcare and a few other things. Wow. So we rode:

After lunch, we got some pictures of the Gambel's Quail, an elusive Life Bird:

Then we chatted with a couple from California who were just starting two years as fulltimers! And another couple from Maine who had just bought a Winnebago similar to ours.

It was a lovely day. Here's a view of our campsite Canyon Towhee: