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:

SW16: Six Days, Six States Part 2

Day 5: February  10

It was a beautiful morning, and we took the 10:30 Rock Art Guided Tour. It was strenuous and quite beautiful. I’ll let the pictures speak:

Some of the drawings were well-preserved; others had older and contemporary graffiti. This is the challenge of the place.

Here are the birds and, of course, the campground bunny, we saw here:

After climbing and resting, we biked to see the sunset and a couple of Javelinas:

Here’s the view (of me) on my chair:

SW16: Six Days and Six States Part 3

Day 6: February 11
Again, a beautiful morning and a decision to take the Chain Trail! It was a difficult ascent (thank God for the chains):

…and we joined the Rock Climbers (known as Dirt Bags, since they travel from climbing location to location and live out of their vehicles) carrying their Crash Pads:

We just headed to “The Meadow”, but spent time chatting with some Brits and Americans. There’s a big Climbing Competition here Saturday, so lots are practising:

We stuck with views of more Rock Art, Huecos (small, natural indentations where rain water is stored), and birds:

We WERE going to try another climb, but after this descent:

We just hung out and enjoyed the beautiful place. On to New Mexico tomorrow.

Southwest 2016 (SW16): Six Days and Six States Part 1

Six Days and Six States
Sunset View
I think this trip will be filled with beautiful sunrises and sunsets, so that will be the opening theme. Here’s the best sunset so far from Hueco Tanks State Park, Texas:

Day 1: February 6
We left at 2:56 AM amidst fluffy snow. We flew through to London in the sun and little traffic or weather. It was an easy border crossing at Detroit with a cat-loving female (Mandy, the traitor, purred and made nice). The flags were in the greens on golf courses in Ohio, we saw Swans in Cygnet, and the warmest temperature was, of course, in Miami, Ohio (48F). We stayed overnight at the Pilot in Pembleton, KY (642 miles!) after a good long day of driving.
Day 2: February 7
We left at 5:00 AM in the dark and the sun rose to a cold 30F. Fuel is SO cheap. We filled the tank with Diesel for exactly 1/2 of what we paid in North Carolina three months ago! We got through Nashville, and they were spraying de-icer on Highway 40W! A snowstorm was in the forecast, and the woman at the WalMart said people were in buying milk, eggs and bread! But no bad weather for us.
I did see one Daffodil in bloom at a Rest Stop in Arkansas. In Wheatley, Arkansas, hundreds of small white Geese landed in a field. After 585 miles, we stopped at a Truck Stop with this view from my chair:

Day 3: February 8
Lots more driving with these observations:

• Ta Molly’s Mexican Kitchen
• 1st Brahma Bull in Mount Vernon, TX
• Dallas hurricane or tornado damage in one spot near the entrance to the President George Bush Toll Road (hmmm…)
• big city life:

• first Great Egret in Fort Worth
• CHEAP gas ($1.39) and Diesel ($1.69)
• BBQ stop
• 1st cottonfields in Merkel along with 1st working oil drill
• nice juxtaposition in Sweetwater, “The Wind Energy Capital of North Texas” (note the oil drills as well):

We stayed at the Pilot in Big Spring after 576 miles:

Day 4: February 9
We left later to drive in the daylight and the sights and smells of oil refining (not a pretty part of Texas):

But by Toyah, we started to see mountains in the distance:

At Van Horn, we headed north on Highway 54 for a scenic drive with mountains and salt flats:


…and pulled into Hueco Tanks State Park after a mere 362 miles! After lots of rules and a mandatory video (this place has Rock Climbers and Native American pictographs that they have recently-1960’s-started to protect), we settled into Site 9 ($16 E/W with Texas Park Pass). We got our bearings and knew we would love this pretty place.