10.25.23 Roswell to Datil Well, New Mexico. I just have to tell you and I forgot to add on the last post, when we were leaving Lubbock, TX, we saw a guy riding a skateboard down the highway!!!
On HWY 380 we went through The Lincoln Historic Site (https://nmhistoricsites.org/lincoln), a community frozen in time—the 1870's and 1880's. The historic site includes 17 structures and outbuildings. Most of the buildings in the community are representative of the Territorial Style of adobe architecture in the American Southwest. This was very cool to drive through but I didn't take photos!
We also went through Capitan, NM, Smoky Bear Town, In 1944 during WW II the US Fire Service decided to use a bear to spread the fire prevention message. They named him after a New York Assistant Fire Chief, "Smokey" Joe Martin. May 9, 1950, in the aftermath of a devastating fire in the Capitan Mountains, a badly burned cub was found. He became the living symbol of fire prevention, Smokey Bear. When Smokey grew old, plans were made for his retirement. The people of Capitan wanted their bear to be returned to his hometown. Upon his death in 1976, Smokey was flown home and buried in what is now Smokey Bear Historical Park.
We also went through Capitan, NM, Smoky Bear Town, In 1944 during WW II the US Fire Service decided to use a bear to spread the fire prevention message. They named him after a New York Assistant Fire Chief, "Smokey" Joe Martin. May 9, 1950, in the aftermath of a devastating fire in the Capitan Mountains, a badly burned cub was found. He became the living symbol of fire prevention, Smokey Bear. When Smokey grew old, plans were made for his retirement. The people of Capitan wanted their bear to be returned to his hometown. Upon his death in 1976, Smokey was flown home and buried in what is now Smokey Bear Historical Park.
New Mexico MUST be where Star Trek was filmed. The roads are long and barren....and some are full of potholes, ripples and waves. We have decided there are Monday roads, Friday roads and Saturday roads. Monday roads were build during a weekend hangover, Friday roads were built in a big rush to get to the weekend and Saturday roads were built on hangover overtime.
We saw some fall colors!
The Carrizozo Volcanic Field
Feels like were in the clouds.
Marley is a good little traveler.
A lava field! There are volcanoes all over New Mexico and Arizona.
Valley of Fires, Carrizozo volcanic field. Geologists suspect that this massive lava flow occurred in a single episode that lasted 20 to 30 years, and date the surface of Carrizozo at roughly 5,200 years old.
We passed the White Sands A-Bomb Site. Gypsum is mined here to make drywall. Hmmm...how many of us have that in our homes??? On July 16, 1945, one week after the establishment of White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), the world's first atomic bomb was detonated in the north-central portion of the missile range, approximately 60 miles north of White Sands National Park.
This was a rain storm. It was a little creepy and made me think of the movie "Twister".
It only followed the road and we only got a few sprinkles on us!
These things were right by that rain storm. What are they? Are they creating the weather? (We did a little research and discovered that this V.L.A. site is for radio telescopes collecting faint cosmic radio waves without radio interference from humans or nature. That would explain why they were out in them middle of nowhere!)
We are not impressed with New Mexico. We tried to get diesel in Socorro, NM. Only one Chevron had room for our rig to get in. It was forced pre-pay. What's with that all over New Mexico?
All squeezed Mona into a site with electric service. We went to fill up with water because the website said there is access to potable water. Well, all the spigots had locks on them! We went to the camp host and she said this is not an RV park, she is off duty and we should use a bucket to get water. She said the pumps have been locked for 4 years because people steal water there. Hmmm...not sure about this... No phone service, no wifi, no tv. We'll see about this kind of camping. The upside, it only cost us $2.50 per night with 50 amp service, no water, no sewer with our senior pass. Good thing Al left enough water in the tank so we could use the toilet!
We had site 19 with electric. It was a tight fit but Al squeezed Mona in nicely.
This was a 2 hour hike. We were going slow and it was some climbing but it was still cool. The altitude really makes a difference! We were at 7400 feet. Marley made it about halfway and then he just laid down under a tree. Al carried him in his pet backpack the rest of the way.
10.27.23 We left Datil Well about 8:15 am. Ready to be out of New Mexico. On to Show Low, Arizona for 5 nights before we settle in our spot in Mesa, AZ on November 1.
No comments:
Post a Comment