Tuesday 18th

Tuesday June 18th

Alpine seemed to be in a depression following the fire in the mountains in 2011.  The beautiful ponderosa pine and aspen forests are black trunks now.  Even at Hannagan's Meadow, the trees are all but gone.  Firefighters had used the lodge and the meadow as their base camp. We had lunch in the lodge and enjoyed looking at what was left of the forest.  Most of the forest roads, Daddy had taken me down, were “pass at own risk of falling trees.”

The Snail at Luna Lake

Luna Lake

My new friend came visiting early each morning.  "Little Begger"

 Breakfast is served.

Later that afternoon we returned to the Hannagan Meadow area to check for wildlife.  Not to be disappointed ~ there they were ~ one cow and six big bull elk were making their way up the side of the mountain.  What a thrill! Of course I was driving and had a tough time getting a decent shot.  I have it in my mind!!!  Awesome!

There were 6 big bulls.

Paulettes "Ranger Ray" on a charred tree trunk.

Back to the lake and another good night sleep. This concludes 2 days of dry camping.  We are getting pretty good at this when the weather is cold at night.

Monday 6/17/2013

Monday 6/17/2013

Morning dawned and the Snail followed the navigators toward Socorro, NM. We wandered around and came into Socorro from the wrong direction.  In doing that we turned to come upon a beautiful mission.  Luck was that we could not go in as they were renovating.  The ribbon was removed by three photographers (two were us) for better photos and then returned.   

We should have then turned NW on the path to Albuquerque; however, looking at the map showed that Reserve, NM was a mere 143 miles.  On the new path we stopped in Magdelina only to find that little village had “NO” water.  We visited with a shop owner and got word of another couple I met at a Cowboy Campmeeting years ago.  Jim Ford was an artist and also a friend of my parents. His wife is still selling his prints and I saw one I had never seen before.   

Depot in Magdalena, NM

How fun was it going to be to return to Reserve and visit friends of my parents.  Paulette and I had gone there to sell the things in my parents summer home of 20 years.  It was not a great road so we took our time.  Arriving at the “Y” we pulled in at the home of Patti and Dave Stultz…. Mom and Dads friends who befriended us in the mid 2000’s.  We had volunteered with them during a forest fire.  No fires in the immediate area this time.  

 We had a lovely visit and then ventured on to Alpine, AZ and camped at Luna Lake Campground between Luna and Alpine.

Mama and Daddys summer house prior to 1999.

Sunday June 16

Sunday  6/16/2013

We had a leisurely breakfast and dressed for church.  We went to church in Ruidoso, New Mexico

With a little change of pace we went to Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino for an inexpensive and not so great lunch.  The art work in the casino was incredible.

Leaving there we headed for the Hubbard Museum at Ruidoso Downs.  I am always excited to see a pot of Maria the Potter of San Il Defonso Pueblo. The exhibit was outstanding. 

 

 

 I was disappointed when we arrived at the museum at Mescalero Apache Reservation.  They were closed and no near the facility I saw in the ‘90s.  The next stop was Three Rivers Petroglyphs.  The site is one of the few locations in the Southwest set aside solely because of its rock art. It is also one of the few sites giving us such direct access to petroglyphs. It is also the largest and most interesting petroglyphs sites in the Southwest. More than 21,000.

Saturday June 15

Saturday 6-15-2013

Paulette had a conversation with attendant at Valley of the Fires RA.  They had lost their host on June 1 and had not replaced yet.  Someone would be there during the day so we left The Snail and headed for Capitan, NM and Smokey the Bear Restaurant.  They were there ~ the same old men drinking coffee at the long table just inside the door.  8-9 of them talking and sharing the same stories.  Went something like this, “My job won’t take long today.  Just have to mail a letter.”  Their stories about owners and their work dogs; pets,

Lincoln, NM

Fort Stanton

working dogs and/or companions, biters or gentle but don’t cross the line between them and their masters.  On the Parker ranch they wouldn’t let you work cattle with a rope ~ “crazy SOB.”  I told them you better have a rope with you anyway.   I was headed over the ridge and my saddle was all off to one side and I was trying to get right…...”  and the stories continued.

Smokey the Bear Museum was as much fun as the last visit.  Such a great story of a baby bear.  Every little bit of memorabilia you could imagine was on display.  Some I remember. Smokey had a lot of very important friends in the media.

We then spent the rest of the day roaming around and soaking up the history in the area.  The walking tour in Lincoln was interesting.  This was the first time I found everything open.  The museum and courthouse were my favorites.  A group of ladies were selling their wares in an open area ~ great cookies.  Leaving there led us to Fort Stanton and a reenactment practice.  Since Paulette had participated in reenactments she participated.  They asked for volunteers to practice firing a canon.  I took lots of pictures.

Returning to Carrizozo we found ice cream in a soda fountain shop.  The proprietor was the cutest old man and we had a good discussion about his ice cream as opposed to Blue Bell.  I had seen the painted burros along the streets but Paulette took pictures of a few.  A tour guide had just returned from White Oaks mining town and the “No Scum Allowed Saloon.” She suggested we go there for dinner or snacks.  Had I ridden up on a Harley I may have fit in but I was way out classed and a Diet Coke was not the most popular drink of the afternoon.  Back to Valley of the Fires where I fit right in.