Blogs from New Mexico, United States, North America - page 7

blog 02-22-20 Home I left Roswell in a freezing fog not knowing if this was a good move. The gloomy weather of the last 2 days has gotten to me so I would do anything to find the sun. The temp was hovering between 32 and 33 but just 50 miles west the temps were warmer and the sun was shinning. As I drove a little higher in elevation the trees and shrubs were ice coated and there were icicles hanging from the road signs. Oh dear, did I make a mistake... I slowed and watched for bridges but the ground was not yet frozen so I soldered on. Through the mountain pass there was snow on the hillsides but the fog had lifted so I felt safer. The other side of the mountain the sun ... read more

blog 02-17-20 Lunch and Museums in Roswell We had a nice slow start to the day with the second cup of coffee enjoyed in the sun outside. This is the first time on my southern trip that it was warm and nice enough to be in the open air, delightful! I left about 11am to meet Lynne in Roswell for lunch at a Mexican restaurant that had 4 1/2 stars and lots of enthusiastic reviews. The menu was extensive and they had a buffet too so choosing what to eat was not an easy decision. Lynne had a port dish that she said was the best she had ever eaten, keeping in mind she lives in the southwest most of the time. I had an equally enjoyable meal with shredded beef, my favorite but not always ... read more

blog 02-16-20 Snow Geese We had a lovely slow start to the day with nothing planned til later. The sun was out and the temps were warming up nicely so after breakfast Watson and I took a really long walk around camp and over to the bird blinds. There are 3 ponds across the street and the park service has build a lovely boardwalk connecting the parking lot to all 3 ponds each having it's own bird blind. They are very simple structures but serve the purpose of concealing people to the sciddish birds and providing shade for the observer. I have seen coots, round, black ducks, there but nothing else but I have heard sandhill cranes back there from my camper. The cranes are not water birds, preferring dry open ground but the water provides ... read more

MAUD HAWK WRIGHT A stronger, tougher, more resilient woman has not yet been born than Maud. She tumbled into the world on Memorial Day, 1889 in Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama. She was the eldest of five siblings being raised by Thomas Austin Hawk and his wife, Louisa Belle Russell. Like many before him Tom Hawk sought improved opportunity further west. By 1909 the family found themselves in Silver City, New Mexico. Within a year she had eloped with a burly fellow named Ed Wright. They got married and Ed started up a ranch in Chihuahua, Mexico. The happy couple was joined by a son named John Edward in 1914. The ranch was beginning to show signs of prosperity by February of 1916 when it was raided by Pancho Villa’s Army. All of the cattle were stolen ... read more

Day 23 Rest Day Bike maintenance,washing, relaxing, hot pool soaking and admiring restored vintage cars. Day 24 T or C to Carrizozo Out of T or C we were on seal for 30kms heading predominantly North. Our route then led us onto a gravel road which was easy riding, relaxing with no nasty bits. After 50kms of this we took another road which while good, had some tricks in store. Smooth dirt with very little gravel this road took us North through scrubby desert-like country although there was some stock being run here. Many dry washes to watch out for. These ranged from nothing more than a small bump to a good sized culvert full of loose gravel &/or deep sand, some with a deeper narrow culvert running through the middle that has been carved out ... read more