Ah but to do nothing and go nowhere. A four mile hike around the park this morning, that is the extent of it. Catching some sun and reading a book from cover to cover...today's perfection.
Yesterday's trip to Deming included a hike at Rockhound State Park at the base of the Florida Mountains.
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| Hiking the Jasper Trail |
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| Rockhound State Park |
Winding path up a mountain side bordered by prickly pear cactus and lesser nighthawks soaring above us. A quick stop at St. Claire Winery. Grapes grown in the Mimbres and Pyramid Valleys of Southwest New Mexico supply many of the wineries across New Mexico, Arizona and West Texas. America's first wine grapes were planted in 1629 by Spanish monks. I grabbed a bottle of Pinot Noir and a Cab-Zin. A little treat after a dusty day on the road.
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| St. Clair Winery |
Possibly, tomorrow, we'll pack a picnic and take the Trail of the Mountain Spirits, a national scenic byway.
March 15,2014
Trail of the Mountain Spirits is a national scenic byway... We traveled Highways 61, 35, 152 through the Mimbres valley, down Sapillo Creek and over the Pinos Altos Range. Leaving camp we started the opposite direction on Highway 61 taking us along the Mimbres River- a river with water in it and trees leafing out in spring.
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| budding trees along the Mimbres River |
Leaving the valley and climbing into the mountains was beautiful, awe inspiring and cold!!! 44 degrees at 7000 ft elevation.
Last time we were here it was June and glorious. High winds today and I am wind whipped. We took a picnic but could find no place to be sheltered from the wind or a place warm enough. However, the scenic drive afforded sitings of mule deer and elk, miles of mountain roads wrapping the canyons like a ribbon.
The tiny mountain town of Pinos Altos is where judge Roy Bean once lived. The town hasn't changed since the 1880s.
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| Pinos Altos Opera House |
On Highway 152 is the Santa Rita open pit mine. The largest and longest continually working copper mine. It is 1.7 miles across and 1000 feet deep!
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| Santa Rita Copper Mine |
Returning to camp with our picnic lunch for supper, we will settle in with our books and hope and pray our trailer doesn't land in Kansas with these ferocious winds.
March 16, 2014
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| yep.... the very top we will go |
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| top of Tabletop... see the tiny little camp below? |
We stayed put in camp and tackled the hike up Tabletop Mountain.... 5.25 miles and another 1000 feet up. The silence was unimaginable. I could not capture the raven and hawk playing together. They entertained us for a good portion of the trail up. Gerard and I both enjoyed the hike together.
The temps are starting to come up. I am hoping for 70s soon!
March 17, 2014
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| Highway 152 through Emory Pass |
Woke up this morning and there was ice in Sitka's bowl. I guess the low was 29 degrees. Today, another road trip- took Highway 152 up and through Emory Pass. 60 miles of hair pin turns and I white knuckled it all the way up 8,100 feet and down. Speed limit was 15mph most turns and top speed was 25 mph. Ooh, I did the speed limit!
I have this thing with going over a cliff in a previous life... I just can't seem to get past it. Gerard is very patient with me. We left very early this morning, so we didn't have anyone riding my bumper.
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| 29º |
At the top, the temps were in the 20s but later we would experience 80s! When we came down the other side of the mountain we landed in the little town of Hillsboro, an artist, mining and ranching community.
What a wonderful breakfast and the best coffee. Our waitress said it is the water.
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| they're serious in this town! |
Our next order of business was to check out the campgrounds around Truth or Consequences. We were not impressed with Caballo Lake or Percha Dam State Parks. We expect to do a number of days at Elephant Butte and explore the Rio Grande. I think the campground there is not bad, most sites look over the water. You know me and water.
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| Elephant Butte State Park |
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| Our next campsite |
We think we can road trip from there. We have yet to go to White Sands National Monument. We were going to stay at a park near Alamogordo, but it is probably more economical to day trip rather than haul the trailer west and back. I guess we will have to see where these New Mexico winds blow us next.
2014
Last time we were here it was June and glorious. High winds today and I am wind whipped. We took a picnic but could find no place to be sheltered from the wind or a place warm enough. However, the scenic drive afforded sitings of mule deer and elk, miles of mountain roads wrapping the canyons like a ribbon. 
The tiny mountain town of Pinos Altos is where judge Roy Bean once lived. The town hasn't changed since the 1880s. 
The temps are starting to come up. I am hoping for 70s soon!
I have this thing with going over a cliff in a previous life... I just can't seem to get past it. Gerard is very patient with me. We left very early this morning, so we didn't have anyone riding my bumper. 
What a wonderful breakfast and the best coffee. Our waitress said it is the water. 
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