BOTTOMLESS LAKES STATE PARK 10/1-10/7-- MOSTLY MEGAN

The next day Doug went into Roswell to pick up Megan about noon, and we put together burgers, hot dogs with all the trimmings including baked beans, chips and drinks under the shelter. It was a lovely, hot and sunny day, with a bit of wind. Megan is quite the gal, and she looks so grown-up in her uniform.

She regaled us with lots of stories about New Mexico Military Institute which, in jest, they call Nine Million Marching Idiots!!

  Since Megan is a freshman, she is a Cadet Recruit and therefore subjected to all sorts of rules that the older students are not. For instance, when she is at dinner, she must stand at attention at her place and shout at the top of her lungs: “Excuse me sir! Cadet recruit Byers M.L. requests permission to rest. Then, the same intro to be seated. Once again to eat, she requests to use her “hands, glass,and utensils, for preparation, transportation, mutilation and consumption of my food and drink.” When she requests permission to take her tray over to the kitchen, it's the same intro requesting permission to “ take my tray, glass, and utensils to the hall of culinary atrocity for more expedient departure from this fine dining establishment.”!!! This rigmarole is called “popping to”. When they pick up the salt and pepper, they have to keep both shakers together; a lot of the food is either the dried or has been frozen, just like in the service. They do have a place where they can get pizza, etc. but attendance at meals is mandatory.

  Megan also has a very full schedule during the day. She gets up about 5:30, breakfast is at 6. Classes start at 8, and she takes math, English, earth science, Spanish, leadership training, lifetime sports, keyboarding, a seminar for college prep, and academic assistance, which helps the kids out with their homework. There is a study hall after dinner until 9:30, lights out at 10 PM. Extracurricular activities include, cheerleading, core physical training, Native American Club, ski club in the winter and track in the spring. Whew! I just get tired writing all of this! I can't imagine that I could have done this at 14. ( or ever!)

  She seems to be enjoying it, but she does admit to having days where she wants out! Can't blame her. We've enjoyed being with her in the afternoons for two days, but she had to leave in time to get back by 5 and the time really flies.

BOTTOMLESS LAKES STATE PARK 10/1-10/7

10/1

 Bottomless Lakes State Park is a great spot about 15 or so miles from Roswell, home of the alien sitings. Bottomless Lakes are a chain of 8 lakes formed when water dissolved salt and gypsum to form subterranean caves which eventually collapsed  to form the lakes, which range from 17-90 feet  deep. We were here two years ago after Megan's feast, and Doug, Jen, and Megan come here quite often. It's a beautiful, restful, and quiet place, with campsites that offer lots of space and a view of the lake, as well as a picnic shelter with a grill.  No one bothers anyone, and Xian can run and play ball as well as swim.  The first night we were here, It was just the 4 of us-- Doug and Jen were camped in the site beside us. They arrived late from Mescalero, so we had steaks, drinks and lots of chat. We hadn't seen Jen for a year, so it was great to see her.

LUNCH AT RAYMONDAR AND OTHER MUSINGS

10/1
We left Santa Fe at about noon today, figuring it wouldn't be too long a day to Roswell, about 200 miles away. We hated to say goodbye to our friends next door, Tim, Ruthie and all of their little dogs. This couple had just sold their business, bought a SUPER motor home on consignment for a SUPER price, and this was their shakedown trip. They were loving it. Here, you see Ruthie ( hiding behind her pack). Mitzi Gaynor is right next to her while Gracie Allen does what she does best: bark. Then come Benny Goodman and last but not least, Wookie Goldberg!! When people rescue dogs, they don't seem to be able to stop at just one!!

Bottomless Lake was our destination, and it was there that we were meeting Doug. The trip was uneventful, except for our lunch stop at Ramondar, about an hour or so on our way.

Small but plenty of roadside allure and cowboy feng shui. For our entrees, we chose a sauteed Canadian bacon, mustard, and lettuce sandwich on whole grain bread with a side of aldente edamame. For dessert we split a mini chocolate bundt cake smothered in chocolate icing and chocolate chips, which they have sent in from Trader Joe's in Santa Fe. Perfect!!

   So what DO we eat on our trip, besides the famous Vale Da Serra lasagna, chips, nuts, wine, beer, and out-to eat? I guess we'd call it “camper food". Bill does most of the driving and all of the camper maintenance and setup, and I take care of the meals, dishes and cleaning. ( not much cleaning going on, I can tell you right now!) This division of labor works just fine for us!! Some nights we arrive and want to just fall into bed, and other times there's more time to do a proper meal. So we've had the ubiquitous hotdogs and beans; spaghetti with sausage/ beef; sauteed ground beef/turkey and veggies; buffalo burgers; hamburgers,sloppy joes over potatoes and onions, sauteed chicken with veggies and ginger over rice. I try to do things that will last for two meals, and all of it is done on the stove top or in the micro. Maybe the next trip I will get more ambitious and do things in the oven, like casseroles. We haven't eaten outside much-- it's been too cold, too mosquitoey, or just easier to do it inside. Breakfast is usually cereal, etc. and lunch can be tuna or chicken salad, tomato, lettuce and cheese sandwiches,or what's leftover in the fridge. Sometimes at night we have breakfast, like egg, onion and cheese wraps. We've had some great fresh veggies from Ruthie and Cliff in Miles City, and we miss their tomatoes like crazy.

STILL SANTE FE

9/29
  Just a little girl talk here. Ladies, if you ever need to have your hair done in Santa Fe, I highly recommend Jennifer at Salon David. She is a lovely young woman who will work hard at doing exactly what you want. Some of us chicas have a hard time finding just the right hair stylist, and when we do, we don't want anyone else!! And heck, when you're on the road, finding someone good is sort of a crap shoot. Walk your  fingers through the Yellow Pages ( or Google) and pick a name, any name! I got Jennifer-- she's great!

  That afternoon we decided to go to the Georgia O'Keefe Museum, which was supposed to be open until 8. With time not an issue, we spent a quiet afternoon at the site and took off about 5 for the museum. When we pulled up to its door, not a soul was around, the bulding was dark. How dare they? It was supposed to be open until 8 on Friday-- it said so right there on the door. A bit deflated, I got back into the truck and then smacked my forehead. (Coulda had a V-8?)  The day was Thursday-- not Friday! So........ this is how it goes with us ding-a-lings.....we'll just have to come back next year!!

PECOS DOG LOVES HIS STICKS

I like this stick!

I think I'll make it mine.

I'll just work it this way.

Well, maybe I'll work it that way.

Maybe if I grab it in my teeth.....?

&%@!#!! I think it's attached to the tree.....

Just kidding- I didn't want the stick anyway.

PECOS WILDERNESS/ BILL'S TURN

9/28
Wednesday we packed up some some food and water, cameras, etc and drove into the Pecos Wilderness for a hike.This from Bill:  

"We-- Doug, Susi, Xian and I-- took a walk in the Pecos Wilderness. Nice well marked trails. We were in the head waters of the Pecos River, altitude of 8000 + feet. A number of streams merge into the Pecos confluence. Fishermen abound. An apparently moribund upscale fly fishing resort/school "owns" or posts about a mile of the waters. A state fish hatchery down stream from this 'school' and situated near the village of Pecos ensures part of the waters are stocked to keep all content and gay.
  Our trail walked beside and above Cave Creek. The well trod trail took the high road on a terrace open forest and shrubs. But, choice had us struggle along the stream's edge through willows, alders, small roses and Toxicodenron radicans. Oh, that's Poison Ivy. Yup
it's here too.

We followed where stalwart 'trouters' had made a passage; narrow, often on shale or muddy slippery slopes over fallen trees, under dense willows, and ever along.  Cold clear water tumbled over rocks, rills, logs to course under shrubs, fallen trees and banks. Many were the hiding places for wily trout . From high points we saw trout down in the pools. Do you suppose they thought they were not visible. Some were big! 12 inches at least. Susi has a photo of one. Its spots are clear.

 

Doug leading the way and first over a pool saw many. I followed along on my three legs: left, right and walking stick. (It was made from a small dead red spruce I cut one day years ago on a hike in the Adirondacks. My rod was back in the camper unlimbered, unstrung. What a waste! Clearly this segment of the stream and going higher is more difficult to walk and fish than many care to attend. No casting of a line here. The places for rods were few and those were small openings in the over arching brush. They were like the kind of places I used to fish in Maine.
   Over our heads towered the forest of Douglas fir, Colorado Blue spruce and Ponderosa Pine of heights 60 to 80 feet. Aspens, 50-60 foot in stature, stood silver straight their leaves beginning to turn to gold.

Along the trail came two horsemen, Tom and his son, Adam. Their garments matched the 1861 Army clothing Manual (Tom did Civil War reenactments.) Tom, a leather worker, made saddles gauntlets, chaps, boot/ stirrup guards, and bridles. The bits and decorative metals were also made by him.  He rode under the brim of a Civil War Union Officer's issue hat of dark blue or black western style with broad brim sporting around the crown a gold braid with tassels. A huge smile on his face, and in his right hand a cold can of beer that clearly was not 1861 Army issue. Such is the world. Enjoy the day."

    And did we ever enjoy the day. The smell of sun-warmed pine and wood was intoxicating. We probably walked about 4 miles, give or take, ( much of it at a slant at first) but according to Doug and his GPS, we spent 3 times as much time in non-motion as we did in motion!! That statistic doesn't apply to Xian, who was in motion most of the time!!

 

SANTA FE 9/27-10/1

Ah, Santa Fe, way too little time in Santa Fe!! The three days we were there went like the wind,but it was wonderful spending time with Doug. Fortunately, Doug ferried us around while the pickup was in the shop....and never complained. Thanks be to the gods, out of all the very expensive problems that could have occurred, this turned out to be a fan clutch replacement-- only a little bit expensive...

    Doug is a busy man. He's working on a master's in teaching science as well as working at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. On Tuesday 9/27 we had a tour of the lab area in Alamos.Doug's working for Dr. Aviva Sussman, who is involved in subcritical testing of nuclear weapons.  At the Bradbury Science Museum, we saw at video on just what this is. In a nutshell, we have a huge atomic stockpile which cannot, of course, be tested by detonating. However, for national security, it's important to know that these aging nuclear weapons are still viable. There are any number of ways in which this is done, using computers, and a number of other ways that are way over my head. We couldn't go into the labs, nor did we take any pictures of the grounds-- it is a huge area. Following our tour we drove to the Valles Caldera, a huge meadow created by a collapse after a number of volcanic eruptions, a million years ago. Doug would like to do some rock testing in this area.

   When he completes his master's, Doug then intends to get his PhD. in geophysics or structural geology. He and Bill had the best time talking geology together. Geology is one of Bill's passions, and he's just thrilled that Doug has the same one. Later in the afternoon we met Aviva and her husband Matt and 2-year-old Ellie for a burrito meal at the Butterfly. Love these burritos.....Aviva and company are quite down-to-earth, and we weren't able to spend nearly enough time with them. Maybe another time.....