New Mexico 2017

February 26, 2017.

I left Sierra Vista at 6:45 AM and arrived at the LOW-Hi RV Ranch in Deming, New Mexico at 11:15 AM.

It was cloudy while I was driving. As soon as I arrived in Deming the wind picked up. It was really windy.

I was glad I got off the road.

Elmer and a few other WINs are here already.

I get several TV stations with the antenna but the WIFI does not work here. I asked people about this and they tell me that it just does not work.

February 27, 2017.

In the morning I went to the library. The library is closed from Saturday to Monday.  So I went back to the motorhome. We had again a strong wind. Tomorrow the wind should be dangerously strong. On the news they warn about traveling on North/South highways. They wind is coming from the west. Dust Storms can be treacherous too.
 
February 28, 2017.

The weather men and women, on television and radio, were not kidding yesterday when they forecast strong windy condition for today.

Early in the morning I went to the library. From there I went to the museum. I had forgotten my camera and decided not to visit the museum. I went back to the motorhome to pick up my camera.

The wind had picked up and the visibility on the road was very bad. The sand came across the highway.

I made it back to the motorhome and stayed put. The motorhome fortunately was facing the wind, but it still was shaking.

For a while I went to the bunkhouse and watched television on a big screen TV. Because of the sand and dust the sun was hiding and I did not want to use the batteries in the motorhome.

At 5:15 PM our host had a potato meal at the recreation room. With a baked potato came chili and different salads. For dessert we had several different kind of pies.

 

After the meal Mike started his karaoke machine we danced while some people were singing.

March 1, 2017.

The trees at the library are in full bloom. I have a feeling they are mixed up.

Today we had wonderful weather again, the sky was blue and there was no wind.

After the visit to the library I went to the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum. It is a fantastic museum.

They have a lot of excellent Native American objects. Their pottery and basket collection is outstanding.

Since we are in the west there are many cowboy associated displays.

Old fire trucks are always popular in museums.

Quilts seem to be very popular too.

The iron lung reminds me of the time when I was a child and parents were worried about polio.

 

March 2, 2017.

A small group went today to the ruins of Fort Cummings. The road was very rough and not recommended for cars.

We were in three pick-up trucks and one Jeep.

The fort is located on government land and part private land. The ranch house was several miles in the distance. I had to use the telephoto lens to get a picture. Why people live in the middle of nowhere is difficult to understand.

The Cooke’s Spring House is still in operation.

Next to the fort was the Butterfield Stage Station. The basin where they washed the horses is still there.

We ate our lunch near the Cooke’s Spring House.

After eating our lunch we drove to the petroglyphs.

This was a long day. We did a lot of driving over bumpy roads.
 

March 3, 2017.

I left Deming at 7:15 AM and arrived at the Elks Lodge in Las Cruses at 8:45 AM.

After setting up the motorhome I went to Walmart and then did some cooking.

So far we are eleven rigs.

In the evening we went to the lodge for a Mexican meal. After eating we tried to dance to music from a karaoke machine. Some people should not sing. I wish they could hear themselves.

I did not stay very long.

March 4, 2017.

This was a fantastic, busy day.

In the morning we went down town Las Cruces for their Farmers Market. There were not many farmers but hundreds of vendors selling a variety of goods. All kind of foods were available.

At 1:00 PM we headed for the A. B. Cox Visitor Center and hiked the Dripping Springs Trail.

The city can be barely seen in the distance.

We were two groups. I was part of the fast group.

The water cannot be seen on the picture, but there is water coming down at the side of the mountain.

Not far from the Dripping Springs are the ruins of the Van Patton’s Mountain Camp. It was a resort with sixteen rooms, a large dining room, and a concert hall.

It was a very popular place and many famous people visited the resort.

From the Visitor Center to the Mountain Camp was a one and a half mile hike. The trail was steadily going up. It was a lot easier coming back. I was glad that I wore shorts. It was warm in the afternoon.

At 8:00 PM we were at the Las Cruces Community Theatre and enjoyed the play: “No Sex Please, We’re British”.

The acting was superb and the play is very funny.  
 

March 5, 2017.

The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum had their annual Cowboy Days celebration yesterday and today.

We went today and learned a lot about farming and ranching in New Mexico.  We also learned the history of the states flag.

A band played western music.

Sheep were a very important part of the state’s economy.

The sheep wagon was not only for the shepherd it also was housing for sick or weak lambs.

Bull riding was very popular at the event.

A free stage coach took visitors around the museums grounds.

At the blacksmith shop the guys were smoking instead of demonstrating their craft.

Pioneers were backing muffins over an open fire.

At the chili cook-off one could taste ten different chilis.

The museum is very large and they have beautiful displays of the history of New Mexico.

Another sheep wagon is on display in the museum.

Of course there had to be a gunfight.

March 6, 2017.

In the morning we went bowling.

At the beginning I did fine, but beginners luck did not last long.

After bowling for two hours we drove to Mesilla to the La Posta restaurant. It is a beautiful, old Mexican dining place.

The patio is modern but the old building has crooked ceiling beams and it is just charming. The food was very good and our waiter was taking very good care of us.

This was a very fine last day in Las Cruces.