D hour is rapidly approaching. Four months of planing is coming into focus. I really appreciate all the input everyone has given since the start of this thread. Without that input, it would be a far different, and poorer I think, journey. I have certainly accumulated far more things to do and places to do them in than the 11 weeks will hold. One of the biggest challenges will be in deciding what I wont be able to see and do.
I will be posting as regular as time and my cell card allows to keep everyone up to date. I hope to bump into you all out there. I will try to do a quick post in the morning over coffee, but if not the next post will likely be from the rockies.
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Rodney
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson
On the road- transmitting from the Valles Caldera Nat Preserve
Day one: Lawton, Oklahoma to Montezuma New Mexico
I managed to get out of Lawton only one hour later than planed with the mule pointed west by 9:30. Cut across to Amarillo where I took I-40 west as far as Tucumcari. From there the fun began. I decide to take HWY 104 N to Las Vegas, NM which is near day ones destination.
Hwy 104 is a long and lonely lane through the high desert. I highly recommend the route since it is anything but crowded and scenic in its own way. I was surprised how beautiful the views were. I think I have driven this route before, but wasn’t old enough to appreciate it. There is one extended climb (something like 3 miles) where you climb from the lower desert to the higher desert about ¾ of the way through. If you do take this route, best fill up. Its 100 miles and I think the only fuel stop along the way is at Conchas Dam. There is a park there, but I have no knowledge of it.
Arriving in Las Vegas in late afternoon I pushed on into the mountains above, passing through Montezuma along the way, more about which presently. Following state Hwy 65 another 10 miles up a beautiful two lane ‘hanging’ road and then onto a forest road at 484 miles, I reached today’s destination: El Porvenir campground. The campground is a small, well cared for NFS campground. I would guess there are about 10 sites and it appears that longer campers would fit fine although I would be hesitant about bringing a big rig up the 10 miles from Montezuma due to the hairpin curves and narrow roads. Not to say it couldn’t be done, just saying it would have its issues. Camping is $8, there are pit toilets, central water, & trash cans that’s it.
Now, more about Montezuma: Montezuma is a small community whose most salient features are the Amand Hammer World College, and more to the point here- HOT SPRINGS. Right off the road at the college is a series of hot springs. The springs are superbly maintained and monitored. The current rules: no booze, no nudity, no loud noise, closed between midnight and five am. There are several springs, but the best and most popular is a connected series of three pools, the top being the hottest with the water cooling progressively as it descends from the top pool. The top pool is well like, about 5 ft deep and quite hot. The lower two pools are better for sitting as they are shallow.
Day three Montezuma to Jemez
Lots of wind again on this stretch, glad I have the diesel to buck the wind with. Saw diesel at $4.50. I finally found a boondock spot off of Hwy 4, it was worth the effort as I am right on the cliff facing south. I was hoping to get cell service there, but I need one of those booster antennas.
Here is some eye candy for those of you at home today...
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Rodney
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson
Rodney, I know that road from Tucumcari to Las Vegas and you describe it correctly. You can also go from Logan (east of Tucumcari and home of the Road to Ruin bar) north through Roy and eventually make your way to I-25 at Ratón if you're going north. Pretty and isolated country. Last time I was in Tucumcari, maybe 10 years ago, it seemed like it had seen better, much better, days.
That looks like a version of a kiva in the photo on the upper right. It's square, not round though. Where did you take that picture?
By now you must be soaking in hot springs in the Jemez Mountains. It snowed a little overnight here and more in the central Colorado mountains—winter just doesn't want to quit. Runoff is getting higher, but no flooding (yet).
3 3/4 days before we leave for the east coast. Your trip is making me jealous to start towing, but first our trip to NYC sans trailer must happen.
Hey, Rodney, nice description of that stretch and that area!
I had the same question that Gene did about the underground shot: Kind of funny-looking for a kiva!
Might wanna just stay put near the hot springs for the next couple of days! The weather forecast is calling for snow in the upper reaches in Colorado, rain in northern New Mexico (maybe some snow up here), but the whole system is supposed to clear out by Friday.
WOW, what a fun week! Sorry about the lack of updates, but the cellular internet hasn't been all I had hoped for. Tonight I am camped out at Monte Vista RV park with eubank (aka Lynn). Nice park, wonderful views of the mountains.
First, the Kiva is at Pecos NHP, it looks square because of the 10mm lens. The boondock site I had scoped out on Google Earth (see earlier in the thread) turned out to be everything I had hoped for. I was backed up against the edge of the canyon and could see just about forever. This is one spot where being in a narrow body vintage paid off, I doubt very much if a wider unit would had gotten in and out in tact. Hot springs soaking just about every day I also caught my first trout just below Jemez Falls (a cut throat) and made some progress on my casting, which was much needed. The weather has been pretty good, mostly sunny, there were a couple days that were icky and there was snow one morning.
At this point I am not sure where I am headed next, the main plan is to find a place to hunker down for the big weekend. I haven't done as much photography as I normally would, but that should gear up soon.
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Rodney
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson
Hey, Rodney, maybe tomorrow we can sit down with your maps and figure out some more. Main thing is to get you situated for Memorial Day, methinks!
Lynn
Hey, you know, I recall that you maybe wanted to go up to the Valle Vidal area, or? I'd bet a buck that there'd be plenty of room up here even smack in the middle of Memorial Day Madness.
Lynn
Hey, you know, I recall that you maybe wanted to go up to the Valle Vidal area, or? I'd bet a buck that there'd be plenty of room up here even smack in the middle of Memorial Day Madness.
Lynn
I think they have the Valle Vidal buttoned up still.
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Rodney
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson
I think they have the Valle Vidal buttoned up still.
Oh, drat. I'd forgotten about that part of the story. Too much computin'; not enough thinkin'. (On the other hand, the big Carson NF office is in Taos, so we could just call over there tomorrow to find out what the story is on opening dates.)
Lynn
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I also caught my first trout just below Jemez Falls (a cut throat) and made some progress on my casting, which was much needed. The weather has been pretty good, mostly sunny, there were a couple days that were icky and there was snow one morning.
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