Southwest NEW MEXICO Rockdocking Rock Hunt- July/August 2015

[Lily&Me]

Seriously, tho, as your first assistant I will be happy to help with anything you ask of me.


Maggie

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

Seriously, tho, as your first assistant I will be happy to help with anything you ask of me.
Maggie

*******

I was trying to hire an expensive model to run the Bucket and Cent game. My wife said for that kind of money, she would do it. So Maggie is off the hook. My wife has been wanting an all expense paid vacation to Quemado for at least two weeks now. Her dream has come true.

[Lily&Me]

Okay, then.

I am neither expensive, nor a model, but remain willing to assist with whatever is needed.


Maggie

[Thinair]

Hmmm... Sounds fun, - have been following this thread just the past couple days. but I'm not clear if a date has been chosen yet or not. We could do July readily enough, but might have a conflict with mid August? (Not sure yet)
Chris & Carla

[Lily&Me]

Well, you are in luck!

We are meeting at the ranger station in Quemado on Monday, July 13th, departing there 2:30pm that date.

If you wish to sign up, say so here, and pm me your real names, cell phone number, and email address. I am the keeper of the list for the Eklunds.

Ray says there is plenty of room, so sun or shade preference are not needed in advance.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Adding one more.....and please send me your email address.


SOUTHWEST ROCKDOCKING 2015

Ray Eklund
Thalweg
Prickly Pear/pienjim
unifreck
traveluminum
Lily&Me
ramblingirl
mstcswagb20
Thinair


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Ray posted a couple of days ago of a need to socialize our dogs, once we are gathered all together.

In the interest of honesty and basic full disclosure......I want to let y'all who are bringing dogs to this gathering know beforehand that my Lily is a very good, loving, and devoted dog, but has a powerfully Alpha personality.

She intimidates other dogs....quite deliberately....thus, also their owners.

She is wonderful with all children, and most adults , but I have to watch her carefully with other dogs and will probably keep her on a short leash whenever she is around the dogs in our group.

At least, until....when, and if....she can show me she can chill a bit and be a good neighbor. She does very well with the two, new, dogs in our family, so she is clearly capable of it....but it took close and active involvement on my part the first few times they were together.

Now, she knows what is acceptable, and, wanting more than anything to please, she does it.

So, I had emailed Ray of her alpha-ness, thought I should let everyone else know....and, in case one of you has an alpha, too.

I have been keeping her leashed around other dogs, and have no problem doing that if that is what it takes.

We'll see how she does.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Have had one cancellation, Prickly Pear/pienjim.


SOUTHWEST ROCKDOCKING 2015

Ray Eklund
Thalweg
unifreck
traveluminum
Lily&Me
ramblingirl
mstcswagb20
Thinair


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Miss Lily.....and she really is just this sweet.

[Thinair]

Greetings All,
'Just a heads up to those joining the Quemado adventure; at just one week out, the Climate Prediction Center is advertising a monsoon pattern for southwestern New Mexico in their 6-10 day model, and the NWS is describing a classic monsoon moisture plume to become established later this week for much of New Mexico (we're in Taos), so maybe Ray's rain barrel idea will get some traction next week! It's been a wet spring, and now summer pattern here, so I'm inclined to expect showers in the afternoons and evenings... This isn't meant to discourage anyone from attending as showers tend to be somewhat scattered, yet is will be possible for our camp area to be wet at times, and windy if we experience outflow from nearby cells. The good news is that we'll likely have afternoon shade and cooler temperatures, so bring a rain shell and fleece jacket or vest...

Chris
aka ThinAir

[Thinair]

My previous post wasn't meant to discourage as much as advise. What I didn't say was that this is my favorite weather pattern in the region, and often results in epically beautiful moments that will be forever memorable, especially for those unaccustomed to the visual power of Southwestern skies! A possible caveat might be finding yourself beneath 'training thunderstorms' for several hours...

That said, I'm sharing a few images below, two from just last evening - cheers!

[Ray Eklund]

I have camped this area during Monsoon Season a number of times. The "showers" wet the surface so the Chalcedony Rosettes stand out for easier pickings. Keeps the dust down and your skin hydrated, with the usual 3% inside the trailer humidity readings it is a relief.

Thanks Thinair for the photographs! You take some decent photos.

We carry "rain gear" with us on any trips. Mountain or desert camping. Especially if the gear is light and thin. Once a shower goes through, it can be rolled up and stuck into our shoulder strapped collecting bags. We survived for years with the $1 Disneyland rain ponchos and now that Nancy keeps them in her closet as "memories" from our twenty year ago Disney adventure. More a yellow colored trash bag with a hood attached.

As Hank Williams is reported to have said, "Come Hell or High Water" we will be there. I did have a 1950's Hank Williams poster that said it.

We will be pulling the trailer out Friday and on our way Saturday, July 11th. I will toss in an extra bucket for any possible thundershower. I want to avoid any Colorado hail storms between Colorado Springs and Raton Pass...

Since the roads are all season up to the last turn out to the campsite, it will be an easy trip up to that point. Off the road you will want to get the awning out and some rolling mats for ground cover as a protected dry space. I would expect the showers, if any, to come out of the southwest and we will be facing our trailer/awning at 50 degrees NE or close to it.

The carwash at the south end of Socorro, NM on the west side of I-25 is the Best in the West. So if you are exiting the area through Socorro, you cannot miss it. It has five or six stalls and the one on the south end is for large RV's and trucks. High pressure units to keep your pride and joy shiny and clean.

Anyone who is wishy washy following this Thread and not committed onto the list that Maggie is keeping to date, you can show up unannounced but the same times apply to those dropping by. This Caravan is parting Quemado at or before 2:30PM if those on the list are idling and anxious to get settled into the same environment that Thinair's photos show so strikingly beautiful.

[Lily&Me]

Thanks for the warning, Thinair.

I.....am not discouraged.

I have been in New Orleans, and other places, where it rains so heavily the streets fill with water in a matter of minutes.. I have even experienced this in Illinois.

A little rain don't scare me.

See y'all soon.


Maggie

[Hittenstiehl]

The Desert after a rain is absolutely lovely. Makes gorgeous skies and photo's. The dark red dirt makes a nice contrast to the shades of green. Smells so good.

[Lily&Me]

And, maybe the rain will bring wildflowers.


Maggie

[Hittenstiehl]

Hmmmm maybe but kinda late for our wildflowers. However the Desert has many blooms that will open up to get a drink of water.

And if I may say (sorry Lily) the evening light shows are exquisite. Google the "lightening fields art exhibit" for an Intereting read.

[Lily&Me]

Whatever the weather......it will be an amazing experience.


Maggie

[unifreck]

MS. MAGGIE.
How about a phone number for you and/or the Eklunds for those that have "signed on" just in case? Understand no cellphone at final destination, but if need to contact you there is only email and we won't be sure you'll get the message. Please either call or PM us all. Ed

[Lily&Me]

Hmmm....I emailed a document to everyone some time ago, with just that information. I hoped everyone got it.

I have copied and pasted just my and the Eklunds phone and email info into a pm for you.

Anyone else who does not have this info, please let me know asap.

I am spending Friday and Saturday night, the 10th & 11th, at Caseys Soccorro RV Park, in Soccorro, if anyone else is enrooute and wants to join me. She told me they have plenty of vacant sites.

Going to do up laundry, get groceries, and cook a bit, then head to Quemado on the 12th to await.

Maggie

[Ray Eklund]

We will be packed and ready by tomorrow. Since I have been shutting down everything to keep... me busy, we will be on the road to exit 234, Sandia Casino parking lot arriving Saturday PM.

Leaving Albuquerque, NM on Sunday AM to Socorro, NM and west to Quemado setting up camp somewhere in the vicinity of the Forest Service facility. Possibly catching Maggie and if she is ready to head further west and whomever might have stopped at Socorro, NM.

This way I will be ready to top off our trailer's fresh water Monday AM and get everyone else topped off and ready to roll when the group gathers. There are NO dump stations in the County...

IF you are not on the list of confirmed campers it is important that you arrive early enough to catch the Wagon Train out of town before 2:30PM Monday. Otherwise the 1,000,000 acres of National Forest is a great place to start looking for us.

I received Maggie's email with contact numbers last month and I am not that organized when it comes to communications or paper shuffling. Nancy keeps things running here when it fits into a file cabinet.

I do not care if you are tent camping or driving a Greyhound Bus on this trip. All will fit and welcome. Once everyone is settled into the campsite, there will be some discussion(s) as to what everyone has in mind to keep themselves busy and active. Otherwise I have no problem with throwing everything together and get moving the following morning after breakfast.

We are fortunate to have a member who has a good handle of Archaeology on this trip. I cannot shut up about Geology here or anywhere else. Anyone who is willing to step forward and speak about an interest is more than welcome to educate and entertain when we all settle in the camp after dinner. Maybe get a few more rockhounds and explorers out of this group to make a possible 2016 outing a routine experience, just with different surroundings.

Depending on time, there is another camping area to the South that offers a different view and access to the Gila Wilderness. You have to keep in mind that this is an experience, not an organized Airstream Rally where there are parking spaces designated and someone with a clip board. There are 1,000,000 acres to explore, most of which are Wilderness and need to be hiked to get from one point to another as road access is limited.

Some areas with Anasazi Pit Houses are near former Springs in this area. We can mark a spot on a map and you go find them. Hunting Elk and Deer antler sheds as an excuse to wander around aimlessly. Well... we find it fun and if you have any artistic talent you can make a chandelier for your Airstream from six point Elk antlers.

If you can find Quemado on a map, you will find all of us. If the trailer(s) are empty, check the restaurant on the south side of town. The cook was wearing a Vote for Perot tee shirt when we ate there in June, so you are stepping into a slight time warp. You will adapt. Look what it has done to, or for me.

By the time you leave the campsite you will be full of attitude, independent and heard more tall stories to keep you active on the Airforum for some time.