End of the Trail

We have spent the last few days in Ruidoso, NM. These horses were at the Western Museum. This is really horse country. Everyone seems to have a few in their pasture.




We spent one day on the Billy the Kid National Byway, exploring Lincoln where the Lincoln County War occurred. Billy escaped here from the jail where he was on death row. In the process, he killed some lawmen. For lunch, we stopped at a place that is famous for their green chile cheeseburgers. Green and red chiles are grown all over NM and used in their cooking.

It took us over an hour to get that burger and fries since it was homecoming and parents had come to town to see the parade. Many were eating in this small cafe---it probably didn't have more than 15 tables. As we were leaving, the parade started. I watched some of it before we left. Reminded me of small town parades at home. Not much to it.


Here Fred is studying the lawmen exhibit at the Lincoln County Museum. This building is the one where Billy was being held upstairs when he escaped and shot 3 people.

Lincoln is the most preserved old west town in America. If the street running through it had been dirt, it would look just like it did back then. The saloon was closed, but we did tour the general store.


Today was an exciting day for us all. We crossed the border back into Texas and got some good food at El Chico's. (The best we have had in two months!!!) Only one more day and we will be home!!!!

The Catwalk

We are in Silver City, NM, where some of the largest silver mine deposits were mined. Two of them are now open pit copper mines. It is also the home of Billy the Kid and a ranch near here was the hideout of Butch Cassity. Today we drove Scenic Hwy 180 to the catwalk located in the Gila National Forest. It is a series of suspended walkways and steps that lead deep into the Whitewater Canyon where a mine was once located. Water lines were suspended along the canyon walls to pump water up to the mine. Later the railings were used to build a nature trail into the canyon. What a fabulous walk!!! We were on a walkway 20 feet above the water below.



The trail extended a mile into the canyon.


Large boulders were below in the water and we saw several waterfalls. We had heavy rain last night.


I am in this picture on the bridge if you look closely.

Pink Jeep Tour

Today we took a 4-wheel drive among the red rocks of Sedona---I mean ON the rocks out in the wilderness!!! Sometimes we were going down ---almost straight down!!!! We would climb a huge boulder, drive around on top and then go down the other side.




It was really a thrill of a lifetime---I would highly recommend this to anyone.


The scenery is so beautiful and you never get tired of driving around here.


This was the last scare---Road of No Return---it was just like stairs and the jeep driver (who was originally from TX--BA and MA in pottery from North Texas) had to inch the Jeep down each one.

Red Rocks of Sedona

We drove the Red Rock Scenic Loop near Sedona today and drove to Jerome, an old mining town turned artist colony in the mountains. Absolutely beautiful scenery!!!



Cathedral Rock





Watson Lake near Prescott--nice weather for sailing and kayaking

Last Days in Vegas

I have enjoyed the pool at our resort a couple of times. There are actually two pools, an adult and family. This is the family which seems to be warmer. It has a rock waterfall in the far corner and real sand where the lounge chairs are. So relaxing!!!



We have been back downtown---the show in the sky is so much fun--this one is Halloween theme. They also had bands on the outdoor stages---jazz was my favorite.


On 3rd street, they have put up some of the old Vegas signs for all to enjoy. Plans are to put up more in the future.


Elvis is alive and on the strip. For $7, you can have your picture made with him!!!

Red Rock Canyon

Yesterday, we drove the Red Rock Canyon. Beautiful Calico Hills!!!



The Canyon was beautiful even though it was a cloudy day.


Really strange rock formations in tan and red just 10 miles from Vegas.


Very scenic 13 mile drive through it.

Vegas Nightlife

We are really loving our stay in Vegas!!! Last night we went to a show at the Monte Carlo on the strip so I got to see all the lights. The show was hilarious---Frank Caliendo, the comic and impressionist who does the Fox Pregame show on Sunday with Jimmy and spent many years on MadTV doing President Bush and President Clinton. We laughed the whole time!!!! Just my kind of show---not Cirque!!!



Today, we went downtown to gamble and see the Fremont Experience. When the lights came on, it was like a fairyland. Beautiful!!!


We had better luck gambling here and could walk to several casinos. This is the way Vegas should be. 99cent shrimp cocktails and $2 Coronas and 99cent margaritas.



Several years ago they closed off the street and covered it with a large screen that extends for several blocks. Every hour they have a light show on the screen overhead. (All the casino lights are turned off) Each hour is different---we watched two of them. We just love old Vegas downtown ----don't know why we have wasted so much of our time elsewhere.

Death Valley

Yesterday we toured Death Valley NP---more than we ever expected it to be---so many types of geology and the color was so brilliant. Not all brown like we expected.



Here we are at the Devil's Golf Course---dry cracked earth mixed with salt has hardened over the years.


View of the whole valley from up on Dante's Peak at 5,800 ft. We had to climb a 25% grade to get here. That Jeep is really great for all this.


Fred is next to Badwater---the hottest and lowest place in North America. (280 feet below sea
level) Pioneers named it badwater because even the animals would not drink it---so full of salt and minerals. Nothing can live in it except algae.


Now we are off to Pahrump and Vegas for some "city vacation" time--hopefully some good shows, good meals, and some winning at the casinos.

Lone Pine

Lone Pine, just west of Death Valley, has been used as a movie set since the 20's. More than 400 movies and television shows have been filmed here in the Alabama Hills, an upheaval of rocks caused by earthquake activity. Roy Rogers, Lone Ranger, Audey Murphy, John Wayne, Tex Ritter, all the greats according to Fred, filmed here. Even some scifi such as Tremors, Star Trek, Twilight Zone, etc were filmed here. Most recently, the Toyota Tundra commercial that is running now. These rock formations are the weirdest ever--make you think of some other planet. I can just see those cowboys hiding behind them. Before driving through them, we toured the Rogers Museum of Film History to see costumes, saddles, guns, cars, stagecoaches, and other props used in the movies.


I could have stayed here all day playing in the rocks.


Just some of the scenes---they seemed to be endless. We now have a list of old movies to watch so we can enjoy the scenery again.


Fred liked this one which was like a cave with a window.


Just a few miles up the mountain (Mt Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48) we found this frozen waterfall, a small Alpine lake, and a herd of mule deer!!! What a contrast----from desert at the campground to the movie hills to this lush and frozen mountain all within 15 miles. California is so full of surprises. We love to visit here!!!

Rambling along Scenic 395 in CA

Today we drove north 0n 395 ---we see why it is a scenic byway----the most varied landscape ever!!!! We started in desert and volcanic fields and arrived at Mono Lake. It is an inland sea, 3 times saltier than the Pacific. It has rivers and springs feeding it. The springs have a high content of calcium that mixes with the saline in the lake and forms the most unusual towers!!! (called tufa) Looks like something out of a space movie. The lake contains tiny brine shrimp that birds feed on. In the spring, some form of flies come here to lay their larvae in the lake. The Indians of long ago collected the fly larva and dried it for food. Supposedly it tastes like bacon but I would never try it!!!



At the edge of the lake, some of the tufa, are on land.


After that we drove the Lake June loop, through a mountain pass and beside 4 Alpine lakes. So many out fishing even though the day was cold.


Here by Bishop Creek, they have a road that goes back into the mountains through a mountain pass and into a couple of canyons that have a series of Alpine lakes. Beautiful fall color with all the aspens.