December 15-17, 2024 Clovis to Roswell, New Mexico

 High of 69 and sunny.

Welcome to New Mexico, the land of enchantment,  The first town was Texico, NM, We drove though Hereford, TX- the beef capital of the world. Then Bovina, TX-who names a town Bovina? The name comes from when it was called Bull Town-the worlds largest cattle shipping site. We went into Portales-Home of 17,000 friendly people and 3 or 4 old grouches, NM for dinner. We are now camped at Oasis Lake State Park outside of Clovis, NM.

The view from our campsite. Oasis Lake. 

Picnic shelter at Oasis lake. In Portales Bill Dalley spent 30 years collecting windmills that he displayed in his yard. They are now at the County fair ground. 

Beautiful Main St in Portales, NM. We had dinner at the Roosevelt Brewing Co. They had no IPA, so John had their Oktoberfest. They were out of Watermelon cider, or I would have had one. 

John and I with the remains of our pizza. Yucca seed pods in sunset. 

Sunset.

Sunset. We are now in Roswell, New Mexico

The bus is now camped at Bottomless Lakes State Park, New Mexico. Lea Lake, one of the 7 bottomless lakes. They are sink holes  or cenotes full of artesian well water. Lea Lake is 90feet deep. It the only one of the bottomless lakes where swimming is allowed. People scuba dive here too.

Cottonwood Lake. Figure 8 lake. 

Mirror Lake. It was 65 degrees and sunny. I went kayaking on Lea Lake. 

Shore of Lea Lake from  my kayak.

More shore of Lea Lake from my kayak.

The left and right side of the bath house the CCC built on the lake from my kayak.

Birds on the wire behind the bus. Sunset over Lea Lake.

Sunset on the water. 

December 13-14, 2024 Amarillo and Palo Duro State Park, Texas

 This Friday the 13th had a high of 65 and was mostly cloudy. We went to Amarillo to sight see.

Our first stop was at Bug Ranch. It is a take off on the route 66 Cadillac Ranch. Instead of Cadillacs, it is 8 VW bugs and stretch limos. Anyone can spray paint on them. 

The stretch limos at Bug Ranch. Big Texas Steakhouse is listed as the number one attraction in Amarillo. It is a total tourist trap.  It was on Route 66, but when they put in I-40 they moved it there. Big Texan, a giant Godzilla and the last cowboy is Tex Randall, a Texas Icon in Canyon, Texas. He was originally built to advertise a curio shop and motel.  

John at Big Texan and we are in the Big Texan or Bust wagon. The challenge is if you can eat this 72 oz (4 1/2 lb) steak with the roll, potato , shrimp and salad in one hour it is free. 

And the Big Texan Steakhouse also has brewery. We had lunch there and John had a Rattlesnake IPA. John and I with the Christmas Big Texan bear. 

There were these great clouds right before sunset. I had high hopes for a sunset show.

But the clouds dissipated before sunset and we got a smaller show. 

65 and sunny. We hiked on the Kiowa trail today. John hiking by the Prairie Dog Town fork of the Red River. The amphitheater at Palo Duro State park.  Can you tell it is in Texas?

John on the trail. The trail.

A dry fall along the trail. The white layers are gypsum. 

Almost full moon rising. Sunset in camp.

After we hiked I spent a few hours sitting at the picnic table in the sun gluing findings onto these pieces of glass jewelry I made before I left. I still have a ton more earrings to do.