Three days in New Mexico

[debbiej]

Last Friday, we packed up for a camping trip. originally we were to follow my parents to the Gila Wilderness and camp at Iron Creek campground. we made it there, met my parents and set up camp. I cooked supper for everyone and we sat around and enjoyed the cool pines and cloudy weather. The rain lulled us to sleep

The next day, my dad decided that my mom wasn't feeling up to it, so they decided to head home. as we each had taken Monday off, we were overcome with the giddy feeling of adventure and decided to just ramble around the state. I usually do the cooking for my parents when we go, so we had lots of food and everything we would need to just go where ever we wanted to go.

We left Iron Creek and headed back to the interstate and then on to Socorro. we took highway 60 to the VLA, and enjoyed the vast plain with huge radio telescopes lined up in a long row. the New Mexico sky was it's usual dramatic self, lending a surreal light to the VLA

then we continued north to a place we have been wondering about called Water Canyon. It was beautiful in a different way, but no water in water canyon. we wanted cool pines, and it was a live oak and cedar kind of place, we did do some exploring, driving as far as we could go on a jeep trail

then we headed back to rt. 60 and on through Magdelena, Datil, Pie Town and on to Quemado and stopped at Quemado Lake. We spent Saturday night there, they have 3 campgrounds. very clean and private. Much to my disgust, I remembered then that I'd forgotten to bring my fishing stuff. Ah, well. heated up the cobb grill and grilled chicken and mushrooms, boiled up some red fingerling potatoes and made a spinach salad. John had his guitar, and the moon was out. there were lots of coyotes singing all around us.

The next afternoon we headed back through Quemado, then toward Grants and the Los Malpias. many square miles of black lava flow in this area. I always think of volcanos spewing lava, but read information here that the lava flow came from fissures in the earth. on the other side of the road, towered sandstone cliffs. We drove in to an overlook where you could climb up the sandstone and look down out over the vally of lava flow, it was very impressive.

then we hooked up to I25 again, where we headed into Albuquerque and my sister's house. we spent the night there, and headed home.

This short trip was just perfect. being able to just get away from the grinding responsibility of our daily lives was so liberating.

The westy was perfect too. perfect mechanically, perfectly comfortable and cozy. the back roads at 65 just melted the stress away. everything worked and it was so nice. The things we have done to it have been time and money well spent.

It was about 740 miles of fun!

[Syncroincity]

Sounds great, post pics if you have any.
I regret not exploring the state more when I was stationed at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo... spent most of my time in the hills around there and up in Ruidoso & Sierra Blanca.
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[debbiej]

my husband grew up in NYC. he loves NM like a native now. We like Ruidoso, but it often is pretty crowded.

I tried to stick the links in the post but must be doing something wrong...

had the BBCode disabled.

[r39o]

[peaceful warrior]

Nice trip. I have not done any traveling down south, but I sure like camping in Northern NM!
Thanks for sharing the photos.
The area above Grants is beautiful.
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[Jennepher]

Everett explained your problem here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6184638#6184638
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[debbiej]

ok, thanks! from now on all the best shots will have the westy in them.

[Ahwahnee]

Water Canyon is sometimes are last overnight before home when returning from the Colorado Rockies. Great spot & like so many USFS CGs we usually have it all to ourselves.

Like this place too:

[debbiej]

That was so cool to see all those dishes lined up in 4 directions. wow!
I think Water Canyon would be nicer in the cool months, but the red cliffs were sure pretty.

[trailnewt]

Thanks for the great trip report and pictures. I'll get back to New Mexico one of these days... soon! The last time I was there as a 14-year-old Boy Scout at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron in 1966. I fell in love with the mesas and the afternoon thunderstorms and the big skies full of clouds. Living, as I do, in the tall trees I tend to travel to places with big skies.

What is "the VLA?"
Brent
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[climberjohn]

Wonderful trip report and photos, thanks for the post of your beautiful state.

CJ
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[Ahwahnee]