Gypsy & The Navigator

So Thankful For Friends

After leaving Pojoaque we spent a few days in Albuquerque. 

On the way to Joyce and Paul's house we have a great view of the Sandia Mountains. We spent many a happy hour playing Canasta with Joyce and Paul.  Well, maybe not always happy for me and Joyce..............Paul and Walt always win.  Our day will come! 

From Albuquerque we went south to Elephant Butte State Park near Truth or Consequences.

We met Charlotte, Carl, Tresa, Jerry, Sylvia and David at Lion's Beach Campground.  Joyce and Paul soon followed staying at an Inn nearby.

We were soon set up and ready for marathon visiting.  Not to mention all the delicious food.

This was a mini 53rd reunion of the Class of 1963.    So blessed to have these ladies in my life.  Wow, 1963.  That was forever ago.

Those were the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer we thought would never end.  Many of those days were spent on this very same beach.

But they do end and life goes on.  We married, had families, had triumphs and tragedies and I am so glad that Charlotte & Sylvia found me after so many years and have included me as a Hatch girl. 

Another day dawned and the visiting and food continued.

 We took an afternoon to visit the Geronimo Springs Museum in Truth of Consequences.

 It is an interesting mix of local history, displays, and educational information.

One of the rooms is filled with Apache history and includes a life-size wax statue of Apache Chief Geronimo.  

Many examples of Native American history.

These figures are hand carved out of wood and decorated by Paul Sorenson of Alamogordo.  Each one was thoroughly researched for costume authentication.  Each one took an average of one month to complete and there must have been about 50 of them. Amazingly detailed.

 Lots of local history.  The restored Lake Valley school house looks pretty nice.  Better than when we were going to dances there on Saturday nights.  Some of the best of times.

We wore dresses like these for many of those dances.  Complete with concho belts.  What did we do with them?  They are worth hundreds of dollars now. 

The best part was the room that had pictures of the Hot Springs High School Senior Classes.  So much fun trying to find people we knew and dated.  Old boyfriends and girlfriends stirred up more memories.  Jerry was the hands down winner of us saying " I dated her/him."  

Great afternoon of memories with good friends.

Another day after a delicious lunch at the Arrey Cafe (where Saxon, Don & Roy Dean met us. Yay!)  we spent some time at Elephant Butte Dam.

Brought back memories of many Hot August nights spent soaring across this road with the top down, music playing and sparks flying.   Walt is convinced that there is no way that this is a two lane road.  Oh yes, it was.  Drag racing side by side from one end to the other. Closed now, you can't even walk across it. 

This is where I learned to water ski.  Sad that the water is so low.  When we were in high school it was filled to the brim.

This is the formation that gives Elephant Butte its name.  Walt cannot see any resemblance to an elephant.  It would help if there was more water.

Joyce popped the top on the bubbly to celebrate an event in her life.

And to celebrate friends being together 53 years after graduation from high school.  Some of these girls have been friends since grade school.  They give me the happiest feeling. 

Here is proof that we are not old...........still with it.  Ladies on their phones with photo taken on my phone.  

Lots of laughs and good stories.   And so much good food.

All too soon it was time for us to be back on the road toward Arizona.

Farewell Rio Grande.  Nice to see you full and running blue.

A stop at Sparky's in Hatch with Charlotte and Carl meant a green chile lunch.

Not only is their food DELICIOUS there is so much to see.  We were early but they were setting up for live music later in the afternoon.  

On to Arizona to be with family,  to go to Dr. appointments, take care of trailer and vehicle licenses and registration and get some warranty work done on Gypsy II.   From there we will see where the road takes us.

Thank you friends for a most enjoyable time! 

 

Poeh Museum And A Day At Ojo Caliente Spa

Right across the highway from our RV Park is the Poeh Museum & Cultural Center.  When we were here before it was not open so I had looked forward to being able to go this time. 

The Pueblo of Pojoaque is revitalizing their traditions in part through the efforts of the Center’s mission to teach their native language, traditional song and dance, and material culture.  The Center is devoted to the arts and culture of the Puebloan  peoples, especially the Tewas in the northern part of the state.

No photos are allowed inside so I can't show any of the beautiful art or exhibits.  Curiously there is no word for art in the Tewa vocabulary.  The closest description is "to make."

Everything on the site is traditional Pueblo architecture.  The museum has rotating exhibits as well as permanent collections.

 The main permanent attraction is the Nah Poeh Meng which means Along the Continuous Path. You enter through a cave-like opening that takes you first to the Emergence Room that gives the feeling of the Pueblo people emerging into this world. Next is the Winter Room.  This is the beginning of their life above ground. They hunt and stay sheltered in cave dwellings.  Up next is the Spring Room.  There they have left their cave shelters and they build pit houses and plant corn. They care for life in all things.  On to the Summer Room where they have moved completely above ground.  Their houses are often multi storied, crops are more diverse and they are making pottery and have feasts and ceremonies. Next is the Autumn Room where they gather their harvest and perform thanksgiving ceremonies.  Then as they celebrate intruders arrive and take their food, clothes, homes and impose their religion and politics on them.  The intruders kill them and the Pueblo people try to drive them away.  Their lives change drastically but they try to keep their basic values of language, pottery making, singing and dancing.  They live best today within the cycles of the seasons.

The museum’s mission is to “enrich the life of Pueblo communities and educate all people about the rich legacy and vibrant present of Pueblo cultures.”

They hold classes at the center and also provides free studio space to any Native American artist.  This piece was a work in progress. 

 In the round tower is the art gallery of Native American Roxanne Swetzell.  Her sculptures are amazing and her story is so interesting.  If you go to the Poeh Museum be sure and stop in at the Tower Gallery and see her work and the beautiful building it is shown in.  Don't miss the video about her in the bottom floor very cool room. (We could see GypsyII across the road from the Museum.) 

On a pretty morning we drove to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa.

We had been there the last time we had been in the area and I really wanted to go again.

Ojo Caliente is one of the oldest natural health resorts in the U. S.  It opened in 1868.

Ancient American Indians used the springs as a gathering place and built large pueblos and terraced gardens overlooking the springs.

In the 1500’s the Spaniards, in their quest for gold and the Fountain of Youth, also discovered the springs.  

Three buildings at the spa are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, including the Historic Bathhouse built in 1868; the Historic Hotel, built in 1916; and the Adobe Round Barn built in 1924. 

Soaking in the sulfur-free mineral waters that contain Lithia, Iron, Soda and Arsenic, with more than 100,000 gallons a day steaming to the surface soothes the body and the peace and quiet of the resort soothes the mind.  (That quiet is due to it being a "Whisper Zone" with employees walking around with signs that say "Whisper Only.") And NO cell phones.  Sounds silly but it works.  It is SO peaceful.

You can relax inside as well.   

The restaurant offers delicious food and we enjoyed a lunch break of New Mexican Flair food.    Then back for more soaking and more mud baths.  I love the feeling of the mud drying in the sun on my body until it cracks like reptile skin.  When you wash it off your skin feels so soft.  

Nice drive back to Gypsy with the sun getting low in the sky and us all calm and relaxed.  

“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

 

 

 

Santa Fe Love....................Again

Leaving Tucumcari heading west and soon north I started to get That feeling.

You know.  THAT feeling.

Like breathing a huge sigh of relief.

Feeling that the sky is a little bluer, the clouds are a little whiter. 

It is feeling like coming home.................even though you have never lived there.

It is comfortable.

Like that old sweatshirt you put on when you aren't feeling good.

It just feels good.

I don't think I see Northern New Mexico and especially Santa Fe through rose colored glasses.

There really is something special about it.

Snow capped mountains lets us know we have left the Southeast behind.

THAT feeling is being home in the West.  

 We are staying at Roadrunner RV again in Pojoaque.  It's all about the location for things we want to see and do. The sunset on our first night welcomed us.

Time for a little back road exploring.

Down into the valley into the little town of Chimayo.

The Santuario (Sanctuary) is a National Historic Landmark and is famous for the story of its founding and as a contemporary pilgrimage site.

 

You enter through a walled courtyard.

The church is built of adobe with twin bell towers. 

 There are several legends as to why it is considered a holy place and why almost 300,000 visitors come on pilgrimage  to Chimayo.

The most famous seems to be that a Friar saw a light shining from the hillside and dug a crucifix up with his bare hands. He turned it over to a Father Álvarez, who took it to the Santa Cruz church, but the crucifix mysteriously returned to the spot where the Friar found it. After the third time this happened, they decided to build a chapel on the spot to house the crucifix.  The dirt where the crucifix was found was said to have healing powers.

The church was built in 1816.  It has a small room that contains a round pit, the source of "holy dirt"  that is believed to have healing powers. 

The Three Cultures Monument pays homage to the Cowboy, the Indian and the Spaniard that have influenced this area. 

The countryside is very peaceful.  

So tranquil.    Such a nice day spent in the country.

The next day was spent in Santa Fe.  

We spent some time wandering about the old housing neighborhoods.

It was a day of doors.

The City Different is full of marvelous doors.

Doors are mysterious.

Doors beckon but hide what is inside.

There are so many doors to open. 

Doors are exits for those who know what is inside.

Are gates doors?

I like old adobe houses. Long, low and always cool.

Wouldn't it be fun to get your mail here?

So many different houses.

I do love the Santa Fe style.

 A walk through Santa Fe is always full of art and interesting people.

The old hotels have pretty details in every nook and cranny.

The Plaza was full of music.  

There was a little competition going on.   The dark haired girl won.

I am not sure when the word savage was removed from the Obelisk.  The Obelisk was erected in 1868 so sentiments have changed.

Lots of young girls at the Plaza taking feet selfies.  Is this a new trend?  I had to follow suit.  Time for the shoes to get walking.

"Stretching his hand up to reach the stars, too often man forgets the flowers at his feet."

Jeremy Bentham

 

Stops On Route 66

Leaving Amarillo we were on our way west on I40/Route 66.  Wide open spaces with streaks of white clouds and those incredible blue skies.

Not long and we were in New Mexico and the clouds were gone.

Not far beyond the New Mexico border is Russell's Travel Center.  It no longer has the Drive In but it does have a Route 66 Diner.  (Wish their prices were the same as this menu.)  The diner's food is good and you can tell you are in New Mexico.  Lots of Green Chile on the menu.

Inside is a Car and Collectible Museum.  We spent quite awhile wandering through their displays.

The cars brought back memories and there are so many fun collectible items that you really can't take it all in quickly.

When I met Walt he had a baby blue one of these.  Well, his was a year newer.

What a paint job.

Fill er up and check the oil please.

When we lived in Twin Falls I don't recall seeing Marilyn.

And I am sure that the potato sacks on Walt's family potato farm were never filled out like this.

Great place to take a break between Amarillo and Tucumcari.  Good food and so much to see.  

Soon we arrived in Tucumcari.  Checked in to the Cactus RV Park and got set up.   Then it was time to search out the Tucumcari Murals.

It is like a treasure hunt driving up and down the streets and alleys to find them.

Many play off the Route 66 theme.

Others reflect businesses.

Many show the history of the area.  

Most of that history is ranching.

Some are patriotic.

Some of the murals are on Route 66, some are on the main streets of town, some are in parking lots and alleys.

 

Ooooh Bugs!

Most of the murals were painted by Doug and Sharon Quarles. 

The murals were painted over a 10 year period while the Quarles lived in Tucumcari.  They moved on from Tucumcari in 2009.

The Quarles have moved to Benson, AZ and opened an Art Gallery and are still painting murals.

It is sad that Tucumcari is such a sad, dilapidated little town.  Many of the murals are on abandoned buildings that are going into serious disrepair.

Many of the old motels and restaurants are standing empty.  The heyday of Route 66 is over.  Wish there was some way it could be brought back.

We spent 2 days in Tucumcari.  Luckily we found the murals on our first day.

The second day it rained practically all day.

It was a perfect day to stay inside and watch movies.  

 Unfortunately nostalgia doesn't always bring business.

Some of the businesses are still hanging in there waiting for the tourists to come.

The Spanish Mission styled Railroad Station has been restored.  

We accidentally stumbled upon the Tucumcari Mountain Cheese Factory.  The very best Green Chile Cheddar cheese!  Delicious.......wish we would have bought more.

The sign is in great shape but the RV Park and Motel is closed.

Maybe this will rejuvenate the economy! 

There is a lot to see....................Come get your kicks on Route 66.