Desert Oasis

Our map on the side of the camper -- getting more filled in every week.

Days 54-58 --  2/22-26/2010
We spent another few days making our way across the great state of Texas – moving on to Odessa where we’d already planned to hunker down in a hotel for one night to escape the unseasonably cold temps but, ended up staying for two nights due to 5 inches of snow that fell while we slept (our first thus far – snow that is, not sleep). 

Snow in Odessa, TX

On 2/24 we finally made our way to the other side of Texas and crossed into New Mexico.  The drive proved more interesting that I had anticipated.

 We all marveled at the busy “nodding donkeys” (oil pumps) that dotted the flat landscape in every direction.  We also admired the vast number of wind turbines to both sides of the highway as we continued west.  As we progressed further into the desert we became awestruck.  Never having been in the desert before, I was mesmerized by the sheer distance I could see looking in any one direction. 

 

Behind our campsite

 

The sunset in Lake Brantley State Park

We landed a campsite in Lake Brantley State Park’s Limestone Campground in Carlsbad, NM – a beautiful desert park built where a living sea once flourished.  The entire park sits atop 3,000 acres of limestone that was formed from the remains of sea life millions of years ago.  Though among the desert, the park boasts a 2,500 acre lake.  The sunset on the first night we were there was enough to make me fall in love with the west – colors that just can’t be captured by a camera (though we tried).  The kids enjoyed the landscape as well – running around between the prickly pear cacti and the other prickly flora down to the lakeside.  It really is beautiful in a way that I had not expected – presumably even more so in the spring months when the cacti are in bloom.  I wish we were going to be here to see it.

While there, as planned, we visited Carlsbad Caverns.  Walking over 800 feet down into a magical  underground world was like nothing else we’ve done.  It boggles the mind to walk among such majestic structures knowing that they were formed over 200 million years ago – kept a secret from the world until Jim White discovered them in the late 19th century and single-handedly put them ‘on the map.’

 

Entrance to the Caverns

 

Leaving the Park and the Caverns behind was hard to do. We could have explored much more but, we forged ahead toward Alamogordo, our next destination.  The drive took us up, over and through the Sacramento Mtns, up to 8,400 ft, where the snow base on the small ski slope there was of 62”. The town at the top of the mountains, Cloudcroft, is absolutely adorable and Scott and I have vowed to return there someday sans kids

Laid peacefully at the bottom of the Sacramento Mtns., with the San Andres Mtns. on the other side, lies the town of Alamogordo where we secured camping accommodations for four days and from which I write this blog.  My heart soars when I look around at the stark contrasts of the barren land against the dark jagged peaks that meet with the cerulean blue of the sky – it is unbelievably beautiful here. I think I could easily live here (of course I'm saying that in February when it's about 60 degrees and not 110).

  

Approaching White Sands National Monument

  

 Kerby making "snow angels" in the sand

A 4-mile hike across the white dunes

 

Yesterday we visited the White Sands National Monument just down the road. The 275 miles of white wonder is breathtakingly beautiful  We saw very few other people which made it seem even more special - like we had the world all to ourselves.  Not only is it beautiful but it's lots of fun too - who needs snow?!?

The REALLY BIG State of Texas

 Days 44-50   2/16-21/2010

Still in Texas -  For Fat Tuesday we headed into the capitol city.  Strangely enough, after all the celebrating we’d run into thus far, we didn’t see much for celebration on the actual day.  However, there were lots of signs in the city promising music and festivity after sunset.  Having not planned ahead, we really weren’t sure what we wanted to do while in Austin but easily filled up a day with interesting endeavors.  First we toured the capitol building – the largest in the US (by square footage) and second tallest in the nation (second only to Louisiana).  We learned lots cool facts about the state - that it's the only state that was once its own republic (which explains the pride they exhibit openly).

They do everything BIG in Texas, right down to their door hinges and chandeliers in the Senate and House chambers.

 Can you see that the light bulbs spell out T-E-X-A-S ?

 

Where Texas law is made

One of the more famous governors of TX.

Every governor has a portrait hanging on the curved walls in the central dome of the capitol building.  Each time a new portrait is hung (after the governor has left office) all of the paintings are moved/rotated toward the top of the dome (like a spiral) to make room for the newest portrait at the bottom. We wondered about who might have that fun job.  There are LOTS of portraits. Yikes, what if you dropped one or got them in the wrong order!


Following up the capitol tour we headed further into the city for a bite to eat, ending up once more at a Mexican restaurant (the Iron Cactus).  After having our fill of enchiladas, tacos, beans, rice and some sort of deep fried avocado/chicken thing that was quite good, we took off for a long walk around Lady Bird Lake, or “Town Lake” as the locals call it, to burn some calories.  We were in good company with hoards of Austiners (and their dogs) who were out walking, biking and running – enjoying the gorgeous day.  Later we ventured to the local Whole Foods Market (one of the largest I’ve seen) to purchase some produce and desserts to share with friends we were meeting up with that evening.  After hoofing a few more blocks in the city, it was time for an early dinner.  So we headed to a local downtown joint– Stubbs, famous for its BBQ. Actually, the pork BBQ was great but none of us, I’m sorry to say, were impressed with the beef BBQ -- too many years of eatin’ good ole’ Virgini’ and North Carolina pork I guess. We finished off the day sharing coffee and dessert with our friends Meagan, Richard and baby Gideon at their beautiful high-rise condo on the edge of downtown --a great way to end the day.

Moving on and heading north, we landed in a very unique location between Dallas and Fort Worth.  The campground is named for the grounds of a very large flea market that runs the length of its southern border –called Traders Village.  Every Saturday and Sunday, on over 100 acres, over 5,000 vendors open there “booths” (basically large storage units) and sell everything from produce and boots to dining room tables and used tools.

The campground itself is nothing to brag about – basically another large concrete parking lot with a few grassy strips separating the sites.  In addition to the shopping bonanza right next door to our campsite, we were also blessed with an airfield also bordering the campground and apparently home to a helicopter building facility that tests their newest item off the production line each weekday morning around 7 a.m.  What we presumed were about 20 copters taking off one after another and then hovering over our camper, we were told was probably just one copter being tested for flight certification over and over again (and probably a military chopper at that).  Nice way to wake up – NOT!

Friday morning we met up with one of Scott's former students and friends, Marion, who is now an associate pastor of a local Presbyterian Church.  After giving us a tour of the beautiful church, Marion drove us down to the Fort Worth Stockyards where we witnessed one of the twice-daily cattle herding that takes place down the center of the street.  We managed to eat yet another Texas BBQ meal (pork this time and very tasty), did a little shopping and tried our first ever fried pickles (something I'd definitely eat again - yum!)

 

Joelle sittin' atop ole' "Pecos Bill" 

Kerby and the Bucking Bronco

 

 Eating Fried Pickles - Yummy!

We ventured over on Saturday morning to see what kind of deals we could score at Traders Village (mostly run and supported by the Hispanic community).  There were some great buys and had we the space we’d have bought a few things.  Joelle scored, what we refer to as, an ear brassiere and a leather wallet while I was suckered into a chopper, mixer, blender, smoothie maker, salad spinner, thing (you know, the ‘as seen on t.v.’ thing) -- made some great coleslaw and salsa while Scott rolled his eyes.

Sunday we headed into Dallas to see the “Grassy Knoll.”  We were pleased to see that the 6th Floor Museum was open (and crowded).  The museum is located in the Book Depository where Oswald fired his fatal shots. We took the self-guided audio tour which walked us all the way through JFK’s life from the time he entered the presidential race until he was tragically assassinated right outside the Book Bindery as the motorcade turned the corner off of Houston St.  The museum is very well done and we all found ourselves teary eyed as we watched the videos of our nation (and others around the world) morning a life that was cut short so early.  Of course we’re all aware of the tragedy that took place that day back in 1963 and we’ve all seen and read bits and pieces of the events but, to get the whole story from beginning to end at one time, complete with video and audio, and stand in the place where the shots were actually fired is an experience I don’t think any of us will soon forget. Unfortunately they don't allow photography in the museum so I don't have any pics to share here.

Doin' it up BIG in Texas

Days 39-42    2/11-14/2010
 
The San Marcos River right behind our camping site 

 

  

We arrived in San Marcos in the midst of a cold, grey and very wet day but the gods must have been smiling down on us since the only pause in the downpour was at the very moment when we arrived at our campground and needed to set up. We decided on this location for 2 simple reasons - we have friends who liver here and because it's equally between San Antonio and Austin. We made good use of remainder of the day by getting the laundry done and allowing the kids to swim in the indoor heated pool – quite a treat when it's so nasty outside.

The campground here (Pecan Park) is great -- one of the nicer ones (as far as amenities go).  It’s located on the San Marcos River and they’ve done a great job of leaving lots of nature intact so it doesn’t have that open parking lot feel that seems indicative of so many of the private campgrounds.  The kids have had fun wading and playing in the creek that runs between our campsite and the river behind us. We thought about canoeing the river (there's an outfitter nearby) until we noticed the aluminum canoe wrapped at a 90 degree angle on a nearby rock.  It's a pretty unruly river with quite a current - plenty of white water. 

On Friday afternoon we met up with our friends Megan and Richard Jones and met their 12 wk. old baby Gideon for the first time – quite the cutie.  Megan gave us a tour of the new McCoy’s Building Supply office headquarters as well as one of the local stores. She even gave the kids a short lesson on lumber basics out in their lumber yard.  It was great to see the impressive operation in person after hearing about it for so long.  Not to our surprise, after speaking with many of their employees, it was obvious that the McCoys are great folks for whom to work.  Later that evening, joined by Megan’s folks, we all had a fabulous steak dinner at a local steak house called Texas Reds and enjoyed catching up with these friends we don’t get to see very often.

 

The San Antonio River Walk

 

Lunch at a local Mexican Cafe overlooking the river

On Saturday we headed into the long awaited city of San Antonio where we spent hours walking along the river walk which -- not only beautiful, but also a great place for shopping, eating and people watching. The gorgeous sunny day brought out tons of locals and tourists alike which made walking the narrow sidewalks a bit treacherous since there are no curbs or railings keeping you out of the river. If you’re walking on the wrong side, one slight bump from a passerby could land you in the San Antonio with a splash and lots of laughs from the on-looking restaurant patrons.  Thankfully, we managed to avoid providing such entertainment but instead had loads of fun eating local foods, shopping, and even watching a Mardi Gras parade floating down the river--our second chance to load up on beads.

 

Mardi Gras floats heading down the river

Kerby and Joelle finding their own kind of fun - the air vents along the sidewalks of San Antonio - whatever blows your skirt up. . . 

And of course we remembered the Alamo-the fort at which 189 Texans including Jim Bowie and David Crockett fought for Texas' independence from Mexico. Most interesting for us was the "History Shop" (a little hole in the wall) where a to-scale model of the fort is on display in the same room as an under-glass archeological dig that's shows many of the weapons and artifacts that were found in that very spot where the battle of the Alamo took place.  We listened to a narration (by none other than Phil Collins) that explained much of the battle. It was quite educational. 

On the way home (the camper is now “home”), we stopped by Cavender’s Boot World at the local outlet mall and Kerby, Joelle and I all left with new western cowboy boots – a pricey endeavor but I had promised the kids (and secretly myself) boots for our birthdays.  Somehow I just couldn’t talk Scott into getting a pair – not the cowboy type (who’d have guessed).

And during the few minutes we've not been running around seeing the sites, I tried my hand at some Origami