ADVENTURE UNFOLDS

NOTE: This post is a bit long, I apologize ahead of time. When I was teaching creative writing to children I labeled this structural framework a bed to be story… I got up, I had breakfast, I got dressed, I went to school…
I am trying to learn how to use WordPress and it’s not an intuitive process for me. Importing photos, deciding on size and positioning, how to import a video (haven’t figured that one out yet) has been hours for me, not the promised 20 minutes in the tutorial.
Not only was our trip and adventure, but learning to use WordPress is as well.

ONWARD

Off we go to New Mexico with several plans to navigate into our four days away. It all began with the idea of hanging out with Doug’s sister Mary and her husband David. Mission accomplished: terrific fun!

Before we worked our way to northern New Mexico there were a couple of destinations to explore. First up was Pie Town, NM with a must stop tasting at the Pie Town Pie Company. In this quirky town of 100+ residents all fingers (and tummies) point to one of several pie cafes. We chose the Pie Company.

Each day offers a new selection…perhaps Lemon-Blueberry Buttermilk, Blackberry-Lavender with local goat cheese, or Coco-Cola Pecan.

It was an adventure to be sure, but a bit pricey for my comfort. What it did show me was that a small community in the middle of nowhere can come together as a ‘team’ to make life worth living and make people happy in the process.

This little town was named my a man who broke down along the road in the 1920s. To make some money he began making and selling pies along the side of the road, soon expanding to open a general store that of course included selling his now sought after pies.

With our tummies full of expensive pie we ventured on to our next stop, The Very Large Array.
“Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time.”
It was a long drive from Tucson, but we made it with an hour to spare to explore the facility. NOT! We neglected to consider the time change, so we in fact had 5 minutes.
First came the surely staff person telling us the Jodi Foster film shut down an hour ago, then the lights turned off and finally being escorted out the door. It was only then that Doug thought…oh, is there a time difference?

I can’t seem to embed the Jodi Foster video here, perhaps it’s has a copyright issue. If you are interested (and it IS very interesting, inspiring curiosity) go to YouTube and search “Beyond the Visible:The Story of the Vary Large Array”. This is how we eventually learned what the array is all about, though after the fact I’m afraid. Sigh.

Doug was concerned about getting locked into the vastness of nothing, so we continued on our journey to spend the night in Albuquerque. I was familiar with a hotel which is right next to a wine bar/restaurant. Bingo. We had a good dinner and nice night and headed out early for our destination, Casa del Gavilan. This historic inn is nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Cimarron. Doug had a bit of history with the area as he had gone to Philmont Scout Camp (adjacent property) both as a boy and as an adult. It turns out David knew the area as well, spending summer family time in the area as a boy. (He could not imagine why I had picked such a place!)

But first… this began our adventure with hamburgs. It turns out when you are in the boonies, health conscious meals are nowhere to be found (except at you B&B). Four meals in a row we had hamburgs! At a roadside cafe, a creme stand, a bar and finally another culinary wonder like Pie Town, but this one knows for its Hatch Green Chili hamburgs.

First stop Eagle’s Nest. We were hungry. Period. Only saw one place on a main road so we stopped, Kaw-Lijas Restaurant.

Turns out it was a one man show that day as the waitress had driven herself to the ER. To complicate things a bit, it was only Mr. One Man’s second week working there and he was now responsible to took orders, cook, served and do dishes. As the tables continue to fill he kept repeating “I’m trying, I’m all alone here”. All in all, better than Pie Town and the introduction to our journey of burgers.

And finally we approach the inn I have wanted to stay in for years, Casa del Gavilan.

It’s a 5 bedroom B&B sitting alone among acres of fields, meadows and hiking trails. You approach through Cimarron, NM, a town of about 20 buildings and a population of about 800. The Inn was spectacular…so quiet; it honors peace.  “Each year thousands of guests from across the country and around the world visit the Casa del Gavilan to experience the remote tranquility.”

A few highlights for us:

The Inn is surrounded by open range. David became our wildlife photographer, getting this one of a pronghorn, another of a rare bear sighting.

With the peaceful setting, being outdoors was a gift. The first night we sat outside to watch the sunset and the heaven’s celestial display. Doug brought out his telescope which helped since the sky was a bit cloudy. It never ceases to astonish me what I see through a telescope that I can’t see with the naked eye. I honestly can’t fathom the sophistication of the Very Large Array.

The next morning I was determined to see sunrise. Our hostess said 4:30am so I was up and on the patio at 4:30. NOT! Sunrise was at 6:30am. I’m glad I waited, it was beautiful. I had a delightful time watching day break while I waited.

With the day beginning so early, I was ready for the hearty breakfast We enjoyed one another’s company and were off to see Philmont Scout Ranch. “Philmont Scout Ranch—a legendary destination where Scouting, adventure, and the spirit of the Wild West come to life in the rugged beauty of New Mexico. Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker, a first-time hiker, or someone looking for a safe and unforgettable outdoor experience, Philmont is now accessible to everyone at every skill level.” They pump 22,000 scouts through the camp for multi-day backpacking treks each season! They are challenging and unforgettable journeys through rugged mountain wilderness and I wanted to see this place that was among Doug’s favorite memories. As it turned out, the owners of the Inn had gone as kids and then found careers at the camp. It is apparently one of those places that stay in your heart forever.

I would be remiss if I didn’t share three more burger joints… all were very good, none would be my usual selection. Funny how getting out of your comfort zone makes you grow in ways you didn’t know you needed.

And you? What have you done recently that pushed you to try something new?