Up early, on the road to the best little breakfast joint in town: IHOP!!!!! In honor of my new, long lost friend "Frenchy" I order a side of "Bananas Foster French Boule Toast!!! Wow, that was good! Vive La France! We are up the Tularosa Basin to visit Three Rivers Petroglyph National Recreation Site. As we approach the Park the mountain range dominated by Sierra Blanca (elevation 12003 feet) has the glorious snow cover I had driven through the day before. In the middle of the Southwest desert and you can still ski. Who woulda' thought?!
After reading that rattlesnakes are common in this area I set out with some trepidation even after talking with the site Ranger, a New Hampshirite, named Carol and her Vermonter husband. Small world again!! And yes they used to holiday at York Beach when they were both younger! The trail headed out into some rock outcroppings where a plethora of petroglyphs awaited me. |
Much to Carol's chagrin, my acute sense of observation had only accounted for 21,999 petroglyphs!!!! She politely wished me a nice afternoon and said, "don't let the rattlesnake bite you on your way out"!! Secretly after my visits to Pompei, Italy I was very thankful the Tularosa Basin was not settled by Romans, because instead of cute, little animal petroglyphs there would have been huge "phallic" symbols strewn throughout this pleasant little park!! Shona and I did a stroll around the campsite trail for her comfort need and it was back in the RV. Back on the road we hit the "world famous" Three Rivers Trading Post" A Native American owned and operated enterprise with some awesome items. Bought two wool Mexican woven carpets for my RV. I love them and they are helping to turn my RV into a mobile "Pancho Villa" welcome center.
Forty more miles down the road to Carrizozo, NM; another town time forgot and we were at "Valley of Fires National Recreation Center". A mere 1500 to 5000 years ago a massive lava flow from a fissure in the earth's crust deposited over 130 square miles of lava nearly 165 feet thick into the Tularosa Basin. There is an elevated walk way which travels over a few miles of the lava field. Slowly weather has broken down small amounts of lava to allow some plants to take hold. You can see the wavy layering of the magma as it flowed and as you walk out on it the glass-like hard surface would chew up any Native American moccasin pretty quick.
Spotted a great looking, little Mexican restaurant, on our way in. Time for dinner! The lunch special, of course, please!!! Chicken Fajitas eat in and a pint of the best salsa to go!!
Drive home and there is still enough daylight to squeeze in a stop at the largest Pistachio in the Chihuahuan Desert!! McGinns Pistachio farm, where if you're Irish you get preferred parking!! Taste testing for two of my favorite food items: Pistachios and local Wines!! A few purchases of each and it was definitely time to hit the sack. Tomorrow is another day!!