On our trips in the area and to Las Vegas, NM we have seen lots of wild flowers.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Trip to Las Vegas, NM
One of the beautiful drives we had been told about was Hwy. 518 so we left early (approx. 300 miles round trip).
Besides the beautiful rock formations and huge trees we say many old buildings. This barn of stone has been repaired with cinder block.
We stopped at Morphie Lake State Park
but no site here would handle large RVs. People were enjoying tent camping and fishing. No one reported any catches.
Then on to Storrie Lake State Part at Las Vegas were we also stopped.
Liked the pavilions at the developed camp sites.
Then a stop at the Las Vegas Visitors Center at the old train station.
Coming back north from Las Vegas on Hwy. 434 we saw Victoria’s Ranch and stopped. We missed the last tour at 3 PM but they were very friendly and allowed us to see the Alpacas and told us about the operation. They have 360 alpacas and 6 lamas. The lamas are used to protect the other farm animals from preditors. The day before they had sheared 306 animals to make yarn for knitting and weaving.
May 23, 2012 Red River Area
Decided to make a short trip and stopped by the Forest Service office at Questa for suggestions. The main road we wanted to drive is closed until June 15, due to elk calving in the area. The first road we took was not passable either.
The recent rain and snow run off had raised the level of the creek. We talked with a local and was told this is very common at this time of the year.
So we continued around the Enchanted Circle and stopped by the Vietnam War Memorial.
Our friend, George B., is volunteering there so we were able to visit with him.
As Memorial Day approached the locals in Questa, NM using a field belonging to one of our seasonals grandfathers, put out flags. .
A Healing Field
Every flag (separated by wars) carries the name of a NM resident that lost his life in that war.
Ute Mountain trips
Another off site patrol that the volunteers make is to Ute Mountain. There we check the pump (solar operated) that keeps water in a pond for the wild life in the area. We also check for domestic animals that are not allowed into this area. We have seen many antelope.
We also observed fresh snow on the mountains on May 14.
At the end of the road you can look down into the gorge
Going to the Ute Mountain site, we drive through Costilla (near the Colorado line). This is a very old town and manyhouses are adobe brick. Some are still in good repair and used but many have been allowed to deteriorate.
However the church on the square is well maintained and services are held every Sunday for the local residents.
On the road out to the pump station there is another intresting church with a scale model next to it.
We have made many trips out to Ute Mountain and seen many antelope. However we had never seen any birds in the bird house near a water pump. In June we observed several grey breasted jays.
As well as an antelope coming to the wild life pond to drink.
We observed him for some time until a porcupine came over the rise and the antelope ran away.
Return from Santa Cruz Lake, May 1, 2012
On our return trip we decided to take Hwy. 265 off Hwy. 64/84 out of Espanola. Then we took County Rd. 567 which the map showed as intersecting Hwy.570. 
This was to bring us to another old bridge crossing of the Rio Grande at Taos Junction.
As we approached the river I became concerned that there would not be a bridge we could cross but alas there it was.
Looking back across the Rio Grande at the BLM campground.
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