Las Vegas Bound

One the road again.  Drove to Las Vegas with cousin for his West Coast Pipe Show.  Has breakfast/lunch in Williams, AZ.

Got off the highway to check out the "almost" ghost town of Chloride, AZ.  Used the facilities and bought a book at the little general store and Tourist Information.  I had sto[[ed in this town on a previous trip, several years ago.

We got lost in Las Vegas rush-hour traffic.  Eventually got to the hotel,checked in and moved into the room.  Visited, had a couple bottle of beer and slice of pizza.  Then I hit the sack.

Echo Banquet

Friday evening the men of Echo and their wives (including 2 widows) gathered at La Posta in Old Mesilla.  I  was a little late for dinner.  I thought dinner was at 7pm.  It was almost 6 when I realized my mistake!  Found the restaurant and settled in next to my friends Eric and Paulette Cortez.

My meal - second time this week, had enchilada plate with a bottle of Dos Equis Amber.

Photo here is of the 23 vets in attendance.

Farm & Ranch Museum

Thursday, I needed a "down" day.  Skipped the travel to Columbus, NM (Poncho Villa State Park) and Palomas, Mexico.  Spent the day watching TV, playing o the computer, and napping.

Friday was back to reunion functions.  In the morning, we traveled to the Farm & Ranch museum in Las Cruces.  I had been there previous;y with our hosts (Merv & Sue).  Checked out the indoor exhibits.  Skipped the livestock exhibit.

White Sands

This morning, we traveled to the White Sands Missile Range.  WSMR is an US Army facility with all of the inherent security.  After a small SNAFU regarding access to the base, we were escorted onto the base. We had some time to view the museum and missile display before a lunch at the base's Pioneer Club.

The base commander had lunch with us and briefs us one the base.  After lunch, we were sprented with an Army Veteran pin/tie tack to the veterans and the 2 deceased spouses in attendance.

Next the base's museum curiator lead a tour of the museum.

After the base tor, we headed further up US 70 to White Sands National Monument.  The white "sands" are actually dunes os drifting gypsum. I had been there with our reunion host, Merv, during a previous visit.

The day ended with a pizza buffet at  Luna Rosa, across the street from our hotel.

Echo Memorial Service

This morning, Echo gathered at the Las Cruces Memorial Patk to honnor out fallen comrads.  The Vietnam Veterans of America hosted the service.

Phyllis Towns, wife of our late member Jim Towns laid a wreath at the Vietnam War Memorial at Las Cruce Memorial Park

There wan s no activity planned for the afternoon  Dinner was Chope's bar & grill in La Mesa, NM.

On the Raod Again

On the road to Las Cruces, NM for my Army reunion.  Took the interstate to just past San Antonio, NM.  A couple times I say signs for the Rock House just North of Elephant Butte.  Took the time to drive over 6 miles on a gravel road to get to the "house". 

From there, I drove 2-lane roads to South of Hatch, NM.  Noticed that the Hatch "valley" appears to be a very fertile farming valley.  Major crops are Pecan trees, cotton, green & red chiles, and some hay.

Checked into my hotel. Moved into my room. Visited with some of the other reunion attendees.  Most went to Crackel Barrel for dinner, I found High Desert Brewery.  Enjoyed a pint of their "Oktoberfest" beer and a cheeseburger with tater tots.

To Tuck or Not Tuck

Generally, I wear my jeans over my boots. This it the same as most other western boot wearers. It bothers me that wearing boots this way, hides the beautiful colors and stitching on my cowboy boots.

Today the issue caused me some consternation.  My newer (size smaller) Wrangler jeans fit much tighter over my legs.  As such, it was difficult to get the jeans over the taller boots.  So, today I decided to wear the boots with my Wranglers tucked into my boots.

It seams that that is the way Women wear their boots.  And I hear there is some suggestion that to tuck or not to tuck has something to do with the what you are working through.

The bottom line, it is a shame to hide the beautiful uppers of cowboy boots.

 https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/texanist-tuck-boots-jeans/