HDARC Field trip

Ed (KC2LM), Larry ((NY5L), Larry (NM5LS) and Tom (WA9LKD) headed out to Volcanoes area of Petroglyphs National Monument for field operations after club breakfast.  Opperations were set up under the shelter.

Antenna was a dipole (inverted "V").  Rig was one of the club's traveling set-ups.  Power was from a battery pack (had a second pack to extend operations). Contacts were made using digital mode FT8. I headed home a little after noon (digital noice was about to give me a headache).

I have mountain biked in this area.  With the shelter and vault toilet facilities, it was a good place for field operations   The club is planning to make more of these excursion.

Geezerers Lunch

Today's "Old Geerer's Lunch" had us back at Starr Brothers on San Antonio just East of I-25 in Albuquerque.  Today, I opted for a couple pints of their Scottish Ale and their Cubano sandwich.  With all the craft beer I have consumed the last week, I could have salad as the side (much lighter with the vinaigrette dressing). Was a decent change from burgers.

Next Wednesday's lunch will be a mile from my house at The Local Brewhouse on Unser.

Quiet House Again

I got one of my friends to check out one of my kilts.  He had sad he was sure mine were to big for him.  LOL - my size 42 kilts are perfect for him.  Lets see if he ever ordered one.

My guests got packed up and on the road about noon.  I was tired, so most of the afternoon, I napped. Tomorrow I will strip the bed and do that laundry.

Later in the afternoon, I grabbed a couple craft beers from the fridge.  They were there for over a year,  Still tasted good.  The beer was the Tap Room Amber Ale brewed in Rochester, NY.

Trip to the Jemez Mountains

My friends from Hobbs are visiting. Saturday evening we met cousin Don and ha dinner at Billy's Long Bar. I devoured my service of the Enchilada Plate washed down with 3 pints of Kilt Lifter.

Sunday, I decided to take Pete and Jim on a tour of the Jemez Mountains.  A little late start but on the road about 11:30.  Traffic was bad at some places.  There was  Arts & Crafts show.  Cars all parked along the road at the Soda Dam. By the time we got to Rts 4 and 126, we were looking to get of the road for a little and have some lunch.

Note to self - do not play tour guide in the mountains on a holiday weekend.

The store there did not have much, but next door was the Nomad Mountain Pizza establishment.  The pizza was "OK".  But something like $3 for a bottle of soda bottled in Durango was a bit steep.  To add to our negative recommendation was the service,  They said they had call-in orders that had them backed up.  The place was not that busy (it was about 1:15 in the afternoon) but it took about an hour before our pizza was delivered to the table.

When I got dressed in the morning, I decided I was going to wear my black "Free Yourself from Pants Prison" T-shirt from Damn Near Kilt 'Em and my black & McLeod plaid kilt. That took me out in public more than the last outing when I was just driving.  And it is a more dressy kilt for a Sunday Drive compared to my camo kilt that last day I wore one while traveling.It was a beautiful day and I did not feel embarrassed wearing my kilt.

I wanted to get a photo of me in my kilt and Jim to send to a couple of our online friends.  Where we were getting to get the photo, another customer came out of the door, and complimenting my for my kilt and wearing it.  His Dad wore a kilt for his wedding.  Gave me a push to wear my kilts more often.

We continued to Valles Caldera, past Los Alamos and Bandalier National Monument.  I noticed a new. large visitor's center for the Monument in White Rock.  The other new change is that private vehicles were not allowed - you board a shuttle bus from White Rock.

From there, it was time to head back to Rio Rancho.  Still had over an hour drive yet to get back.  Took the bypass around Santa Fe.  Pulled into the driveway about 5pm.

The dogs were very happy to see us, but a bit upset that we had left them in the sun porch!  After a bit of a rest and review of the trip, it was time for dinner.  Since we had a late lunch, we were not looking for a big dinner.  We opted for the "Local Brewhouse" just a mile from my house.  Had an enjoyable burger on the deck watching the sun sets on the Sandias.  Jim and I had local beer and Peter had a margarita.

Visited and did some online chatting until I was exhausted and headed to bed.  Very relaxing, interesting day for my second full-day outing in one of my kilts.

Steel Benders Geezer Lunch

Biggest attendance of the Wednesday "Geezers" lunch. Seven of us at Steel Benders. Unfortunately, they did not have their amber ale available. Had 2 pints of their lager, as a substitute.

For something different for lunch, I had their pulled-pork sandwich with salad as the side (instead of the normal fries).

Lunch at Toltec Brewing

The "Geezers'" lunch for May 9th was at the Toltec Brewery in the Cottonwood area of Albuquerque.  I had the bacon-cheeseburger with fries, washed down with the brewery's "Altbier" - an Amber ale.

Heading Home

Moved stuff from the motel room into my car. Checked out of the motel and stopped to gas the car, First destination the "ghost town" of Mogollon.

Narrow, mountain road, mostly only 1 1/2 lanes wide.  9 miles from the highway, I entered the town Mogollon.  The town is crammed into a canyon with a stream coming down it.  Building had bridges over the creek to get out of their houses!

There are a surprising number of occupied houses here in the town.  Man old buildings that look that they could be use.  A couple of ruins.

It was just after noon when I pulled into Pie Town.  Only one establishment was open for food.  I was not hungry, so skipped pie in Pie Town (people have told me it is not that special).  Got out of the car to take photos at the arch in El Malpais National Monument.  Home a little before 4pm. 

Busy Sunday

Late departure from the motel.  Destination for the day was Fort Bayard and downtown Silver City.  The Fort did nit open until 10am on Sunday.  Visited with the volunteers at the one open building.  From there, did a driving tour of the fort.

Next spot was downtown.  Parked and took several photos of the historic building in tow,  There even is the Murray Hotel with an art deco facade. 

It was only about noon, and I was not ready to go to the motel to pack.  Decided to do the 65 miles to Glenwood and the Catwalk National Trail.

Grabbed my walking stick (sure happy I brought it) and headed out up the trail.  The trail stats as a paved trail.  At one place, there is option to continue the paved, easier trail or a dirt, steeper trail.  I opted to say on the paved trail. 

It was a bit of a hike up the trails before the catwalk starts. Several times I thought of stopping and just heading back.  But, with a rest (unfortunately no benched along the trail) I persevered.  Eventually I got to the catwalk.  Continues the catwalk trail until in ends with a ground level trail.  /

There were 2 benches on the catwalk, took time to rest, get a photo of me, before heading back down to the car. Was relieved when I made it back at the car,  Guzzled a bottle of Gaterade and headed back to the motel.

Packed up the room and went back to the Wrangler for dinner.  Had their French Dip with side of potato salad washed down with 2 pints of Amber Bock.  Back at the motel, I crashed into bed.

Rodeo New Mexico

Today was a day to explore the far SW corner of New Mexico.  Drove down to Lordsburg, West a little on I-10, and South eventually to the little town of Rodeo, NM.  The guy I visited with Thursday night, suggested visiting the museum there.

Spend the $5 to enter the museum.  Most was filled with artifacts in this part of the country. In a separate room they have a display of live rattlesnakes and a couple other desert snakes, even a Gila  Monster!

Nothing that interesting to photograph so I went into their garden.  Took several photos of cacti flowers.

At the highway, I had seen a sign to a National Monument 35 miles over in Arizona.  At the museum, they told me the road there is "iffy".  Paved for about 15 miles, the gravel with some rough area.  I decided to drive the paved area and then head the tourist route back towards Silver City.

Later, I learned that a college friend and his husband were in the same National Monument today.  They live in Florida, would have been nice to see them.

Dinner this evening was at the Little Toad Creek Brewery downtown Silver City.  They had a good "Copper Ale".  Food was a bacon-cheeseburger with fries.

Disappointing Drive to Gila Cliff Dwellings

Headed out to make the loop to Gila Cliff Dwellings. Pause at the mine to two photos.  The observation ate was closed.  Turned onto Rt 35,  Was a beautiful, mostly relaxing drive.  At the intersection with Rt 15, the drive became a bit more taxing,  New Mexico 15 is a winding, narrow road, most of the time in the Gila National Forest..

After almost 2 hours from leaving my motel, I arried at the Visitor's Center.  The ranger gave me some recommends understanding my knee problems. Even with that, I had problems.  I just headed a few yards down one of the trails and had to turn back because I coulde not catch my breath.  There should not the problem - considering I live at 5500 ft and the Monument is a little over 6000.  But I had bip problems for some reason.

Gave up and drove 15 all the way back to Silver City.  This route is a twisting, wooded mountain road all the way to Pinos Altos.  Easy drive rest of the way to town.

Rested at the motel for a while.  Headed back to Pinos Alsos to the Buckhorn for dinner.  Had two bottle os Amber Fat Tire with a bacon-cheeseburger with a salad.

The Buckhorn is an old, historic building with the town;w opera house attached.  One of the staff showed me way to the opera house and I was left there to take some photos.  Thating able to take photos in the old opera house saved the day,

Back at the motel, check the route to the far SW of New Nexico to Rodeo to look at the museum there that I had been recommended.

T or C to Silver City

After a waffle and several glasses of apple juice, I headed off toward Silver City (taking a tourist route).  First on the route were several "ghost towns" NW of T or C - Monticello, Winston, and Chloride.

In Chloride I tourist the museum and store then.  Spend so time visited with the "owner", a life-long resident of Chloride.  Her grandfather was born in Wisconsin and published his memoirs "Confessions of a Wisconsin Farmm Boy".  Sure sounded like I have been working on,

Drove through, but not stopp, in Hillsboro and Kingston.  I noticed that the General Store and Cafe in Hillsboro was not open - just hope it has not gone out of business.  On up the Black Range. Stopped at a view area.  There was a display about the Silver City forest fire.

Since I had time, I detoured to "City of Rocks" State Park. Purchased my annual state park pass.The park is mostly camping spots and some hiking and mountain bike trails.  Interesting rock formations out in the New Mexico desert.  Shot many photos of the rock outcropping.

Was thinking of picking up a t-shirt at the sate park, but after I paid for my annual pass, they basically ignored me,  They talked among themselves not paying any attention to me.From City of Rocks,

Checked into the Motel 6 in Silver CityIt was great - then gave me a room very near the lobby and entrance.  Settled into the room and then headed to Wrangler Grill & Bar.  Had 2 pints of Amber Bock and their taco plate.  Had a nice conversation with a local "snowbird"  Spends Winters in Silcer Cioty and Summers next to Acadia National Park.

Lunch and drive to T or C

Packed up the car this morning. Attended the "geezer" lunch at Rio Rancho Blue Grasshopper. Ended having the 7" meat lover's pizza, washing it down with 2 pints of Sunrise Amber.

From there, I headed down the road to T or C (Truth or Consequences) and checked into my motel. Was surprised that my laptop would not power-up - no power. Walmart was very close (I hated to have to rely on Walmart). They had the la[top charger stuff I needed.

Very windy driving today. Tis the windy season for New Mexico.

Checking a couple ghost towns and driving the scenic route to Silver City is on the agenda for tomorrow.

O'Hare's Grill & Pub

Not looking forward to trying to cook (heat up) something for lunch. Decided to check out Ohare's Grill & Pub at Southern and 528 in Rio Rancho. Had the "half-french dip" with waffle fries and a pint of Sierra Amber Ale. I will be back to sample more food at this place!.

BTW, it looks like the Fat Squirrel has closed.(update 0 at lunch today I learned then are just closed to do some remodeling)