New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum

This morning (Thursday) made a dent in processing the photos i took yesterday.  Did not realize how many shots I took in Carlsbad Caverns. 

With Merv & Sue we spent some time checking out the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.  Very interesting budding museum.  They could use some monies (what museums in the country couldn't use more).  Brought lots memories for Merv and me, being farm boys.

The museum is hosting a photography exhibit called "Pie Town"/  Pie Town is a real town in west central New Mexico.  The photos in the exhibit were taken circa 1940.  Very interesting and some awesome photography.

Back at the house, I finished processing yesterday's photos photos and took care of the ones taken today.  We were thinking of taking a bicycle ride, but the weather turned a little chilly and windy.  Maybe tomorrow.

Thought about touring old Masilla, just too tired to do much anything.  With the chilly weather, is was a good day to be a relax day - then give it hell tomorrow.

This windmill is located at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, Las Cruces.

Caves and Mountains

Was up in the middle of the night, not sleepy (that happens when I go to bed too early). Spent time posting a couple other photos on my photography blog and processed the photos from Tuesday's travels.  Eventually, went back to sleep for a while.

Another chilly (but getting warmer) morning on Wednesday.  Was in the upper 20s when I stuck my head out the door of my room in Roswell.  Good breakfast at the motel - busuits and gravey with some body!

Loaded the car and off toward Carlsbad Caverns.  Had a very enjoyable walk in the cave.  Had to be careful walking until the eyes adjusted.  I used the handrail at times to guide me.

Cranked up the ISO speed in the camera for the low light conditions.  Took some available light photos and some flash photos.  Never sure how they would come out.

As I found this morning when reviewing and processing the photos, the flash photos come turn out the better shots, thpro.anks to the software I am using.   Some of the available light shots are blurry from notion (I did not have a tripod with me in the cave).

The upper photo with this blog posting was taken in the cave with flash and processed from RAW with HDR Darkroom 2

I walked the base loop in the cave.  There is a further loop, but did not want to push it with my knee.  As it worked out, when I got back to the elevator, I was ready for get off my feet.  Did the obligatory stop in the gift stops and picked up a couple things.  It was noon, so grabbed some food before heading back on the road.

When I stopped at the ranger desk at the caverns, I asked about the Guadalupe Mountains National Park which I will pass on my way to Las Cruces.  She informed me the park is mostly hiking trails, but had some interesting exhibits.

Before leaving Calrsbad Cavern, i had to check out the 9.5 miles desert scenic (gravel) one-way loop.  Not too much to see there, but stopped to take a few photos along the road.

I stopped off the road at the Visitor's Center.  Took a couple photos and and did a pass on the visitor's center..  Body ways it was time to head up the road.  Over 130 miles of nothing between the caverns and El Paso, TX.  The only things to break the monotony at times was to stop stretch the legs and shoot photos of abandoned buildings.

The lower photo was taken near the visito's center at Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Rolled into Las Cruces about 4:30pm.  Now settled in at Army Reunion & wife's place.  Will be touring Las Cruces the next couple days.  Planning to get in a bike ride or two while here.  Looks likes it gonna be a great day.

Cowboys and Aliens

Different start of the day for me.  Woke up middle of the night, not getting back to sleep, so processed photos from yesterday and posted some of them on facebook.  Back to bed and finally got up about 6:30.  It was 11 degrees this morning in Dodge City - I was not in a big hurry to get out and on the road!

Changed lenses  on my cameras so that had the Rebel T1i set up with the Tamron 180200mm lens for the drive.  I gave up figuring you wny the 60D auto focus was not working.

Motel breakfast - sweet roll, coffee, biscuits and (very runny) gravy, and sausage patties.  Loaded stuff back into the car and checked out of the room.

Headed out towards Roswell, NM.  This was a day of non-interstate driving.  When I was at about 100 miles out of Dodge City, I realized that I was NOT on the right route.  General same direction, just not the planned route.  Grabbed the maps to figure out to get made changes without adding too many miles.

While the new route was still on US numbered highways, their conditions at times were typical for secondary roads.  That, and drove through some desolate countryside!  Surprisingly, US 70 out of Clovis to Roswell, NM is 4-lane highway with very little traffic and less to see.  Most of the scenery was desert grass and abandoned buildings. 

By the time I found and checked into my lodging for the night, I was just too tired and too late to play "tourist".  Particularly interested is exploring the International UFO Museum & Research Center.  As it was, the motel is a bit out from downtown - glad I checked my reservation.  My direction of travel was N to S, and had to turn West for over 20 blocks.  Anyway, I have to reccomend the Rodeway Inn of Roswell.  Very reasonable rate, large room with king bed and a decently sized bathroom.

Dodge City, KS

On the road again...

Headed out this morning heading towards New Mexico.  Decent driving weather (was clean, cool morning, nice afternoon) today.

Was not ready to stop for breakfast when i hit York so turned South on US 81.  It was Ellsworh, KS before I found a little local eatery.  Small breakfast (1 egg, 2 sausage links, hash browns, 1 toast) and coffee for $5.25!  Ellsworh Steakhouse, Ellsworth, KS.

Surprised at the number of old abandoned barns and other structures along the highway.  I ran across one particularly interesting barn just North of Bruning, NE, even had to turn around on the highway and came back to take a couple photos.  Now with the look-out, I stopped a couple more times during the drive to shoot phots of old structures.

Checked into my lodging - Knights Inn, Dodge City, KS.  Time to play tourist and take photos.  The Boot Hill Museum looked like a great place to explore.

The museum is a recreation of the old Front Street,  Front Street was built over the original "Boot Hill" cemetery (if you could call it a cemetery).  Today's photo was taken in the Long Branch Saloon (of 'GunSmoke' fame). in the Museum.  Interesting as the shops (and sollon) is a living history museum.

After taking photos, problems with the new camera, it was time for food.  The Long Branch proprietor (sorry, no Miss Kitty) suggested Casey's Cowtown Steakhouse.  Had a pint of a very good amber bock (unknown brewery) and patty melt with fries.

Tried to correct camera malfunction/setting problem.  For some reason the auto focus in not working.  I can cause auto focus by hitting the AF ON button, but cannot get AF to stay on.  Early to bed tonight, just exhausted.  If i wake up early in the morning, will process more of today's photos.

Xtreme Winterfest Bike This Saturday

After the deep freeze we have have had the last week - how about a bicycle ride!  Saturday weather forecast for Council Bluffs is for a high of 40 degrees.  YES - 40 degrees.

Gather your riding friends for the 11th Annual Xtreme Winterfest Bike Ride - Saturday, January 11th.  The ride starts at the Western Historic Trails Center at 11am.  Arrive early and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and tour the museum.

The ride will be on the river trail 3 miles to Caddy's Riverside Grille. Lunch service will be available.The ride is free, lunch is on your dime.

The ride is sponsored by Council Bluffs Parks & Recreation, Western Historic Trails Center, and Caddy's Riverside Grille.

I am hoping to get over to check out the trail before Saturday.  See if I can ride the hybrid or need the hardtail with studded tires.  Friday weather forecast is for a "wintry mix" and high of 37.

2014 Mountain Bike Festivals

With the bitter cold weather this week, my thoughts started turning to warmer weather riding and the
Spring mountain bike festivals.  Previously, I have attended festivals in Rapid City, SD,  Hayward. WI,  Crosby, MN,  Quad Cities IA/IL, and Wausau, WI.  Here's what I know now and those I will be watching for locations and dates.

Black Hills Fat Tire Festival (Rapid City, SD) has moved is dates.  The festival had been held Memorial Day weekend.  This year it is scheduled for June 20-22, 2014.  Rapid City Parks & Recreation returns as the organizers.

Today, I was able to confirm dates for the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival in Crosby, MN.  The festival will be held on Friday and Saturday June 13-14, 2014.  Headquarters is the Crosby Town Park (camping spaces available).  Explore that trails of Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.  I have attended this festival since the ride center opened. 

I have not been able to confirm dates for CAMBA Festival of the Trails.  Previously, it has been held over the National Trails Day weekend except for 1 year when it was held over Memorial Day weekend.  In 2013, the festival was held the same weekend of the first annual Mt. Borah Epic Mountain Bike Race.  That race will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

The festivals in the Quad Cities were MidWest Mountain Bike Festival - held there for 2 years.  That festival moves every 2 years - I believe is is being hel in Brown County, IN in 2013-14.

In 2012 I attended GnomeFest.  That yeat it was held at Nine Mile Woods near Wausau, WI.  I have relatives in the Wausau area.  That was the only year it has been at Nine Mile Woods.  No plans to attend this year.

The best situation for me was last year - when I was able to attend Festival of the Trails in Hayward, WI the first weekend of June.  Play tourist in Superior/Dulth.  Then attend Cuyuna Festival.  If the 2014 Festival of the Trails is held the weekend on May 33 - June 1, I may have to skip that festival and revisit the possibility of making the 10 day trip adding Black Hills Festival.


Just for information (June is mountain bike month, it seems) Crested Butte (CO) Bike Week is June  25-29, 2014.

Happy New Year

I hope all of my friends have recovered from the festivities.  I spent a quiet evening at home processing some photo files. 

We received a dusting of snow and will be turning bitter cold once the clouds clear.  Looks like we are in the pattern of warming up to snow, then turn cold.

Hope you have a great year in 2014.  Keep on Pedaling!