Pandora's box

 Stumbled across this a few days ago on my morning hike. Instantly memories crossed my mind of when my former co-workers used to catch bats in the warehouse, and put them in a box labeled.  Do Not Open!!! It was only a matter of time before you heard a loud scream. Surely a box with large rocks holding the lid on cant contain anything good inside. Think ill be moving on.

 The rest of my hike my mind was filled with the possibilities of what could be inside. Rattlesnake, gold, food, stolen loot, perhaps Forrest Fenn's hidden treasure just there for taking. Of course curiosity got the best of me as I passed by on my return hike. A little nudge couldn't hurt?

Bee's hundred's of them immediately swarmed me. I took off running arms flailing all over the place. I am sure it was very good entertainment for any on lookers. Wondering what in the hell is wrong that guy? Ended up with several stings on my neck face, and ear. Would have been more but it was a chilly morning, and I was in jeans, and a jacket.

I notified the park of the box of bee's, so they brought in this guy. Believe this is about the part where he was warning me "Stay Away there's bee's here I heard some fella got bit up good this morning" Thanks for the warning. 

Turns out he knew there was a hive in the area. Came in the park dropped off "What I now know to be plastic beehive " so he could capture them for his honey business.

My current spot on the Rio Grande. Which is part of Caballo State Park, but located below the dam instead of where I was in a previous post.

My new neighbors. Barb, and Katie from Me and My Dog ...and My RV. Pleasure to finally meet you!

Perch flats at the entrance to the Rio Grande site supply a little more freedom if one desires. Although the Rio Grande has been real quiet  Easter weekend was unbelievable with hundreds of people, but I cant complain my neighbor's children brought me hard boiled eggs, and hot dogs. 

Percha Flats is a huge area for primitive camping.

Tumbleweed on the dam. Caballo dam is almost a mile long.

This guy/gal was sitting about 5 feet from "The Turtle" but of course by the time I got the camera he had moved on.

And with every whoooooo you were mooned

Campground in the Cottonwoods from the dam. Thanks for visiting, and Good Day!

Elephant Butte State Park (Photo Intensive)

Bikini's, beer, burgers, boats,and beaches. Elephant Butte has them all! I enjoyed it so much I even considered buying that tiki hut houseboat pictured above, but then the beers wore off, and I figured the Turtle would remain my home.

 Maybe one day though if I ever decide to quit the nomadic life I could be beach bum. I did make several phone calls to local marinas, and talked to a few rangers about the legalities of living on a houseboat on the lake. All they could say was you cant do that! Never really got a clear answer on what the exact rules were from any of them. However you can rent a slip, or a mooring. You wouldn't have to worry about being  hassled. Its all about the Benjamin's. Cheapest I found was $175 a month for a mooring not to bad for life on a lake, or those searching for a alternative lifestyle.

Elephant Butte is the largest lake, and state park in New Mexico. The lake is 36000 acres, 40 miles long, and July 4th can gather a whopping 100000 people. Here a a lot more pics :) Had a few internet issue last week so this is 2 posts in one. 

My home for 2 weeks quiet during the week definitely pic up on the weekends. Most dogs in the area run off there leashes on the beach.

Rattle Snake Island. Guess there's a road to it, but a local told me its up 45ft this year.

Free campsite if you have the state pass $10 without. Each has a shelter, firepit, and picnic table.

Squall moving across the lake

Deep sand in a lot of area's. Roads are actually plowed to keep primitive camping accessible. Get out and walk around to find a good campsite. Seen lots of trucks get stuck

Cheap transportation

The freedom I wasn't expecting from living in state parks people are allowed to camp anywhere,

or launch your boat from the beach.

The dirt dam beginning of the hike Elephant Butte dam. 3 miles round trip. 

Scenery to the dam

Dam Hike! Yep that pretty much all yah get to see, because of security measures after 9-11. The dam is 301ft tall and 1674 ft long.

Turtle from the shore.

 

Where the other hiking trail leads. Much better then that dam hike!

$3 Blue moons on tap

Green chile burger. New mexico is known for its green chile harvest. Had fresh roasted green chiles for the first time 2 years ago. Look forward to the season every year.

Ill definitely be going back. There's plenty to do, and see. Groceries are just a few miles, and the views are fantastic. Thanks for visiting! Good Day!

Rattlesnake!

I've already headed north to my next destination, but haven't got to do much exploring yet, so figured Id share a few more pics of Caballo State Park.

 Hiking Trails

 For you adventurous sorts with high clearance vehicles there is some excellent camping. Quiet, trees, and right on the beach at there very north end of the park. I actually didn't find it until my last couple of  days. 

 Blooming Cacti

 Bright blue bug?

 Been seeing this awkward trail much more on my daily hikes. Figured I would stumble across its creator sooner, or later.

Then there he, or she was. Not sure which? But wasn't gonna investigate any further, so I tipped my hat, and we parted ways. Good Day!

Caballo Lake

Home for 2 weeks parked on the lake

 Three weeks in New Mexico, and so far so good! The people at the parks seem incredibly laid back. Haven't been hassled, or told the rules and regulation only  been told to enjoy my stay. Just show your pass at the gate, and away you go with no additional paperwork. Having garbage cans, and hot showers is a well added bonus. Not bad for $18.75 a month. Here's a few pics......

 Possible boondocking sites across the lake. Not sure if you need a permit, or not? Caballo Lake is 11000 acres a 1 1/2 across, and 11 miles long. Stocked with bass, catfish, crappie, and walleye. Hmmm fishing license? Looks like most the State parks are right on the lake.

You can camp wherever you wish unless theres hook ups then theres a fee. People even set up tents on the boat launch. The Turtle parked in the primitive camping area, which is huge, very quiet. Except for a few fisherman on the weekends. Definitely four legged friend friendly. Hope the rest of the parks have such open camping.

Huh? Thanks for visiting! Good day!

R.I.P. Candy

Sorry to report that Candy passed today, after a good 15 year run, the tumor we had been fighting for the last 7 years begin to incapacitate her leg, and another operation was no longer option. Love ya Baby Girl... 

Silver City, and a Parker Lump?

My plans were to spend the day exploring Silver City. After all it is where the legendary Billy the Kid was raised, and the grave site of his mother, along with plenty of other historic facts. Well my day of exploration all came to a sudden halt when I picked up my mail.

Three whole envelopes, a $3 rebate check, a letter from the Apache County Assessors office valuing my acreage at $862 for tax purposes, which is a great deal taxes should be under $10 again, and a envelope called the Parker Lump.

Interesting indeed! A buyout offer from my previous employee I give up my pension, they write me a pretty substantial check, so after a lot of pondering I determined no matter how you look at it, at the end of the day its basically a gamble.

 Who knows what could happen in the next 27 years? It could be gone by then, a days worth of faxing, phone calls, and gathering documents. I decided to roll it over into a IRA to avoid a tax hit, and manage it myself. One big step towards financial freedom. Heres a few pics I did manage to grab.....

Managed to visit a good friend. One of the first people I met on the road.  Thanks for visiting! Good Day!

City of Rocks

 My home for the next two weeks at The City of Rocks

First impressions of the New Mexico state park pass is that this thing a purty darn good deal! Upon arrival I located my site. Notified the Ranger of my two week stay. Filled out the proper paperwork, and couldn't help but smile when I wrote the big $0 in the total amount due. A heckuva good deal considering the rest of American shell out a average of $800 a month on rent.

All campsites are located within walking distance to the vault toilets, and most are a short journey to the hot showers if your willing to wander through the labyrinth of gargantuan rocks. Verizon cell phone is three bars of 4g on the booster, and wanders from 3g to 4g without it. Heres a few more pics...

 Candy showing off her campsite

The City of Rocks was created 34.9 million years ago by a volcanic eruption. Then over millions of years, erosion sculpted the rock formation we see today. The eruption was from the Emory Caldera centered near Hillsboro Peak at the southern end of Black Range. The eruption was estimated to be a VEI 8.5 Eruption. All credit to wikipedia

Conical hole

The Mimbreno Indians settled in the are about 750 to 1250 AD. Pottery, arrowhead, and other artifacts show evidence of prehistoric Indians in the area. Indian well, or conical holes, are found in rocks where water would be allowed to collect. All credit to wikipedia

  Camp

 Full- size pick-up in the distance

 Labyrinth 

Panorama 

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Here's a slideshow with some more pics of the area. Thanks for visiting! Good Day!