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RV Trip to the High Mountains Day 2 - Sunday, September 23, 2018 Roswell - Ruidoso - Santa Fe - Chama |
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An objective I'd set for myself 5 years earlier would be realized before this day was done. But, the journey to that point was long and full of wonderful sights.
Despite being pretty worn out from a day of packing and cleaning and then a full day of traveling, we got up pretty early and got moving again. The Red Barn RV Park was quite nice and the owners were very friendly. After checking out, we made a run to Wal-Mart for... something. Noah and I used the opportunity to gas up the RV, then we joined the rest of the crew inside. McD's served up breakfast and then we hit the road to Ruidoso.
George always wanted to see Ruidoso, so we worked it into the trip. The drive was easy, the terrain was ok, and the weather was superb! We were there about 2 hours and Noah got to stretch his legs while the ladies looked around at the shops.
The drive from Ruidoso to Santa Fe dominated the bulk of the day. The drive down out of the mountains was pleasant, but the plains that followed were enough to put Noah (and George) fast asleep. We stopped at Clines Corners, about an hour from Santa Fe, for fuel and snacks.
We got a late lunch/early dinner at The Pantry in Santa Fe. My plan for lunch was Tomasita's in the former D&RGW Depot, but when we looked for the address, we realized they are closed on Sundays. That's ok, because parking the 30' RV would have been next-to-impossible because of the traffic and general lack of parking in that part of town. So, Michele did some searching and discovered The Pantry. Mary & George had reservations about New Mexican cuisine, but I whole-heartedly approved of the chow. It was TASTY.
After a drive by the old D&RGW and AT&SF Depots, as well as the Santuario de Guadalupe Catholic Church, we made our way out of town. We got gas again after crossing the Rio Grande river, near Espaņola, and then tackled the drive up to Chama. Per my plan, we got there at the perfect time of day. The sunset light was just as gorgeous as I remembered and everyone else got to appreciate it.
Just past Tierra Amarilla, Michele saw the nearly-full moon rising over the Brazos Mountains. So, we stopped and got some rather nice photos. We stopped again in Chama near the Wye to see a herd of deer and got a few more moon photos. Naturally, we drove through the yard on the way to the camp ground and everyone got their first look at Daddy's Happy Place.
The Rio Chama RV Park is exceptional. The setting under the thick canopy of trees is quite lovely and our spot in the corner of the Rio Chama and the C&TS main line was... well... it was perfect. Utterly perfect.
After getting hooked up, I asked Noah if he wanted to go see the engines. Naturally he answered an emphatic "YES!" So, off we went... hiking in the dark back up the hill to the yard. We heard several coyotes howling fairly close and this intrigued him a great deal. About halfway there he was exhausted (not used to the elevation) and decided to ride on my shoulders. When we got to the Bunk House he wanted down and we quietly walked through the yard. He knew where to go because he saw the locomotives when we'd driven through 45 minutes earlier. So, I followed along behind him... realizing that the dream I'd had 5 years earlier was becoming reality: I was sharing Chama with Noah.
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The topology got a bit more interesting on the way up to Ruidoso.
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Man, that beard is somethin' else... ain't it?
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Entering Ruidoso
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Mud Bug?
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Our ride
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Pictures by Michele
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Rio Ruidoso
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Old rail used to hold the hill back from sliding.
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Heading out/down from Ruidoso.
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We stopped at a pullout for photos and to see some recent fire damage.
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Heading down to the plains.
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Camel Head Rock, north of Santa Fe
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Heading north, near Espaņola
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Crossing the Rio Grande
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No one cares except me, but the grade around the base of the mountain on the right was a Denver & Rio Grande branch from Espaņola to Chama. It was never completed and never had rails. This spot was about as far north as it got when the money for construction ran out.
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The Brazos Cliffs
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Moon rise!
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Now that's just down-right purdy.
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Chama Wye
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Deer in the yard
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Moonrise over the Rio Chama
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Realizing a dream... 5 years and 2 days after dreaming it.
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