Day 7 Head for the Barn (5th wheel in AZ)

For the final 235 mile leg of our 1120 mile “drive”, we took the back roads from Silver City NM to our winter home, via NM Hwy 180 to Mule Creek, then NM 78 which changed to Hwy 191 at the AZ Border where we followed Hwy 70 past Safford to Globe and made a left turn on Hwy 60 W to Gold Canyon.  The portion from NM Hwy 180 to AZ Hwy 70 is the subject of the photos for today (since this was the only new section for us).  We enjoyed high plains, rolling foothills, Ponderosa Pine forest, and passed thru poverty sections as well as “upscale” horse ranches seeing a myriad of beautiful as well as humorous sites along the way,

Gullies…  

Lone Trees...

Endless straight-a-ways...

Warnings….

A perfect pose...

Could be home...

We think so...

OMG…

The simple things of life...

How's this for natural beauty...

and this…?

Geocaching in action...

More natural beauty

Empty corral...

Empty truck… geocaching...

This sums it all up!!!

which included 6 geocache finds. 

Day 6 - Buffalo Soldiers and Gold Miners

Searching out a little local color and history was on the agenda for Nov 18.  Our first stop, Ft Bayard Nat’l  Historical Landmark where we learned about Buffalo Soldiers who  originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866.  This nickname was given to the "Negro Cavalry"  (which reportedly included one female black soldier) by the Native American tribes they fought.  "We called them 'buffalo soldiers,' because they had curly, kinky hair...like bisons.”  Some sources assert that the nickname was given out of respect for the fierce fighting ability of the 10th Cavalry.  

Buffalo Soldiers became a generic term for all African-American soldiers. It is now used for U.S. Army units that trace their direct lineage back to the 9th and 10th Cavalry units whose service earned them an honored place in U.S. history.  

Other events included a visit to the National Cemetery and a  trip thru the old mining community of Pinos Altos (Tall Pines),  which was the location of a mini-gold rush era and plenty of Apache skirmishes.  The ore was discovered by three 49ers returning from California.  Hearst also had a mine in the area and some of it’s gold was shipped to San Clemente CA to become part of his famous California Hearst Castle.  Mines in the Pinos Altos region recovered about 8 million dollars worth of ore before their demise in the early 1900’s.  

For more details, check out  http://southernnewmexico.com/Articles/Southwest/Grant/PinosAltosthenandnow.html

Our afternoon ended with a late Mexican lunch at “Nancy’s Silver Cafe” in downtown “old town” Silver City NM, and Don managed to sneak in a few geocaches also (4).

Entrance to Fort Bayard Nat'l Historical Landmark

Officers Row

Two officer families shared a huge duplex

Buffalo Soldier by sculptor Gregory Whipple

Soldiers name on front, spouse on back of marker…
Some markers had #'s only

One of the oldest one we saw.

The Hearst Chapel - Pinos Altos NM

Other historical objects and buildings along the "tour route".

Date on the Buckhorn 1803

Part of Historic (still open) Bear Creek Lodge.

Silver City is an art mecca 

and many buildings have beautiful paintings on the outside
for those who just stroll the streets!!!

Especially for my Mosaic class friends at Canyon Vistas
RV Resort AZ.  

Close-up of photo above.  Loved the combination of chipped
glass, painted tiles and objects which created tremendous depth!!!

Day 5 10-20 MPH Not Just another Sunday Drive

We only had 91 miles to travel today, from Truth or Consequences, to Silver City NM.   Once we turned off I-25 and took Hwy 152 west,  past Hillsboro, things changed drastically for the next 36 miles as we climbed to 8200’ on this well paved, no shoulder extremely curvy section of the road.  A few geocaches were found, but mainly I concentrated on not loosing my lunch (which I hadn’t even eaten yet)!!!   A major forest fire had burned thousands of acres here in recent years, and green grass was starting to cover the forest floor.  We stopped by the Santa Rita Copper Mine (the 2nd largest in North America) and then had a leisurely drive the rest of the way thru the foothills, and arrived at the Silver City Comfort Inn just in time to watch the 49er’s play New Orleans right in our room, instead of the local bar as we do in AZ.

Glad it was in the low 50's today.

An old mining town

with cottonwood's lining the almost dry riverbed.

Thru the foothills

then the climb starts.

5th wheel wouldn't fit under this...

Overbuilding the neighborhood.

Still climbing

This tells the story…

And so does this.

Ever seen a red Sotol before?  

A Vietnam War Vets Memorial wraps up the day of photos.

Day 4 - 2000 plus Sandhill Cranes...

Only 205 miles today and it took us about 8 hours... that’s a full days work for us "ole retired folks".  Don grabbed 6 more geocaches today when we weren’t traveling on I-40 or I-25.  But I hogged most of the day taking photos of more than 2000 Sandhill Cranes just south of Socorro.  They were in town for the 26th annual “Festival of the Cranes” at the 57,331 acre Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, which is in its 73rd year of managing the refuge for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat.  Unfortunately for you, I have not included all the fabulous video footage of these beautiful 4’ tall birds!!!  And yes, another 5 star day thanks to the Sandhill Cranes who didn’t disappoint us.

In search of Sand Hill Cranes

No-one home…a WGC (wild goose chase)

We're sure to have luck here...

Well, if they don't materialize...

No, these aren't cranes, but thousands of gulls.

A beautiful place, birds have to love this.

Ah Ha...

Ah……………..

Closer………...

Resting…….

Closer……...

Posing…   You should see my video!!!   Ah…...