Day 22 - Exploring Las Cruces!

Ken was up at 5:30 and spent about 1 1/2 hours on the computer while I slept in.  He was checking our accounts and paying bills.  After a quick breakfast, the 4 of us got in our CRV and headed to Las Cruces, the 2nd largest city in New Mexico and about 55 miles from our CG.  On the way Melissa checked her phone to see if the 3 gals, Brenna, Kim, and Gracie, States on Skates, were near our area on their skating trip across country.  We knew they were planning to be in Deming sometime this weekend.  Sure enough, they are able to be tracked as they skate and they were only a few miles up the road towards Las Cruces. Within a few miles we spotted them.  We weren't able to stop on Interstate 10 and they were on the other side of the road, but we opened all our windows and shouted and waved.  So good to see them still on their course and doing well!

We went right to the local Farmers and Craft Market that is held ever Wed. and Saturday on about 4 blocked off streets.  I really enjoyed all the craft and food vendors.  There are many crafty persons in Las Cruces and their wares are beautiful.

It was busy at the market especially considering they have
it every Wed. and Sat.

You can buy 20 lb. bags of red chilies or buy them on the
"hanging" and cut them off when you want them.

This clay sculptor was amazing!

One way to roast stuffed jalapenos on the grill!

After leaving there around 12:15 we drove about 3 miles to Mesilla Plaza, the old Mexican area, where they are having their Cinco de Mayo Fiesta this weekend.  Again, more shoppes, craft and food vendors, and singers and dancers.  I asked a young local gal where would be a good place to eat and she recommended the Mexican Restaurant, La Porta.  We loved it!  Both couples shared an entree of fajitas that came with rice and refried beans.  It was delicious.  They also had a special of 6 different speciality drinks for $5.00 each.  Of course margaritas were their specialty.  The partly frozen raspberry one was very good!  Their nachos and salsa were also a "hit".  We left Las Cruces around 4 and headed back to the CG.

Fiesta, here we come!

A perfect day for a Fiesta!

Lots of beautiful Mexican crafts!

This restaurant was old and had a very nice bar!

We ate in the courtyard.  My raspberry partially frozen Margarita
looks good enough to drink, doesn't it???? 

Ken and I shared this meal and it was delicious!

This is the setting for our lunch!

Our bellies are full and we are happy!  The drinks may be
partly responsible for those big smiles!

Local elementary school children were the dancers.

Very colorful outfits!

Good local musical group!

On our return trip, Melissa checked on States on Skates gals.  They were about 10 miles outside of Deming and had gotten off the Interstate.  So, we decided to get off the Interstate too and look for them.  They were stopped having a snack under a tree, so we pulled over and chatted with them.  They were so excited to see folks they had met along the way.  Turns out they are staying in the motel next to our CG.  Gracie's husband is here for the weekend to give them support and offer them some transportation.  We gave them some oranges and apples we had and they were very appreciative.  They are so "upbeat" and seem to have abundant energy.  We hope to see them again when we are in Tucson.

Here are the 3 gals that comprise States on Skates resting by
the roadside - Brenna, Gracie, and Kim 

Ken doesn't look happy.  He wanted to be next to the girls, not
Chuck or me!!!!

And they are ready to take off again pushing the jogging strollers
with their supplies!

Only about 7 more miles for today until they get to the
La Quinta Hotel in Deming! 

What a tremendous undertaking and a lot of the roads are
very hilly and rough! 

Back to the CG where we each worked on our blogs, Facebook, etc.  I talked to Doloris back home.  It was so good to talk to her.  We will miss our camping adventures that we usually do with them in May, June and July.  I appreciate that she and Fred read our blog everyday and enjoy this trip with us!

From 7 to 9:30 we played games at Chuck and Melissa's.  Women 2, men 1.  Another fun day with the Gregorys!  The adventure continues!!!

Day 21 - Checking Out the Deming Area

What a beautiful day!  We were up by 7:15, packed our lunches, and started getting breakfast ready.  It was such a sunny, mild morning that we decided to cook and eat outdoors.  Before cooking, Jamie called and Ken had a nice, long conversation with her.  I talked to her too.  So good to catch up with what is going on in her family's life.

After cleaning up, the 4 of us sat outside drinking coffee and chai and then loaded their CRV for a 13 mile drive to Rockhound State Park.  It is popular among hikers looking for spectacular views, and among rock enthusiasts looking for unique rocks and minerals.  You can find silica, quartz crystals, agate, common opal, jasper, plus thundereggs and geodes and visitors are welcome to take up to 15 pounds of rocks per person. We hiked about 2 miles on the trail around the park and campground hoping to find some "special" gems.  We were diligent in our task and brought back numerous "treasures" that we thought looked like unique rocks.  The volunteer in the visitors center, who was extremely helpful and knowledgeable looked through all of them.  We did have some jasper and 1 fossil, but nothing to write home about!!!!

Beautiful scenery on the way to Rockhound!

The visitors center.  Love the adobe style building!

These are the thundereggs and geodes we were hoping to find!

Aren't they beautiful when they are cut and polished??

Ready to start hiking the trail.

A collared lizard that had legs like a frog and jumped like one!

Cute, huh???

Leaping Lizards, he/she found a friend!

This one was trying to get an overview of the park!

The prickly pear cacti were everywhere!

......and everywhere.  This hillside will be covered in yellow
flowers in a few weeks.

These yellow flowers looked like buttercups!

Flowers everywhere.  Everyone is telling us we are here at the
right time.  This is the most "bloomin" spring they have
had for years and years, since they had more rain then
usual early spring!

The ocotillo cacti are so unusual looking and have very pretty
flowers on the end of each tip! 

Found out from the park volunteer that these are
Mexican Bird of Paradise.  Not at all like what I think
of as Bird of Paradise!

The bird of paradise flower up close and personal!

Getting ready to really bloom!

Quite a setting for a rest!

Checking out our "finds"!

We left there around 1:45 and drove to another park about 3 miles away to a great picnic area to enjoy our lunch.  Another great view to "eat by".  From there we headed he Deming Luna Mimbres Museum where you view artifacts including hundreds of examples of frontier life, crafts and the largest Mimbres potery collection on display.  It was unbelievable.  The amount of time and energy that went into putting this together and the number of rooms with so much memorabilia was beyond comprehension.  People donated lots of antiques and collectibles that were so valuable.  We had fun reminiscing about toys from our childhood and many things we remembered our parents and grandparents had and used.

Another great luncheon view!

including more flowers!

This road had a 17% grade.  When you got to the top, you
really couldn't see which way the road went!

The old Artillery is now a great museum!

This is just one of the dozens of rooms - the doll and toy room!

Shirley Temple dolls!

So many pieces of early Indian pottery!  Many of the bowls
were pieced together from ruins they had found!

Pottery and arrowheads!

They had a western area complete with a chuck wagen!

One entire room was donated by one person and was his rock
finding collection.  I'm jealous!  We couldn't even find one
of these special rocks!

How would you like to get your hair curled or permed
with these special rollers!

After leaving there we stopped at the Red Roof Rock Store to see if they thought anything we had found was worth cutting and polishing.  Unfortunately, they agreed with the women at Rockhound Park - we had some nice findings, but nothing that was worth spending any money on.

We returned to the CG by 5:15 and showered.  I talked to my friend, Polly, who had surgery yesterday and we had such a nice conversation.  She is doing well and hopes that the surgery will do its job and she will be good as new very soon!

The 4 of us grilled and were able to eat our dinner outside.  A gorgeous evening, so we sat out discussing tomorrow's activities.  Moved indoors around 8 and the women won Sequence Dice and Skip-Bo.

This was another very special day and you have to love the warm temperatures with the low humidity!  Looking forward to going to Las Cruces tomorrow to the Farmers Market and the Cinco De Mayo Fiesta.  Should be another great day!