New Mexico - first two stops

Several years ago, we bought a yearly camping pass for the state parks in New Mexico.  For "out of staters", the cost for one year of camping was around $240.  We spent seven weeks here and grew to love the topography and the culture.  For this trip, we had to limit our time and will not visit Sante Fe or Taos or other places we love. To continue our journey toward the new areas of the west we have never seen, we planned a north west path and booked into several of our favorites, the first one being Brantley Lake State Park near Carlsbad.

Can you imagine walking 750 feet down into the earth and finding a paradise of indescribable shapes?  The National Park Service has made sure the path is accessible and has added subtle artificial light .  If you can ever venture to this area, be sure to add this stop.  I will add only a few of the sights that we managed to capture in a photograph.

Most people walk down into the cavern, and the hale and hearty walk up.
For others, an elevator is provided. Yes, we took the elevator..

The Giants

The Whale's Mouth

From our experience of walking 750 feet down, the next day we drove from Brantley Lake through the town of Artesia, then over a mountain town called Cloudcroft at 8650 feet, onto Alamagorda (home of White Sands National Park) and eventually to the town of Truth or Consequences, and Elephant Butte.  We spent some time in Artesia admiring the local art that is present in every town in New Mexico.

Part of the Lincoln National Forest on our way to Alamagorda.
White Sands visible in background.

We landed in Elephant Butte State Park, the largest lake in NM, and had a quick visit from one of the local Gambel Quail that call this park home.

Our trip here included a day to explore the area and one of the things we enjoyed, was a mineral bath in a rooftop jacuzzi in the Hot Springs District.

A great hour of soaking under the sun for only $8!

The art was everywhere and we continued to try and capture the feelings of this western state.

From Elephant Butte, we headed to Navajo Lake State Park and the famous San Juan river.  Here fly-fishers try to catch (and release) a trophy-sized trout.  Yes, I did fish here on our last visit and did catch a fish - not quite trophy sized however!  We will start with this stop on the next blog.

A special note: It has been a sad week in many ways for us as a dear friend of Latona's passed away last Sunday, and we have been remembering her and her family throughout the week. Her sister wrote us a note of her passing, since the years had intervened, and we were not aware of her illness with cancer.  She and her husband, Larry, we part of our church experience in South Gouldsboro and we are keeping her children, husband and family in our thoughts and prayers.

We love you and think of you often, and wish we could share every funny, happy and incredible thing we are experiencing.  For now, love and hugs from the Daicey Duo.