Back home after one more camping day at the Maxwell NWR

Saturday, March 1

I left Elephant Butte at 7AM this morning after saying goodbye to my host, Mike W.  Laura got her goodbye last night as she had to be at work early today.

Driving conditions were sunny, cold but not too cold, windy but not too gusty.  Pretty much perfect driving conditions and traffic.

Seven hours later, I was pulling into the camping area of the Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge less than an hour south of Raton, NM.  I was beat and rested the afternoon away, doing a little bit of exploring with Yagi, my TW200.

I've stayed here before, usually when enroute south going to warmer climes.  

Can you spot Uma?

Closest to the campsite, there were just a few Canadian Geese that were quite swift to take wing.  

I rode towards a farm and along the way I spotted these geese and what I think are Herons!

I managed to stop the motorcycle in time, avoiding spooking them into flight as I slowly walked closer to the fence which bordered the area above.

The rest of the afternoon was spent enjoying the sunshine, using the VRRV to block the increasing windiness. 

Sunday, March 2

I left the Maxwell NWR soon after 7AM.  Less than one hour later, I crossed the border into Colorado using Raton Pass.  A total of 4.5 hours later, I was nearing Buckley Space Force Base to drop off the trailer and Scarlett.  

Once I get the VRRV cleaned up, I'll put it into storage and return home using Scarlett.  This way, I avoid tying up garage space with the trailer while getting things cleaned up.

Overall, a very good camping trip.

Exploring an Unlisted BLM dispersed campsite site and a visit with Mike and Laura W.

February 28, Friday 

Leaving the Gila NF site I decided to drive towards Silver City, NM and from there get on AZ Highway 152 to cross the Black Range Mountains of New Mexico.

Boy, they weren't kidding when they posted a sign saying truckers should find alternate routes!  As it transits the mountains, it has a lot of twisty tight turns!  The VRRV did fine but one had to pay more close attention than usual.  I think it would be a blast on a motorcycle but again, you have to be careful.

There's several NF campgrounds along the way, probably nice to stay at in the heat of summer for it was very cool/chilly at those altitudes.

I finally made it to the highest point of the Black Range: Emory Pass.  I stopped the VRRV at a pull off next to a turn for the vista overlook.  (They really mean it when they post: No Trailers).  I found out the hard way but managed to get Uma turned around after some effort.

Slowly but surely, I made my twisty way down from the mountains and back to valley level as I approached the I-25 Super Slab.  Before I got there though, I'd been monitoring my progress with the BLM map for New Mexico using the FieldMaps app.  (I'll be writing a separate post on this very useful set of maps/system.

I decided to enter a BLM area where I spotted a cattle gate.  As with most BLM areas, the gate isn't locked.  I drove in and found a nice spot away from the road and mostly out of view as well.

There were many of the signs posted around the area:

I saw and rode over to a guy in a white pickup truck, thinking it was the BLM ranger.  Instead, he was a retired senior gentleman, member of the GPAA or Gold Prospectors Association of America.

The 160 acres of which this camping area is a small part, is part of a single mining claim.  The owner allows the GPA and its members to mine for gold, it's apparently available as very small flakes.  (he showed me a pic of previous searches).

Kind of cool but that's a lot of work for such a small amount of gold.  

Here's another view of the area, you can see Uma in the distance.

Wandering around, I spotted an unusual object:

Some kind of water dispenser apparently.  The wheels inside the rectangular slots rotate, and I think, picking up water as cattle lick the wheel to make it move?

Nearby, there was a small water hole or perhaps holding spot:

The above explorations were cut short by going further on towards Elephant Butte, NM.  I was lot docking at Mike and Laura W's driveway.  Mike and Laura are the couple whom I got to know during my Suzuki Samurai Sojourn. 

After dinner, we drove over to a couple nearby friends so I could meet them.  Another great couple: Ed and Lawana.  Ed is a retired deputy police chief from the Seattle area and his wife is quite the crafty one in terms of stitchery, quilting, jewelry, and nutritions!  

It was a great evening with good conversation.  

After saying goodnight to Ed and Lawana, we returned to the W's home and soon were off to our beds.  I slept in the VRRV as I planned an early departure in the morning.