Tuesday, May 30
Sixty-three degrees this morning at 7AM, with overcast skies. We continue on 190 a short distance to I-10 west. But we are only on it a short time till we take 285N through Pecos and toward Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
This takes us through the oil production part of Texas. Drilling sites, storage tanks, water supplies, and lots of oil field workers' traffic. Worker housing is basic apartment complexes or, as below, rv's parked under shade structures.
Throw in some road construction, where we are down to one lane, and we aren't exactly flying along. But we aren't in a hurry, so it's OK.
First stop will be McKittrick Canyon in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. where we do a 1 1/2 mile loop trail. The Canyon itself is a little beyond us - we've hiked here in October when there are some sweet gum and maple trees that offer Fall color.
Lots of desert flora on display. I love the ocotillo, which has a thorny stem which has tiny green leaves when water is abundant and drops the leaves during drought. Clusters of pretty red flowers decorate the tips of each long, graceful branch.
The prickly pear cacti are blooming, with various bees and other insects enjoying them. Chola cactus too, with pink flowers. Yucca, agave, mahogany, juniper and other plants thrive in this arid, rocky place.
McKittrick Canyon is about 10 miles from the park Visitors' Center, so we head there to see if there is anything special happening. Unfortunately, it is closed over lunch - guess their staffing is strained too.
We are in Mountain Time Zone now as we head a bit north to Carlsbad, New Mexico. We've been to the magnificent caverns a few times, so decide to try something new today. Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park. We check out the pleasant Visitor's Center which has many displays about the flora and fauna of this area. Then we head outside.
Some of same desert plants here that we just saw, though these are tended and cared for.
The "zoo" part is interesting, though not extensive. We watch a prairie dog town where lunchtime has everyone's attention.
Next there are bison, elk and antelope (and a roadrunner).
A huge mountain lion slinks around his enclosure - wow! I didn't know they were so big! From nose to tip of tail I think this guy is at least 8 feet long, and moving fast. A black bear has found a shady cave, and the poor lynx (who likes it cold) is just vegging in the shade as well. It has really gotten hot - mid 90's! We take refuge in a building dedicated to reptiles, but the one with succulent plants is a hothouse, so we skip it.
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Whip snake
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| Gila Monster |
The heat is really oppressive! We chat with two women rangers back at the Visitors' Center, getting directions to Sitting Bull Falls where we plan to boondock for the night. When we reach the Trek, the thermometer is reading 106 degrees in the sun, but drops to a "mere" 98 as we move along. We get gas and drinks and I tentatively mention that we COULD get a hotel, and Greg is quick to agree, so we find a Super 8 that is reasonable and has good reviews.
Ahhhh. The AC works and the shower feels wonderful! Greg noticed a Domino's Pizza just next door, so I order and he walks to pick up a small Philly Cheesesteak Pizza, which is delicious.
We thought the saying on the box was cute: How to fix leftover pizza. #1 was- Don't eat all the pizza. Oops!
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