November 1 to 5, Gila cliff dwelling New Mexico to Arizona

NOV 1, Sunday, Carlsbad
We had another lazy morning then went for a drive to “Sitting Bull Falls”, approx. 40 miles from here. The road in was really interesting and scenic. Took a few pictures for Picasa site!
We hiked up to the fall then took a trail up and around the top to take a look at the three pools that feed the fall. We took a different trail to come back down. The Rangers there were really friendly and helpful.
We came back home and fuelled the truck @ 2.55/Gallon. I BBQ’ed steaks for dinner then it was relax time. Tomorrow we move on to Silver City to look at the Gila Cliff Dwellings.


NOV 2, Monday, To Silver City, New Mexico
We were on the road by 9 a.m. and headed south-west on Hwy 62. We re-entered Texas near Guadalupe Mountains and went around the mountain range. The scenery was breath-taking after the boring desert drive. We soon arrived in El Paso, Texas and went around it via Hwy 375 which turned out to be very scenic too as we climbed to 5000 feet over the mountain pass and down the other side to I-10 where we turned North and West.
At Deming, we turned north-west to Silver City. We climbed slowly to 6400 feet then headed south on Hwy 90 to our site, Burro Mountain Homestead, an ACN/AOR member. The office was closed when we arrived so we picked a site, set up and now dinner is on! We are here for 3 nights. This place is 14 miles south of Silver City and 7 miles in on dirt road which we were not aware of but we are here and will stay the 3 nights.

We travelled 330 miles (530KM) in 7.5 hours at an average of 51 MPH

N 32* 36’ 52”
W 108* 26’ 08”
ALT: 6740 feet


NOV 3, Tuesday, to Gila cliffs
We got up to a beautiful sunshine and warmth. Lots of deer about and they don’t seem very nervous. We are in the middle of the Lower Gila National Forest but this place is privately owned. I paid $49 with tax for three nights.
We left around 9:30 a.m. and went to Silver City to McDonald for breakfast and then picked up propane at $19 and $50 worth of fuel @ 2.90/Gal,
We went on Hwy 15 and made our way up to the Continental Divide and the village of Pinos Altos. We didn’t stop but took a few pictures and promised ourselves to return tomorrow to explore it. The road from here was tortuous to say the least, up and down, switch back and sharp curves. I think I only went to a top speed of 30 MPH. It was like this for 18 miles and we climbed to 7900 feet at one place. The view was MAGNIFICIENT and BREATHTAKING. We stopped at numerous places to take pictures. We were driving in the Gila National Forest and traversing the Mogollon (pronounce Mo-go-yon). The highway was called “Trail of the Mountain Spirits”. We finally arrived at the Visitor centre, 48 miles later, and got information on the dwelling. We learned that the people who built the dwellings were of Mogollon descent and lived here between the years of 1276 to 1300. They were peaceful people. Eventually the Chiricahua Apache moved here too. Geronimo (Goyahkla) was born near here and there is a monument in his memory (see pictures).
We drove up to the head of the trail, paid $3 each and went up the trail to the Cliff Dwelling. This was a one mile loop climbing 180 feet to the dwellings. They consisted of 6 dwelling, of which 2 were note accessible but we did go in and around the middle 4.
The pictures don’t do them justice. It was very impressive and spiritual. You can’t help but try to imagine what it was like for them. When one looks at the ingenuity of these people in that Era, to build something like this that lasted over 700 years, makes one wonder why we think of them as savages and primitives. They were more intelligent then we give them credit for.
We spent a good hour listening to the Park rangers telling us the story of the place, walked around, poked into different room then it was time to leave. We climbed down a wooden ladder and then a narrow trail to the bottom and back to our car.
We drove back up the valley and turned on Hwy 35 to return home and miss all the curves and climbs on Hwy 15. We crossed the Continental Divide once more and eventually arrived back in Silver City and stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up milk then came home.
Tomorrow, we will visit Silver City and go back to Pinos Altos.


OCT 4, Wednesday, Silver City and Pinos Altos
Another beautiful day! After breakfast, we drove to the highway and to Silver City where we first stop at the Info Centre.
Silver City is a mining town, surrounded by numerous mines and open pits for silver (no longer), copper, zinc and ore. It is also known as the city where the famous Billy the Kid was born and raised with his brother. The astronaut Harrison Schmitt from Apollo 17 was also from the Region!
We walked the main street of Silver City which was relocated because of a major flood in the late 1890’s which wiped the original main street from the map. We took a tour of the museum and then headed for Pinos Altos where we had lunch in a well-renowned little restaurant with only 6 tables to serve. We had the best Chilli that I’ve ever tasted and we had so much that I had to ask for a ‘doggy bag”. We then drove and walked the scenic tour of the old town. We were to have a beer at the historic Saloon but unfortunately it was closed due to renovations.
We came back home around 3:30 p.m. and found a dozen deer near our “Bear”. Val cajoled one to feed out of her hand then I had my turn...quite neat! Tucker tried to chase him but the deer gave a lesson of his own by running him down, Tucker came back with his tail between his legs!

Anyone interested in visiting the area, we found a nice campground in town called SILVER CITY PARK, for only $19/night with full hook-up. There is also a campground in Pinos Altos but don’t know the price
Tomorrow we leave this place for Arizona


NOV 5, Thursday, to St David, Arizona
So here we are in St-David, Arizona, in a Western Horizon Park named St-David RV Resort.
We left this morning around 9 a.m. and after driving out to Hwy 90, we turned south. An hour later we were on I-10 where I took on $30 of fuel @ 2.99 and headed West. I didn’t fill up as I figured we could find it cheaper later.
We stopped for lunch at a Rest Area in Arizona, near Wilcox then went on to Benson. I looked for a car wash to wash the rig before going to the Resort but couldn’t find any so we headed in.
We arrived around 1 p.m., booked in and paid our dues for 21 nights ($126) then set up at site #45. We have a view of the lake here and are near the club house. It is 85*F!
Val cooked fish for dinner then we went to the club house to take an entertainment show by this guy named Michael Hardis. He sang a variety of music from Western to Rock & Roll and attempted a few jokes. He was pretty good and very entertaining.

We travelled 160 miles (256 KM) @ an average speed of 48 MPH in 4 hours
N 31* 53’ 19”
W 110* 12’ 48”
ALT: 3680 feet

Downloaded new pictures in Folder 49, 50 & 51. Enjoy!