View From The Porch: Not in Kansas anymore...

Friday, October 11, 2013

Not in Kansas anymore...

The reason there are hardly any terrain features in Indiana is that New Mexico is hoarding. #OCCUPY_LOS_ALAMOS

34 comments:

Jim said...: No idea what part of NM you're in, but ask your hosts if you're close enough to visit Cloudcroft.

Southern-most ski resort in the US, and the restaurant at The Lodge is superb.

You'd like The Lodge. Resort is over 100 years old, with a rich history, great views and unique rooms.

Regardless of whether or not you can break away, I'm sure you'll enjoy your NM visit. Would be an even better state with more Tams and fewer ex Californians there.

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX; 10:06 AM, October 11, 2013
Erich505 said...: FB me if you need anything while on the ground in NM. Have fun.; 10:06 AM, October 11, 2013
fast richard said...: Cloudcroft looks like a nice place, but it's way down by Alamogordo. That's quite a road trip from most populated places in NM.; 10:28 AM, October 11, 2013
staghounds said...: Hey, you get to break into Los Alamos!; 10:54 AM, October 11, 2013
Paul said...: Where I would retire to, given the chance.; 10:57 AM, October 11, 2013
Kristophr said...: Nah, Oregon stole all the interesting topography from everyone.

Be sure to visit the nuke museum in ABQ if you missed it last time.; 11:13 AM, October 11, 2013
Anonymous said...: We visited the Atomic Energy Museum the last time we were in ABQ. The gift shop had t-shirts with the periodic table, and the radioactive elements glowed in the dark. They made unexpectedly great Christmas gifts.

Stay safe; 11:33 AM, October 11, 2013
Anonymous said...: The National Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak is right next to Cloudcroft.
Terry
Fla.; 11:36 AM, October 11, 2013
Anonymous said...: Cool, I was there yesterday. You need to check
Out the nuclear museum near ABQ.; 11:40 AM, October 11, 2013
mikee said...: And remember, New Mexico is a place so different from where you come from that it is likely to exert a strong spiritual and psychological effect on you.

Paraphrase from a great movie, "Off the Map."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332285/; 11:41 AM, October 11, 2013
Anonymous said...: Your not allowed to look at federal land. Its shut down so stare straight ahead or you will be chastised most severely.

Gerry; 11:43 AM, October 11, 2013
Roberta X said...: Ooooo. WANT glowy T-shirt!

Tam, stay safe out there, I'm sure with the fed.gov on hiatus and only the Barrycades in place, dire wolves and howling savages are stalking the glowing ruins of the labs, busily mutating and eating giant ants.

What I'm saying is -- did you bring enough ammo? Is Waffle House still open? Is there....bacon?; 11:44 AM, October 11, 2013
Anonymous said...: If you get to Santa Fe, try the shed (newmexican)
Tesuque, (New Mexican) and cowgirls BBQ.; 11:59 AM, October 11, 2013
Baddog said...: Ha! I was at the Nuc. Museum yesterday too. I worked in a Nuc. power plant for 22 yrs. in operations. Balloon Fest in ABQ. right NOW.; 12:37 PM, October 11, 2013
LabRat said...: I know an employee of one of the local state parks, and not only did she go hiking on the trails yesterday, she took her dog with her, through cultural areas. We all agreed this was the sad consequence of anarchy.; 12:42 PM, October 11, 2013
Talitha said...: Mikee-- how right you are.
I lived in 1980's Las Cruces-- before it got Californiafied. Broke every stereotype in the book. Changed me for life. You can't get the New Mexico out of the girl, I guess. Indiana gave me the accent, but I still think like a New Mexican. I tried to get over it, but it came back with reinforcements. :)

I even got to go visit NASA's "annex" during "take your daughter to work day", cuz my best friend in school's father temporarily adopted me. It was a blast.

Ditto-- I went to Cloud Croft. It is amazing. Just be careful-- gorgeous trails that look like they go into a stand of woods have a tendency to end with a sudden 3000 foot drop. When I was there, no barriers were found, but the view was better that way. There's also an amazing history there about the peoples who live on the mountain. Why don't the people who love native stuff actually know anything about it? Oh, I forgot, because not being recognized as a tribe by the US government is the best thing that ever happened to them. That and winning a major battle against US commander who could not cede to a mountain.

Rabbit Ears Pass is notable, because more people die on it per year than on Everest. The sheer cliffs are supposed to be some of the best rock climbing in the world, too.

Sigh. I miss my home state. I lived twice as long in Michigan, all told, but NM made a deeper imprint.; 12:43 PM, October 11, 2013
Anonymous said...: Sadies of New Mexico in ABQ has some awesome food. Very large portions though, take a friend and order one thing, since it's good enough you'll try to finish it. And that's going to hurt! :-); 1:28 PM, October 11, 2013
Papafah said...: What caliber for howling wolves and dire savages?; 1:54 PM, October 11, 2013
Anonymous said...: "Your (sic) not allowed to look at federal land. Its shut down so stare straight ahead ..."

Unless you are on an interstate highway. In which case you need to keep your eyes closed tight.; 2:00 PM, October 11, 2013
Roberta X said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2:23 PM, October 11, 2013
Roberta X said...: "What caliber for howling wolves and dire savages?"

Whatever they can afford, I guess.

Now, to shoot them? Getcha a shotgun shell, take the shot out, and stuff in a handful of silver dimes, edgewise. The pattern is lousy but boy, does it sting!; 2:24 PM, October 11, 2013
PhilaBOR said...: Coach gun loaded w quarters will take out 'Evil.; 2:57 PM, October 11, 2013
Matt W said...: Have fun in and around my old home state! There is definitely a lot of fun outdoorsy stuff to do. And I also recommend the Atomic Museum, lots of fun stuff to see. If you are into big bags of hot air check out the Balloon Fiesta. I think this is the last weekend.; 4:52 PM, October 11, 2013
DJ said...: "Where I would retire to, given the chance."

Been there, did that, then moved back to Oklahoma, where I was raised up. I loved it there, but one pays a high price in many ways to enjoy that beautiful view every day.

Want food? Guadalajara Grill in Taos, or Abe's Cantina in Arroyo Seco.; 5:32 PM, October 11, 2013
Erich505 said...: Had a red chile chocolate bacon donut today from Rebel Donuts here in Albuquerque . . .; 5:38 PM, October 11, 2013
Cincinnatus said...: The Valles caldera north of Los Alamos is pretty impressive if one appreciates geology.; 6:11 PM, October 11, 2013
Anonymous said...: Nice range at Los Alamos. Lots of stories if you can find an older ex-security type.; 8:04 PM, October 11, 2013
Robert said...: Watch out for radscorpions and deathclaws.; 9:01 PM, October 11, 2013
Stingray said...: "#OCCUPY_LOS_ALAMOS" .... "No idea what part of NM you're in,"

I've heard tell of, and even met, Texans who enjoy playing a nice slow game of letting folks find out on their own just who the dim one in the room is. You're not that kind of Texan, are you?; 1:21 AM, October 12, 2013
WindRider said...: Speaking of nuke museums, don't miss the Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos. Cool L.A. and Manhattan Project history and exhibits there.; 1:55 PM, October 12, 2013
Ed said...: New Mexico is on my list of places I want to see again, as there was not enough time to see all I wanted to see the last time I was there. Besides the places others have mentioned, a few stick out in my mind.

If you get to Sante Fe, make sure you see the Plaza and the Georgia O'Keeffe museum:

http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/

In Taos, the Kit Carson Museum is interesting:

http://www.kitcarsonhomeandmuseum.com/

In Albuquerque, Sandia Mountain and Petroglyph National Monument are worthwhile. I did not get to see it, but as an Indy fan you may want to see the Al Unser Racing Museum:

http://www.unserracingmuseum.com/; 5:40 PM, October 12, 2013
Anonymous said...: In Albuquerque, check out Ron Peterson's guns. Last time I was there, a nice H&R .32 ACP for only $375. Right up your alley.; 10:29 PM, October 12, 2013
perlhaqr said...: Peterson's is my favorite gun shop in town. :); 6:12 PM, October 13, 2013
Anonymous said...: Santa Cafe in Santa Fe. Cactus spring rolls.; 3:11 AM, October 18, 2013