Trip #139 (70): Northern NM - 3 stops
Abiquiu Lake, Hopewell Lake & Wild Rivers Recreation Area
September 29 – Oct. 4, 2024
Monday, Sept. 30 - Went down the road to hike Plaza Blanca at Dar Al Islam mosque; too hot 86° like walking at Bisti. Went to Bodie, got pie, rode around again to actual boat launch, still warm. Drove south to lost town of Coyote to see what’s shakin', not much but saw the other side of Pedernal, which looks completely different on the other side. If we kept going we would hit Cuba. Cool at night, not cold.
Great aspen gold and orange leaves.
Tuesday, Oct 1 - Moved on to Hopewell Lake, got a boondock spot closer to entry (the cg is closed), made it work by digging holes to level one side. Rode a VERY ROCKY ROAD for 2 miles and gave up, no fun. Rode to cg and lake, took side road to gold mine??! You can pan? Wtf? Til aug 31. Saw Arrowhead mining claim by Jerrod Bella and a wood ruin of someone's mining operation, gotta ck that out. This is at about 9800 feet, so will be colder tonight. Earlier Iran sent ballistic missiles to Israel, tonight is the vp debate and Hurr Helene just gave NC the worst floods EVER. 120+ dead so far. And then famous peeps are dropping, see RIP list. Diddy arrested just before we left, why all the sudden? WEIRD TIMES. Gotta get the Dish out to keep up! Oddly we had a signal pretty much this entire trip, not strong but enough.
Wednesday, Oct. 2: Rode bikes back to mining trail to try my luck in the creek, tho it is after Aug. 31. And wouldn't you know it, a ranger and another gal were just starting down the trail, figures. Anyway gave it a try down at the bottom, I am SURE i saw specs, but had fun “panning” with my small walmart bowl plate. All i had. Hung out eeking out a 1 - 2 bar signal. Really nice weather but warm in sun. Nights cooled to high 30s.
Thursday, Oct 3. Leaving for Wild Rivers recreation area toward Taos, BLM land, with a dump & grocery stop in Taos, busy as always so went to Cid's, parked in "no parking" area behind store, watching the weird folks go in and out while he shopped. Short drive thru Questa and Cerro to get here, very far north, almost to CO. Even cooler weather, beautiful day. Got one of the last spots, crammed in to #14 at little Arsenic trailhead, a vertical trail down behind us, i must add. Hung out, played the game, read X before bed so couldn’t sleep after all those horrific things i read. Cool but as much as before.
Friday, Oct. 4. Up early, slept good, cool am. Started on the little arsenic but so slippery on rocks we turned back, forgot our sticks like dumbasses. Maybe later. Biked the 6 mile Rinconada Trail, very well maintained, and stopped at visitor center. Great selection of books and maps btw. Still blue skies and cooler weather, but that direct sun is warm! No need for a/c, boondocking here, only water is here. Oh, my fave black sneeks waffle stompers finally bit the dust with a big tear. I said i would wear them to the bitter end, and i did. For YEARS. RIP, my most comfy shoes…
RIP : Kris Kristofferson, Pete Rose, American pickers Frankie, John Amos, all the Hurricane Helene flood victims (way too many), black waffle stompers.
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