Trip #152 (2): July 4 NM: Taos 2, Eagle Nest 3, Cimarron 1, Las Vegas 2, Cloudcroft 3, Carizozo 1

Trip #152 (2): July 4 NM: Taos 2, Eagle Nest 3, Cimarron 1, Las Vegas 2, Cloudcroft 3, Carizozo 1

June 30 – July 12, 2026

[Editor's note: Great trip BTW, great historical route!]

June 30 - Tuesday & Wednesday - Taos RV Park south of town

Dinner at Doc Martins, walked around after dinner and before a big windy storm that was brewing but didn't materialize. Walked some of town among the homeless.

Visited hardware with dog and cat (reminder trigger), missed the pottery place, Mexican grocery across the street sucked; website is a lie.

Hot, ran A/C

Wed - Back out to town for Michaels for brunch. Did some shopping around Dunn's and the Plaza, still under construction. La Fonda doesn't have a restaurant tenant, man behind counter not too happy about it all.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday JULY 4 - On to Eagle Nest, beautiful short pines mountain drive, to site overlooking the lake, full house. Full house of prairie dogs too. And cooler!! Chatty host, not as warm as Taos, lake half gone, as is usual for reservoirs. Did the main street arty shops, lunch at Thai place (gross soup, his coconut was fine). Shopped the shops more, showing off my Doc Holliday mosaic to one owner who came outside. The kitchen shop carried Amish popcorn so I loaded up, she was cheap, and I told her; so she talked forever to tell me she can do it because she buys in bulk for free shipping. So ok. Later went back for more! Later he found the bike trail to town for the 4th events, so we tested it out, passing the small hill where they were prepping for the fireworks launch.

4th of July - Biked to town for firehouse BBQ, - it was very good, watched the small but loud parade, got candy and beads like mardi gras, rode bikes behind the burros to be part of the parade. So embarrassed as we got cheers and confirmations from the drunk Texans watching, haha. Went to the saloon for a drink earlier as we waited for the parade. Before going home we biked a bit more toward the brewery and stopped at a yard sale for a chat, and it was the turnaround for the parade - got another look. Went to the brewery later by truck and it was hot and windy, more windy than hot and surprisingly not too busy. Waited around at home for fireworks till 9 while also watching a lot of world cup action. Fireworks lasted 30 mins with huge breakes, pretty comical. Everyone goes to the lake for that, only place in the area. Traffic lines abound.

Sunday - Cimarron - *GOOD TIME. *Sheila loved micro town vibe. Actually talked to strangers. Volunteered info pretending to town historian…hahahahaaa but seriously, she did…

Camping on the main highway across from several good historical markers, rode bikes to St James Hotel, the Aztec Mill, and several antique shops, no dice anywhere. Biked all over town, as small as it is. Later drove out to Philmont Ranch to check it out and the gift shop, dang, prices up and nothing I wanted.

The next day got out on bikes (Mon) to do what was closed on Sunday, and walk the old town area with a map - so cool. But first a stop at the rock shop a block off the main road, got chatting with her and that took a while. Fun job she has. Bought a small blue rock for Kibbie marble. Found Maxwell graves there behind the St James on private property, the location of several cool old buildings and what they were. The Maxwell House is now a private home, no trace of the old. It was right next to St. James. Still didn't get into the Mill, closed, volunteers get there when they want. The next morning we went out on bikes early before leaving, trying to get into the mill, but instead he had a coffee at the mercantile while I walked the old town. Also stopped at two more places: the modern western wear store, and then just I went the “mountain man”, down the road from camp, we passed him a million times so I finally went back myself. Well, there is no store (and prob never will be), but he sits outside braiding twine with his wares on a table, mountain man stuff, antlers and knives, while he talks about himself. I learned a lot whilst melting in the sun: he was a rep for something that took him to grocery stores and he lived in Cerrillos in the 80s with kids, he was a park ranger, and he had just gotten back from a 2 week trip in the woods with old men or something. Interesting I guess, if it's all true.

Monday & Tuesday - Las Vegas Storrie Lake #9S - very warm now, but could run AC. Arrived later in the day, such a weird, old place, Las Vegas. Need provisions, so went where else but Walmart, just as some rain started. Have a weird local family across from us, 4 cars and a dog tied up under the trailer 24/7 while kids rode up and down the road all day. Ugh, the puppy. AND they set off loud fireworks till 9pm, assholes. Pinched thumb in stupid trailer steps so said we must go out for dinner! Went to Dick's Pub, near Charlie's cream puff, has a great dinner, me mexican and he a burger, while watching a big screen TV for the FIFA game, perfect. Drove around a bit after.

Next day we got on bikes thinking we could find a way out of the park, but alas, there is none--only way out is the highway, and that's too busy. SO, drove back to town to the small but nice and informative (there was an east and west Las Vegas until the 70s! Who knew) City Museum and Rough Rider Museum in the 1930s WPA building, a very simple building. On the way thru the very cool Victorian section we passed the library - a Carnegie Library no less, so I had to get in there. Mr. C gave the city $10,000 if they would come up with $1000, which they did in 1907. Anyway, small but very cool, with a GREAT Southwest section, I would go back if it wasn't so hot in that room! Next we went to Charlies' for a cream puff - But Guess What??? No bakers work on TUESDAYS!!! Dammit. But instead another delicious brunch. And because we were so stuffed, I made him walk all over old town to see all the old buildings and even went all the way to the Casteneda, which STILL STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN. Ugh, old smoke, I like the old wood, but it has absorbed everything. Thanks a lot Mr. Teddy Roosevelt. Really gross smell in there. Ran out pretty quick. Got some BTK books across the street at the consignment shop. Made a few stops on the way back -- that 7th street neighborhood houses are so cool, hard to believe there are so many, probably take a million to fix one up, but that pretty much ended the day - too full for dinner. Just tried to ignore the assholes across from us and the dog they ignored. Really bothered me.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - Cloudcroft cooler temps! Highs only in 70s

Pines CG #11 on a very steep incline.

Longest drive today from Las Vegas to this mountaintop, but took a new road, #84 aka 66, down past Anton Chico, which was off to the west so we didn't see it but SHOULD HAVE, cuz BTK was also there. And it was a very green and beautiful area I must say, not the desert of Fort Sumner area. Just can't get over the temp change from Alamogordo to the top of this 8600 mountain, so green, so pleasant, so cool, and so Texan. Not great for bikes, but whatever.

Wed - Walked around town to see if everything is as expensive as it was last time 2 years ago, and yes it was. Ridiculous. They can keep their souvenirs.

Thurs - Drove to the Forest Station and talked bike trails and food with the gal in there. On the way back went to walk the shopping area again -- and BOTH of us left our wallets at the trailer. Driving back we noticed Mad Jack's had no line so we went in to see what all the buzz is about. Looked like all the other BBQ places. After a chat, the gal said we could order today and pick it up tomorrow - bypassing the line!! (The line was around the building today, come on, really people?) So he placed an order. 

Fri - I think I woke up itchy, but Bill went for a bike ride and then we went and picked up his barbecue at Mad Jack's, and then he ate half of it and then we went for a bike ride and came back just before a huge, loud (but small diameter, whew) HAIL storm and the temperature dropped to 45°. And finished his barbecue and then there was supposed to be a farmers market in town at 5 o'clock but we drove by and there's a few Mennonites so we skipped that checked out the Cloudy market and then came back and had a late dinner and that was it. 

Sat - Early start out of Cloudcroft and drove directly to Fort Stanton for the Fort Stanton live event. Stayed there till about 1pm, not much going on, yet some people there - no schedule - but we did see the cannon fire and chat with a union soldier! And it was pretty warm so after seeing the quilt show and buying a coil basket (I will do this), we went to nice, quiet Lincoln and visited the Bonito Valley brewery, then about 2 o'clock we arrived to Valley of Fire Carrizozo campground and it was 102°. Ran the air, watched the World Cup, and went to White Oaks about 5 o'clock to see if they had any new T-shirts! (They did but they sucked. ) Friendly people, met Mike and Gus the dog and the bartender gal and her friend who was doing all the work, then left there and went to the cemetery and found deputy Bell and Susan McSween as lightning was flashing! So we ran out of there quickly. It cooled off but still very windy and wanted to storm all night, dramatic skies.

Sunday - Returned home about 1pm. 3-hour drive from Carrizozo. 85 here in Santa Fe w/ heavy Texas traffic in town, like every other NM city.

Cimarron next time: Boy Scout Mediterranean mansion, the Aztec Mill, Kit Carson Raynaldo, and the Chase Ranch

Next time: go see Anton Chico and do not stay at Storrie Lake with dog abusers & traffickers

Noisy water winery and cider outside Ruidoso and the SS rock shop and all the shopping

RIP: Santa Fe Catholic school fire, Randy Mantooth, Lindsay Graham, Sam Neill once we got back.