Blue Water, Blue Skies - Red Water, Red Rocks

We wrapped things up with Mom in Roswell and headed north on Wednesday.

Before we leave we get one more lunch at Peppers with our gal Courtney. Funny how sometimes you just connect instantly with a complete stranger :-)

With Courtney at Peppers Grill and Bar

After several visits we realize what their shirts say. c-Alien-te'   Ha!  Only in Roswell.

Our last night Aunt Nancy has us all over for pizza and salad and homemade carrot cake. It's a wonderful evening of family stories and lots of laughs.

Already missing these lovely ladies

It is wonderful to get back on the road, heading somewhere we've never been. A steady climb to 6000 ft with head winds makes a short 150 mile drive seem longer, but we arrive at Santa Rosa Lake State Park before 1 PM. There are eight w/e sites, but we have reserved A12, a nice pull through with electric only.

View from our site - A12

With the exception of the camp host we are the only ones here. Heavenly after being tucked tightly in town for a couple weeks. Before the sun goes down another small trailer arrives. And parks right across from us :-(  Seriously? Ours is the only site with a reserved sticker, so they came in and paid at the entrance.  Their loud talking early in the morning wakes us up, so we're pleased that they pack up and move on.

Thursday is cold, but the sun is bright and the skies blue, so after breakfast we head out to see the area.

Many of the access roads are closed, but we find one open just below the dam. The water is calm and clean, but there is no sign of fish or bird.

Overlook at Santa Rosa Lake

Lots of beautiful rock surround this end of the lake

While the boat ramp is open, Juniper Park Day Use is not. We drive up to the vista point to get the full view.

Pretty blue Santa Rosa Lake with Juniper Park in front

Bill finds a box canyon on the map - let's go find it! 13 miles on a good dirt road takes us to the turn. Sort of. It's more a "track" that hasn't been used in a long time. Brush is tall, no tire marks. Cool.

We're nowhere near a mountain of any size so not surprising the canyon is in the river. The track ends before the directions, but we stop where it does and walk down to the nearly dry riverbed. 

The water is the same red as the dirt.

Not what he was looking for, but we enjoy the uniqueness of the place. The complete silence, the rugged vegetation, the soft cow path along the low canyon walls. 

Years of water flow and erosion carve an interesting canyon through the otherwise flat terrain

At 40 degrees, when the breeze comes up we head back for the Jeep. Tessa has managed to avoid stepping on the large burrs, but her fur catches several of them so I get those all out before we continue.

Not fluffy-dog friendly

All the low-growing grasses curl like ribbon

A variety of mesas in the distance

After lunch we head south for Puerto de Luna, one of the first settlements in New Mexico. The drive takes us through beautiful red rock canyons along the Pecos River.

There is nothing commercial in the little village - just houses, including centuries-old adobes, and a large catholic church.

A bit of infamous history

One of several old adobes

with hand cut stone work over 200 years old

1921 Catholic church

Bill finds a "back way" for our return. Tighter canyons, more wonderful red rock. In some areas, the rock has been blasted for the little road, and the huge boulders are.......well, huge!

We pass the local day care before leaving the canyon

On our way back to the park we see this classic at the gas station, inspiring us to plan a trip to the local car museum for the weekend.