Wednesday, May 6th

Yesterday and today we walked a total of 18.5 miles, stopping at marker 356.

We are walking in cattle country or if it is flat and can be irrigated, farming country. It is also lizard country as the temperature is  getting warmer, the little rascals are scurrying about.

We were stopped by Officer Martin of the Chaves Co Sheriff Dept.,our first stop by law eenforcement of Phase II.  She wanted to know where we were going and were we being safe. We told her that we always wear orange, had a support vehicle, a cell phone  and some pepper spray. Must have been a good answer as she wished us good luck as she left.

Instead of being "West of the Pecos" (I believe that is the title of an old western book or movie), we are now east of the Pecos. We were a bit disappointed with the Pecos River. Expecting a clear moving scenic stream, we saw a muddy creek instead.

Counting Phase I and Phase II, we have walked a total of 967 miles. We found another New Mexico license plate today. Stay tuned .....

Tuesday, May 4th

We walked into Roswell today. After walking about 3 miles, Carol and Jolie Blonde joined me. We turned left off of 2nd street and walked down Main St. I wondered what people thought, two people in very bright orange shirts with a white dog on a leash. On we walked, pass McDonalds and to the campus of the New Mexico Military Institute. It is a residential school for high school juniors and seniors and a two year college awarding graduates an associate degree.

At about mile 6, John and Ruth picked up Carol and Jolie Blonde and I kept walking. Walked passed franchise row, Wendy's, Cici's, Motel 6, Days Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Subway, etc. Finally arrived at Wal-Mart and the edge of town. I walked on to where Main St. intersects with Highway 70 and that is where we stopped today, 8.5 miles. Carol and Jolie Blonde were waiting. I found 3 pennies today, disappointed, should have found more. Stay tuned ......

Monday, May 3rd

Yesterday, being Baptist Sunday, we attended the First Baptist Church of Roswell. It was a nice service, great music, but the pastor preached too long. How ya gonna beat the Presbyterians to Dixie Cafe if you preach too long?

Starting at marker 321, we walked 8 miles today, which took us to the outskirts of town. We can either bypass Roswell, or walk through downtown. We decided to walk in downtown Roswell, which we will do tomorrow. We saw 3 Pronghorn antelope today, found a Texaos trailer license plate, 4 knives and a spoon. And a 12 ft section of clear plastic tubing which may come in handy if we have to suction John's hematoma.

John is doing better today, which is very good new. And Ruth is doing good also. Her physical therapy starts next week. 

One observation we have made is the fact that you can't walk more than a couple of hundred yards before you see a pile of bone lying on the side of the road. This is what's left of some poor unfortunate deer or antelope that wasn't fast enough to get to the other side of the road. There must be hundreds of deer/antelope that are killed each year on just this section of highway.

Haven't seen any little green men, but we are constantly on guard. Stay tuned .....

Saturday May 1st

We saw some hot air balloons this morning as we drove to the starting point. They tried to fly yesterday, but it was too windy. They got off the ground today, but with very little wind, it didn't look like they were going very far.

 

Yesterday we walked 10 miles to marker 213 and today another 8 miles to marker 221.

Friday was quite windy, but today the wind hardly was a factor. We are walking along pastureland. Every once in a while, we even see a cow. We also saw a jack rabbit today. The last two days have been uneventful, so there is not much to write about. I did find a Texas license plate, 2 spoons and 21 cents, which brings our total money found to $1.39.

 

We were thinking. We passed through the town of Hondo, NM. What do the people of Hondo call themselves. You can answer by clicking on the comment link at the bottom of this blog. Stay tuned ....

Thursday, April 29th

Yesterday we walk from the junction of highways 380 and 70 to marker 295, a distance of 10 miles. We are on highway 70 now, with a new set of mile markers. The highway follows the Hondo River and is a study in contrast. On my left is the arid desert, with prickly pear cactus and shrub growth. And on my right, in the river valley, are green trees, green pastures, cattle, horses, etc.

There are many guard rails and concrete barriers that we walk behind for safety. For the most part, the walking is easy and much, much safer. We passed through the communities of Hondo, Tinnie, Picacho and finally Riverside, our stopping point. We startled a wild turkey on the way.

Today, we walked another 8 miles, to marker 303. Within a few minutes of starting our walk, we saw what we thought was a dog on the shoulder of the road, but thinking it can't be a dog, maybe a coyote or fox. It was too big to be a fox, so I thought it was a coyote. Arriving at the spot, we saw this cute dog looking down on us from the rocks above. We thought it very strange until we spotted the deer carcass on the shoulder. The dog was patiently waiting until we walked by to enjoy his deer dinner.

On we walked and said goodbye to the Hondo River. It continues its flow to the southeast where it flows into the Pecos River, while the highway takes a slight turn to the northeast.

Did I mention the wind? It has been windy ever since we started walking back in San Antonio. But today was exceptional. After walking 5 miles and climbing a steep hill, the wind really picked up. We walked another 3 miles and threw in the towel. Too windy ! Winds were 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph.

In the last two days, I have found a Oklahoma license plate, two New Mexico license plates and a No Hunting/Fishing sign. Stay tuned .....

Monday, April 26th

We took Ruth to Alamogordo today for her orthopedic appointment. The doctor didn't do much. He said they were not going to put a cast on her arm because of the location of the break. Ruth is to keep her arm in a sling and start physical therapy in 2 weeks.

When we got back from Alamogordo, we sprung John from his cell, I mean hospital room. John is happy to be out of the hospital and so is everyone else.

Tuesday, April 27th

We drove out to marker 104 this morning and started walking. After a few hours, we came to the junction of highways 380 and 70, our stopping point. This is also the confluence  of the Rio Ruidoso and Rio Bonito, to form the Rio Hondo. Previously I had labeled the Rio Bonito the Rio Hondo.

This afternoon, we moved the RVs to the Trailer Village RV Park in Roswell NM. Roswell is 3000 ft lower than Capitan and warmer. No more cold mornings.

At the RV park, we met a young couple from Denmark who have been traveling the US for the last 10 months. They have seen some of the west and are on their way to Dallas. Stay tuned ......

Saturday, April 24th 

Starting at marker 91, we walked 8 miles today to marker 99.

With the Hondo River on our left and surrounded by the Lincoln National Forest, we set out for historic Lincoln, 7 miles away.

Originally called Las Placitas del Rio Bonito by the Spanish who settled here in the 1850's, it later became Lincoln when Lincoln County was created. The community consists of dozens of old and restored building. Lincoln is also famous for the Lincoln Co. War, one of the largest shoot-outs in the old West with 22 people being killed. One of the participants of the war was William H Bonney, also know as Billy the Kid. 

Sunday, April 25th

Starting at 99, we only walked 5 miles today. Spooked a herd of deer and they circled around and crossed the road right in front of Carol. Jolie Blonde went crazy. Luckily she was in the car.

We stopped at 5 miles because that's when we got word that Ruth had a broken arm. She fell this morning leaving the 5th wheel, on her way to see John. I happened to be outside and she told me that she had fallen, she said it hurt, but was going on to Ruidoso. 

So, tomorrow we drive to Ruidoso to pick up Ruth's X-rays, then continue on to Alamogordo to the orthopeadic doctors office as there is not one in Ruidoso. Then, back to Ruidoso to pick up John who we think is being released tomorrow. Maybe we should have gone to church. Stay tuned .......

Thursday, April 22nd

Yesterday, we walked from marker 82 through Capitan and on to marker 87. Except for walking through Capitan and stopping at the laundromat to watch Carol doing the laundry, it was uneventful.

Capitan is the home of the Smokey Bear Historical Park. In 1950, a badly burned Black bear cub was rescued from a forest fire at Capitan Gap in the Capitan Mtns. Later he became Smokey Bear, the mascot of the US Forest Service and spokesman, or is that spokesbear for fighting forest fires. Upon Smokeys death in 1976, his remains were returned to Capitan and he is buried at the Smokey Bear Historical Park.

  

Today, starting at marker 87, we walked another 4 miles to 91. It was a bit chilly today as I had to put on my long pants. And the wind picked up a little. Very beautiful country, rolling hills with mountains in the background. We should be entering Lincoln by Saturday. Billy the Kid country. I found a New Mexico license plate today and a golf ball yesterday.

 

I received an email from a high school friend, she read about our trials and tribulation and remarked,

"Good God, why don't you guys just go out for dinner and a movie"

 

John is improving. He will probably get out of the hospital tomorrow, Saturday or even as late as Monday.

He will not be walking for a while.  Stay tuned ......

Tuesday, April 20th

Today we walked from the desert to the mountains. Starting at intersection of Highways 380 and 37, we walked to mile marker 82. A distance of 8 miles, uphill! But, the landscape sure beats the desert. We are in pinyon pines and rolling hills. Tomorrow, we walk through Capitan.

 

John is doing better. His appetite has returned some. Tomorrow they will perform a procedure to drain his hematoma.  Stay tuned ......

Monday, April 19th

Yesterday we attended the Nogal Presbyterian Church in Nogal, NM. It is about 10 miles for Carrazozo, Carrazozo having no Presbyterian Church. The members of the Nogal church are especially friendly and if we lived here, would probably go to this church.

 

Sunday afternoon we finally left Carrizozo behind and moved the RVs up to Capitan. We be in the mountains! Ruth drove the 5th wheel, way to go Ruth! We are at thePinyon Pines RV Park. The sign as you drive in says, "Come in, pick a spot, hook-up and we'll settle up when you leave" They're not kidding, you don't pay until you leave. We will probably be here for a week.

 

Monday morning Ruth, Carol and I walked from marker 70 to the intersection of Highways 380 and 37. About 3 and a half miles.  We had to quit at that point so we would have time to take John to his doctors appointment in Ruidoso.

 

The doctor decided to admit John back into the hospital. I think this  is good news rather than bad. John is so weak and frail, he needs to be in the hosp at this point. Keep John in your prayers.

 

Today I found a do-rag and Ruth found a golf ball. And we recorded our first official and certified road-kill. If think it was a coyote. Stay tuned.....