THUNDER, LIGHTNING AND RAIN IN THE DESERT

THE LAVA FLOWS ARE RIPE WITH COLOR

From our higher vantage point here at Valley Of Fires we were able to see the lights of Carrizozo last night shimmering in the night 4 miles to our east. Reminded me of the time a few years ago when we boon docked in the Tombstone hills west of Tombstone Arizona. The lights of Sierra Vista west of us looked like a long narrow string of pearls stretching across the desert floor at the base of the looming Huachuca Mountains.

Atop the rocky hill beside us are a couple reader boards explaining the surrounding landscape including Carrizozo which lies between the black lava flow and the distant mountain range in the photo below.

 

 

MODERN WARM AND SPACIOUS WASHROOMS COMPLETE WITH HOT SHOWERS…KELLY IS FILLING OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM FOR OUR TWO NIGHTS HERE 

Looks like I got something screwed up again. Kelly informs me that it is Glenwood New Mexico where the communication black hole exists and not here at Valley Of Fires near Carrizozo. Oh what would I do if it wasn’t for folks keeping me on the straight and narrow.

Noticed today we have 4 new Blog Followers.  We welcome Cathie, Penny and CJ, Dean, and HAPPY TRAILS to our travels. Thanks for dropping by folks and welcome aboard.

THE WHOLE TWO THIRDS OF A MILE LAVA FLOW WALK IS WHEELCHAIR AND SCOOTER ACCESSIBLE

We didn’t get too far on our walk this morning before Pheebs had a ‘pricker’ in her right paw.  We couldn’t locate it right away so headed a short distance back to the rig.  Try as we did we could not locate it but Pheebs was later able to get it out herself.

They have an excellent interpretive paved and wheelchair accessible trail that runs in a winding loop through the great lava field for two thirds of a mile.  The lava field stretches for as far as the eye can see to the northern horizon from whence it originally came.  At first glance from a distance it may not look too interesting but once afoot out onto the field itself a whole new ecological world of living wonderment opens up.  Kelly and I spent about an hour meandering along the trail. 

Plant life flourishes here.  Owls and bats live in the lava flows as do Lizards, Tarantula spiders and Rattlesnakes.  Coyotes, Mule Deer, Kit Foxes and Bobcats roam the rugged terrain along with a variety of flying creatures such as Warblers, Jays, Vireos, Shrikes and Great Horned Owls.  These lava flows are a fascinating place to see and off trail hiking is allowed. 

And despite the ‘old’ brochure telling you that only part of the trail is paved I am here to tell you that it is all paved now from start to finish and can easily accommodate wheelchairs or Scooters.  If you look at the photos you can see the trail even has safety curbs.

Once again I have too many photos of the Lava Flow walk this morning to put into the blog so I have created a photo album which you can see at VALLEY OF FIRES LAVA WALK.

Our briefly sunny sky this morning soon clouded over and the sky darkened.  Had a small rain shower quickly move through and figured that was it.  I had no more than got our satellite dish parts out of the Jeep when a fast moving desert thunder storm swept down upon us.  This one came complete with thunder lighting, heavy wind gusts and rain.  Pheebs and I beat a hasty retreat inside the Motor Home and sat out the storm.  It was the first thunder and lightning we Snow Birds had experienced in the Southwest.  The thunder didn’t bother the Pheebs but as usual it sure scared the holy Ba-Jeebers out of the Motormouse.

WATCHING THE STORM ROLL IN ON US THIS AFTERNOON 

The storm cleared for awhile and gave us time to set up our satellite dish and tripod.  I’ll just keep this short and say that after a couple of hours of total frustration we gave up!!  We’ll try our luck again in the morning.

We will probably roll out of Valley Of Fires Tuesday but haven’t decided where we will head for next.  Our travel plans are made of Jello and we both like it that way:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((   Late one night in Washington,D.C., a mugger jumped into the path of a well-dressed man and stuck a gun in his ribs.
"Give me your money," he demanded.
Indignant, the affluent man replied, "You can't do this - I'm a U.S. Congressman!"
"In that case," replied the robber, "give me MY money!"

---------------------------------------------------------------Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
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The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL