One of the best little “vacations” I’ve taken over the past couple of years was little more than a weeklong drive from the tiny, Texas town of Gordon to the surprisingly beautiful Ruidoso, New Mexico.  My father’s brother lives just outside of Ruidoso and my folks we’re making the great ”F-150 truck trade of 2005” courtesy of our ranch.  I didn’t need much more of an excuse than a “Wanna take a ride?” before I had my bags packed and we were on the road.

First let me say that I’ve been to New Mexico many times as a kid, but don’t recall many trees.  Was I wrong!  One moment you’re driving across miles and miles of straight, flat highway surrounded by endless scrub brush, when suddenly the hills began to appear.  Then bigger hills.  Then mountains.  Then trees.  My God it’s alive!

We rented a cabin just outside of town on the border of the Lincoln National Forest and at the base of the Sierra Blanca.  Ruidoso is a skiing town and our visit was during the off-season, what the locals called their “rainy season,” so traffic was light and the weather was perfect.  Low 70s in the day, upper 50s at night.  Occasional showers.  Nice!  (Not to mention the dozens of deer and turkey we saw hanging out around the cabin each day.  The perfect neighbors.)

Because the trip was so short, we hadn’t really planned much outdoor activity in advance and were unable to do much more than hike and see the sites.  It was enough to hook me on the town though.  Man I need to buy a cabin in those hills.

I won’t bore you with mundane family details but merely reaffirm that the destinations along the way (and out the way) made the trip so memorable. 

Being a huge film geek, I had to stop in Roswell.  While there were some suspicious looking people working at 7-11, not much else there you can’t find in your typical small, Texas town except lots and lots of “green aliens” slapped on anything you can sell for a buck.  If the truth it out there, it ain’t in Roswell.  Still it was fun and the people were nice.

Then there was the town of Lincoln made famous by the Lincoln County Wars, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.  Having watched the movie “Young Guns,” more times that I care to admit, the cinematic legend of the place was burned into my psyche.  The town itself has done an incredible job at keeping up its historic landmarks.  You really get the feel of walking through history as you explore its dusty little streets.

Last touristy stop on the way home were the Carlsbad Caverns.  Again, I’ve been through quite a few caverns over the years but never had I experienced anything remotely close in size and scope.  It is literally like entering another world.  If you’ve never been I highly recommend it.

So what is the morale of this journal entry, you ask?

New Mexico has trees! 

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