SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMfvz37Oc8HBc86wNfmaxsHZaY48ZgbjRYhgJhRT0ilH-srek_Ytf7I5b7ALAHoO6mgsY6vuf7_5OFygkvhS7bdQH0l36lUHeUFopBLSOLXGSd8eAR9FeS7feDmYUKchYApPhrUd3zmQ/s1600/SantaFE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMfvz37Oc8HBc86wNfmaxsHZaY48ZgbjRYhgJhRT0ilH-srek_Ytf7I5b7ALAHoO6mgsY6vuf7_5OFygkvhS7bdQH0l36lUHeUFopBLSOLXGSd8eAR9FeS7feDmYUKchYApPhrUd3zmQ/s640/SantaFE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-2upDP9l05iYn1n_uQ0V6IA9TZhI1YG0d3sAexygNpAYinu-H4bvsWKFj3rGYf1oTmDKuF-qjZUCHu4ikr627wVz-yXCyozx7XbQUAmqKfL0XhP9WhkiThASRmnt8YeUmCgsg6RfqiA/s1600/GOPR0218-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-2upDP9l05iYn1n_uQ0V6IA9TZhI1YG0d3sAexygNpAYinu-H4bvsWKFj3rGYf1oTmDKuF-qjZUCHu4ikr627wVz-yXCyozx7XbQUAmqKfL0XhP9WhkiThASRmnt8YeUmCgsg6RfqiA/s320/GOPR0218-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Our first night in Santa Fe was spent in the Santa Fe National Forest at Hyde Memorial State Park.  Hyde Memorial is New Mexico's first State Park and is set in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains along the Little Tesuque Creek.<span style="font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"> </span></span>We could not have picked a better place to stay.  The drive up the mountain was absolutely beautiful, the campsites were nestled in the huge pine trees with beautiful hiking trails and even a play area for kids.  It was cool at night which in the EP is a huge bonus since we do not have air conditioning once we turn the engine off.  We walked along two of the trails and took photos of the beautiful scenery.  The kids played at the play area one night while I talked to some of the locals who were also camping.<br /> <br /> <br /> <i><span style="color: purple;">July 12, 2014</span></i><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <i><span style="color: purple;"></span></i></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFNj4djdMKH7m_yH_6XpfHghMcbIOb-bz624eUHW9bJSNRS1b9yoJF5WSvnV_P5t1HdSlgcYtbFe34O8tzci3nOq4QBi75RdVp5f0HS2KcDkXTPvGWO6oAe7vpBdwWa0ooNGhYyqXX5s/s1600/GOPR0202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFNj4djdMKH7m_yH_6XpfHghMcbIOb-bz624eUHW9bJSNRS1b9yoJF5WSvnV_P5t1HdSlgcYtbFe34O8tzci3nOq4QBi75RdVp5f0HS2KcDkXTPvGWO6oAe7vpBdwWa0ooNGhYyqXX5s/s320/GOPR0202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> It was so nice and cool when we woke up in the forrest that morning.  We took a short hike to explore before heading into town.  On the drive back down the mountain to Santa Fe you start to see all of the adorable adobe homes dotting the scenery.  We made our way directly to the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/santa-fe-plaza-santa-fe">plaza</a> which was packed with people.  The most thrilling for the boys were the Indian craft makers who were selling jewelry, leather crafts and clay crafts that they made.  This was one place that they definitely wanted to buy a souvenir so they made their way down all of the selections before choosing.  My oldest DS chose a decorated tile and key chain while my youngest DS a leather wallet.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE98tt3kva34Iibn4TAFxKIZR8g0kWwAJAGjSNLpahOA7X0iI5IYp-odF_WSGz-wyjjgyKWuJ_9zC9VA741SpAVaGeX9G5LMetkfh3MTNXc9G71C8KERqoAADv-DOq1gLYwKPcwSRVXs/s1600/20140712_161219-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE98tt3kva34Iibn4TAFxKIZR8g0kWwAJAGjSNLpahOA7X0iI5IYp-odF_WSGz-wyjjgyKWuJ_9zC9VA741SpAVaGeX9G5LMetkfh3MTNXc9G71C8KERqoAADv-DOq1gLYwKPcwSRVXs/s320/20140712_161219-2.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /> <br /> The plaza is surrounded by adorable shops, restaurants and live music.  We had lunch at <a href="http://m.mainstreethub.com/thefamousplazacafe">The Plaza Cafe</a> and then discovered <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/dream-cakes-santa-fe">Dream Cakes Gourmet Cupcakes</a>, the best cupcakes that we have EVER tasted.  The cupcakes were so good that we were back on the second day waiting for them to open so that we could have one more before hitting the road again. If you find yourself anywhere near Santa Fe you have to make a beeline for the cupcake shop, you won't regret it.<br /> <br /> We purchased fun socks in one of the shops, took pictures with a grill that was made to look like a bull, danced to the live music and explored the plaza.  It was a great two days<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyT3-tKnzUMPPN0u4BdbtSyXGs8QQG9ka2izoP1eoCG1UDinJhUQadaSVsOzCXUD3twUG07VQUwSBSKTFNnJC0lbPuMsLzV9l0QKx4PEuTqhSy5B8IBss3752V4W-RggQvMCZ_sBmnT24/s1600/20140712_162017-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyT3-tKnzUMPPN0u4BdbtSyXGs8QQG9ka2izoP1eoCG1UDinJhUQadaSVsOzCXUD3twUG07VQUwSBSKTFNnJC0lbPuMsLzV9l0QKx4PEuTqhSy5B8IBss3752V4W-RggQvMCZ_sBmnT24/s320/20140712_162017-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> <br /> Just down the street from the Plaza is the <a href="http://churches-sf2.nm-unlimited.net/">The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis</a>.  We were able to go inside of the beautiful church and snap a few photos.  We went back up the mountain to Hyde Memorial for our second night and the people that we had shared our campsite with the first night were still there thankfully because the way that they parked their cars made it look like both sites were taken when they were really only using one.  They were really nice and scooted their cars over so we could join them as well as offering us food and the use of their fire.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosv08fCS-PIxHClb7iEo-l1GSugj6QAEjp50-j8bTIDC1uJs2p99zOIGyxFXLbag8Cb_9NkIh6NvoRvmbZIt4avFkadeCDRrTaOE3hWTaQTo6aJwXXt6JwSCTR5epqLdqIQXX0o-wl5E/s1600/20140712_183053-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosv08fCS-PIxHClb7iEo-l1GSugj6QAEjp50-j8bTIDC1uJs2p99zOIGyxFXLbag8Cb_9NkIh6NvoRvmbZIt4avFkadeCDRrTaOE3hWTaQTo6aJwXXt6JwSCTR5epqLdqIQXX0o-wl5E/s320/20140712_183053-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> Santa Fe is a beautiful city and a great place to visit.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /></div>

New Mexico, Santa Fe, State Park

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

Our first night in Santa Fe was spent in the Santa Fe National Forest at Hyde Memorial State Park.  Hyde Memorial is New Mexico...

ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/bottomlesslakesstatepark.html"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FUUD5OcAQz5wFlzfPGhTm3tHFP7Ruulj7Rj09OJRwLcDyNp9_Xne0apSKF5TS9X_WIsU3IgjXZdEgEWQdXJ5mVvN3hlc34Qakps5ai6dSc0Ri-xTFKSSutssi_AehDGejV3lOM3zxbI/s640/HeaderBanner_Bottomless_002.png" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/bottomlesslakesstatepark.html">Photo Courtesy of New Mexico State Parks</a></td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2YW3_zDpvY1bgBBM7-535gbXmKblENe2cNqm6VeGr8e5Kf7LgunlYmQBauogxAg7z7uUqQluw4NbdztljVg4vKKMGfy18Sm39D2DaH1xx70rptsdclSOk0dcOafUkGabIdpqUnfAkr8/s1600/20140710_101539-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2YW3_zDpvY1bgBBM7-535gbXmKblENe2cNqm6VeGr8e5Kf7LgunlYmQBauogxAg7z7uUqQluw4NbdztljVg4vKKMGfy18Sm39D2DaH1xx70rptsdclSOk0dcOafUkGabIdpqUnfAkr8/s320/20140710_101539-2.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /> Well, we rolled into Roswell, NM after dark and gorilla camped in the parking lot of Walmart our very first night.   It was a good first day on the road!  Being new to the road life we realized very quickly that we had grossly over packed so before we could begin seeing the sights we had to spend some quality time with the organization section of Walmart.   It is awfully convienant to shop for your house that is parked in the parking lot. LOL! We also filled up on Diesel and a lovely gas station attendant prayed for us on our trip.<br /> <br /> After a few trips back and forth from Walmart we decided to see what this alien thing was all about.  The UFO Museum was great but we were seriously under dressed, the other tourists were wearing aluminum foil hats.  We had to check out the McDonald's shaped like a UFO, the hotel welcome signs shaped like aliens and even the lamp posts. <br /> <br /> In the gift shop the boys picked up some fun UFO paraphernalia and bought some pressed penny books so they could start a penny collection on this trip.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJK2xPQy3_BePdMqqVJc3VVLs73GlLvmSzwjwOR_V4U8gf-7XW-vslgemdtKVMsAqEDbZ_XzMRW916_HInmHOoTpjvnc0jHRGxQ70W3M60yoCtKZ8xrk4B8L1w2ggvEXddn2ufY1NIdo/s1600/20140710_115621-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJK2xPQy3_BePdMqqVJc3VVLs73GlLvmSzwjwOR_V4U8gf-7XW-vslgemdtKVMsAqEDbZ_XzMRW916_HInmHOoTpjvnc0jHRGxQ70W3M60yoCtKZ8xrk4B8L1w2ggvEXddn2ufY1NIdo/s320/20140710_115621-2.jpg" width="240" /></a>We didn't want to stay in the Walmart parking lot again so we found a state park near by that looked interesting.  Bottomless Lakes State Park turned out to be fantastic.  The kids saw the swimming area and immediately threw on their suits.  We were too late that day to rent any fun water things so swimming had to do.  That night was rough sleeping because of course New Mexico is not cool at night in the middle of July. <br /> <br /> <span style="color: purple;"><i>July 11, 2014</i></span><br /> <br /> The next morning we rented a paddle boat and explored the cliffs around the lake.  We had a fantastic time playing.  We had a hard time however trying to take pictures without the camp host's grandson in the pictures. LOL!  Poor kid was so lonely he was so excited to see other kids.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OVXNmZMTh09H2xf6dAG6Z08-xfuvjiEWMB457esC8bt_8D0GdnnGol0fvu6sVIgNTXBhaehcEr-uuhMdz6LK_FVBz3rkZBfCFRQbPv4ev8e5uebLkp9TufXdi5w-PWIYg4CUCT3oyjI/s1600/GOPR0162-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OVXNmZMTh09H2xf6dAG6Z08-xfuvjiEWMB457esC8bt_8D0GdnnGol0fvu6sVIgNTXBhaehcEr-uuhMdz6LK_FVBz3rkZBfCFRQbPv4ev8e5uebLkp9TufXdi5w-PWIYg4CUCT3oyjI/s320/GOPR0162-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The water in the lakes was brine water which makes for a nice coating on your skin and your hair.  By day two of swimming in the lake we were on our way to having a nice set of dreads each. LOL!  I had a brilliant idea to copy something that I had seen on Pinterest in hopes of a cooler night sleeping, the cooler full of ice with a fan on it.  It worked, well sort of, not well enough to actually keep doing it.  Have you seen those social media posts that contain Pinterest fails, well, we have a winner. LOL!<br /> <br /> We had some body wipes and my oldest had the brilliant idea of putting them in the cooler so we would wipe ourselves down with ice cold wipes or sprits ourselves with one of those water bottle fans and then sprawl out in the floor with the fan blowing on us until we went to sleep. Ahhhhh heat relief!!!  On to Santa Fe tomorrow!<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGZSp2_3UtKPBWlvusASeXil6OzjcNCfXSSgqLFFU8c_6B2P_RGqj0h1LDdoDl8yWjdcVqcxCWNiky6ERTLsN3PezJilQD2m3yP6v7Vc3C5cBBZ4SRBf2wvAwOurRremvhcRmzmIoT24/s1600/GOPR0175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGZSp2_3UtKPBWlvusASeXil6OzjcNCfXSSgqLFFU8c_6B2P_RGqj0h1LDdoDl8yWjdcVqcxCWNiky6ERTLsN3PezJilQD2m3yP6v7Vc3C5cBBZ4SRBf2wvAwOurRremvhcRmzmIoT24/s320/GOPR0175.jpg" width="217" /></a></div> </div>

New Mexico, Roswell, State Park

ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO

Photo Courtesy of New Mexico State Parks Well, we rolled into Roswell, NM after dark and gorilla camped in the parking lot of Walmart...