Did You Know a Horse Was Buried There?

I drove up to Andover, VT on Saturday to camp with Loners On Wheels from the northeast region. Of course, if you're a full-time Loner On Wheels, then you can be from all regions.

I had a good time with a nice group of people. On Sunday, I went to Chester and was walking around town. The Historical Society had a museum which was closed. I thought there was some type of construction, but found out they were collecting items for a fundraising auction/yard sale. The museum was located next to the town cemetery and I decided to roam around there. I love old cemeteries. This one was filled with many people who died in the 1800s. As usual, many stones were unreadable. I was most impressed with a small stone for a boy born in 1763. He was a private in the Revolutionary War. So when the shot was heard around the world in 1776, this private was 13 years old. Even though this child fought in the war, he lived to be 93 years old. What a life, huh??!!

I started walking toward the small stores, and a woman stopped me, asking if I was a visitor, and if I knew there was a horse buried in the cemetery. I said "no," and she brought me to a back corner of the cemetery to a tall stone with the name Susie. She told me a number of times that no one was from Chester, all Chesterites were from somewhere else. When she first moved to the town she wondered why there was just a first name on this stone. It took her a while, but she finally discovered it was a horse, which a woman had buried with the town's permission. I spoke with this woman for a while. She was fascinating, and, from her stories, was a hot ticket. She made an afternoon extra interesting.

A couple of us found an excellent restaurant in South Londonderry. This chef is probably enjoying his life in the country of VT, but could compete with any of the chefs in NYC or Boston. We had used Gypsy to find a restaurant. It was an inn, which no longer served the public. The owner recommended Solo, which we thoroughly enjoyed. All the ingredients are local and fresh. He made me a special vegetarian dish, which was delicious and beautiful. What a find!! If you're in the area, ...

Love the Wells area

I missed writing my blog this summer. I use it to remember my trips, and the places visited. I wrote the following at the beginning of the trip but never posted it, since I couldn't get on the internet. I decided I'm going to write a few summaries of my visit to the Maritimes, which will follow.


I have started my summer trip to the Maritimes. The first stop is Wells, Maine.

I have been going to Wells my whole life, and there are great memories. My brother, sister-in-law and I were remembering some: Staying at a cottage on a side street, playing "Oh Heck" or "Hell Bridge" and Uncle Willie got so excited!; the cottage next door had a goat to keep the lawn cut; first experimenting with make-up, using colored pencils; the Elmer Ann as it used to be, and finding out my mother worked there when it was a bed and breakfast; reliving my brother and sister-in-law meeting and "courting," at Beach Acres - he at my folks' trailer, and she at her aunt's; one favorite scene of my two brothers and I sitting at the picnic table with cigarettes hanging out of our mouths. Thank goodness they weren't lit. I wouldn't want to be the one who got the 4-year old to start smoking. How times have changed. We would never encourage that now!!!

On Sunday, June 2nd, my cousins had a big party for their mother, my Aunt Doris. She is now 90 years old, and still plays golf. She is quite a woman. It was so much fun seeing people we hadn't seen for years. Only 2 cousins weren't able to make it. 

I still have some relatives living up here, most just for the summer. So, since I am still here, I am still visiting. I also plan on exploring some old haunts to see if I can find them. 

Without Internet

I have been without Internet since I hit Canada. First I think it's the Internet I'm trying to use (bandwidth); then I think it's the computer.  In many cases I have been able to get Internet on my phone, but not the computer. I'm writing this with my phone which is difficult.

I brought it to Staples once. He turned it on, did exactly what I did all the time and it worked beautifully. I haven't gotten it to work since.

Ah technology -- a wondrous thing until it doesn't work or the operator doesn't work correctly.

Chaco Canyon

I was really pumped to go to Chaco Canyon. When I first got to New Mexico, two people were speaking about this with great excitement. The more I heard them speak, the more I knew I needed to see this. As long as I was in the area.... 

Chaco Canyon is located near the four corners (NM, CO, AZ, and UT), in the northwest of NM. I had been avoiding the cold of the north of NM, but decided to try to see this. So, I traveled north to Bloomfield and camped a few days waiting for the sun to shine bright and the temps to rise. They did.

 

I went down the highway, leaving the rig in the campground (thank God). Soon after I left the highway, I came to a washboard road. I must have followed this for 20+ miles. Once I got there, I went into the visitor center and spoke with a Ranger. Then I took off for Pueblo Bonito. It is thought that Pueblo Bonito was built throughout a 300 year period (850 - 1150). It is one of maybe 12 pueblo communities excavated, and the largest, in Chaco Canyon. Pueblo Bonito had over 600 rooms, was 4 floors in some areas. It had 2 very large plazas, and 40 below ground kivas, in all sizes. The architecture is of sandstone, many times with larger stones on the bottom, and smaller ones as the walls were raised. They also used wooden beams for support. Again, there is evidence of the structures being oriented to solar and lunar directions.


 It is thought that Chaco Canyon was a meeting place for many clans, for ceremonies, trade and commerce. Large roads (30' feet wide) were found to and from Chaco Canyon. When the roads came across barriers, such as canyons, they built something to get through, up or down, such as the Chacoan stairway.



So many times I have looked at the rocks in this area and wondered about them falling, It happened to Pueblo Bonito in 1941, when a 30,000 ton rock peeled off the side of the canyon walls and wiped out 30 rooms. This whole winter I have listened for the rumblings of rocks moving, just like you listen for the glaciers to calve.

 The most interesting thing that happened to me in Chaco Canyon was the feeling that the ancestors were watching out for it. It is a spiritual place and commands respect. As I drove in and through the canyon, I saw so many ancestral faces in the stones. I felt that they were watching over the canyon and over me. I didn't take many pictures of these rocks, but did include one. I bet you a nickle you'll see the face right away.

After Chaco Canyon I went back to my Texas home in Dallas, and as always had a great time with my cousins. Sue and I went to an exhibit of Chagall. We saw some drawings of his rendition of the ceiling of the Opera House in Paris. Neither of us knew he had done this. So, now, when I go to Paris, I'm going to go see it.

As I have passed through Tennessee, I have seen signs advertising "Davy Crockett...." and have said "Next time I'll stop." Well, this was the time. I picked out three places to visit. I went from one to another, back and forth across the state. Maybe if it were the middle of the summer, something would have been open. But still, the size of whatever it was, would be the same - not too impressive. Two of the places were parks with camping. So Skittles and I drove home, staying in truck stops for the last 3 nights. And, yes, as soon as I got home, I had a shower.

Route 66 to Albuquerque

I'm camped at what used to be called Route 66 RV Park, on the historic Route 66. So, I decided to take a ride down it and see the sites. From the campground I drove through a little village, and then followed a frontage road, which continued beside Route 40, and then I came into what I think are the outskirts of Abuquerque. There were fast food joints, car dealers, RV dealers (lots of them), supermarkets, banks - nothing special, nothing that made me think of the old TV show. I started thinking, "what was the old TV show, anyway?" All I could remember was that a blonde kept combing his hair, and they were driving a Corvette. So when I got back to the campground, I went up on You Tube to watch the show. No one was combing his hair - I think maybe that was Sunset Strip. But Martin Milner and George Maharis were driving a Corvette. As usual, my memory recalled parts of two different shows. It was kind of fun to watch an old episode. And now I have the urge to watch some TV, which I hardly ever do on the road.

Today I drove into the Museum of History and Art in Albuquerque. It has a great sculpture garden. I don't know how many figures there were actually in the garden, but it was extensive. There was a special exhibit of Japanese deco. This included decor, paintings, fabrics, etc. What I loved, besides the sculpture garden, were some of the paintings.  There were quite a few Taos Artists featured. I don't know or remember anything of these artists, but I like the work. I'll check them out on the internet.

In the 40s an art center was established at the Albuquerque High School to study the Taos Artists. The artist of the included painting, Star Road and White Sun, Ernest Blumenschein sold this painting to the high school for 10% of the regular price. It later became part of the museum.

 After the museum, I wandered into the Old Town area, which is very attractive - lots of stores and restaurants. It looks like the oldtime Mexican/Southwestern style of architecture. One of the stores sold stuff for the Day of the Dead celebration. My friend Nellie told me about this Mexican holiday which honors the dead. I think it's kind of weird. One place I heard they make edible things and name them with deceased members of their family, and then eat them.Eeeeeeeeewwwwwwww!!!

My plan was to end the day going up the tram to see the view, but decided I had seen an awful lot of views lately, so ended the day back at camp. On the way back, I passed 2 signs of the "historic route 66," and decided to take a picture of the next one, which never happened. At camp, I took Skittles for a walk, or rather, carried Skittles and then was pulled back to the rig by Skittles. We haven't gotten the walk with a leash down pat yet.




I'm heading north. Snow is predicted for the coming weekend, but other days look like they'll be okay, maybe even nice. So I'm on my way.

Gypsum Dunes and Petroglyphs

I moved on to a park which had just been re-opened with new owners. They were so nice - even gave me a little welcome basket. It was located near some interesting spots, and I became the tourist once more. I am constantly amazed at this country.There is so much beauty, uniqueness of different spots, and interesting history. Traveling the country is certainly an education. I haven't shown many pictures of sunsets because I haven't taken many. But they are beautiful, most every night.



I went to the White Sands National Park, which is 275 sq miles of a gypsum dune field. At one point (250 million years ago) this area was a shallow sea. Then the land was pushed up, forming a dome. Then the middle part of this dome collapsed, forming a basin. Gypsum from the rocks of the mountains was carried to this basin, and trapped there. Evaporation of the water forms crystals, and erosion of these crystals form sand particles, 
which then are blown by the wind to form dunes. 

The part of white sands open to the public is a mere fraction of the total park, and yet you could spend a day in this part, driving and walking through, sledding and rolling down the dunes. Living here has brought about evolutionary changes in animals and plants. Lizards have turned white through the years to blend in with the dunes. The soaptree yucca grows a foot or more each year to keep its head from being buried by oncoming dunes. Another plant puts out roots thick and quick, so that when the host dune moves on, the plant remains at the top of a pedestal.

Every time you return to the dunes it will be different. My campground was about 22 miles from the dune park, and yet when the wind blew, you could see white clouds rising up from the dune field, and you knew they were constantly moving.

This winter I haven't worn shorts, except on 2 days, including the trip to the dune park. After that, I drove up to Cloud Croft which was 4,000 feet higher, had snow on the ground, a ski area somewhere and temperatures probably 30 degrees lower. All I had with me was one sweater, so I didn't spend much time outside.

This area turned into a tourist area with the opening of a railroad, developed for the logging industry.. People could beat the hot summers and cure or escape illnesses by taking a most scary ride up Sacramento Mt. The train ran over 58 trestles, which might convert you faster than any preacher. But, of course, the views were beautiful, if you were brave enough to open your eyes. The ride boasted 330 curves and a 5.2% grade.

There also was a forest fire up here. It had been pointed out to me at the campground, and when I arrived up top there were signs welcoming the firefighters. I guess it was small. I didn't see or smell it.

The next day I drove to the Valley of Fire, which is an area of lava - not from a volcanoe, but from vents in the earth's surface. The lava flowing pushed up hills - can't remember what they were called. There were nice paths and story boards about the area. You could see the stop of the lava - lava rock  and then regular, old everyday rock beside it.

Then I visited the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. This was fascinating. A group of prehistoric Native Americans, whom archeologists refer to as Jordana Mogollon, lived in a village of pit huts at this site. In the rocks nearby are over 21,000 petroglyphs (rock carvings). They were formed by scratching through the rock patina or pecking it with 2 rocks, used like a hammer and chisel. These are all outside on the group of rocks, and you can wander among them. Rain, snow, etc. wears down the rock and lightens the pictures, but there are so many that are very bright and clear. What is the significance of this area? What do the individual pictures represent?  No one really knows. There are pictures that look like animals or human forms. But whether the pictures tell individual stories, or honor ancient gods, or ???? no one really knows.

There were quite a few people here wandering around the rocks, taking picture after picture. I met a couple walking up as I was walking down. They were overwhelmed with the number discovered here. I agreed, and said I had counted 10,500, but that was all. The man's eyes got so big. I hated to tell him I was only kidding.  

Now onto Albuquerque and hopefully up to Chaco Canyon.

Rest from Touring

After Tombstone, I lost my desire to play the tourist. There were some ancestral ruins, ghost towns and forts that I thought I would go see, but decided to move on to New Mexico.

 At my last park in Arizona, I had coffee in the morning with the women staying there, and got to know them a little. The men were there too, but they sat at another table. What?!? Don't you think that's a little strange?

I was looking for a campground in my 50%-off book, and found a park that catered to Loners on Wheels - actually owned by them. Since I'm a Loner on Wheels I decided to join the group. My fees were then even less, so it was a very reasonable rate. There were more social activities there. I went to Happy Hour, Lets Eat Out, the weekly trip to Mexico, pot-luck supper and played cards. It was fun to have more contact with people on a daily basis. There is a group of Loners in New England, so maybe I'll meet people who want to caravan.

 

The winds in New Mexico were verrry, verrry, verrry strong. One day I was sure I was going through a Nor'easter, but, instead of snow, it was swirling around sand and dust, and tumble weeds - under the rig, under the car, climbing on top of each other up the fence. The mountains were gone from sight, covered by this brown haze. I pulled in the slider and Skittles and I just rocked back and forth with the rig. When I walked in this, I held my hood down over my face, and looked at the ground right in front of my feet. Sometimes I turned my back to it and walked backwards (just like a blizzard). I should have walked frontwards with my head up, and given my face a skin abrasion treatment. Ah well. I'm sure there will be more opportunities.

When I was at Loners On Wheels, a couple people were talking about Chaco Canyon(?) near the 4 corners - more ancient dwellings. It sounded so exciting. I really wanted to see it, but I expected I would have to wait until some summer trip, 'cause it's cold up there. In the summers it is crowded. I'm thinking of trying to go there - maybe park nearby, and take trips by car to the sites. I hate to be this close and not see it. We'll see!!

The Gunfight at the OK Corral

I spent a day in Tombstone. The Old Courthouse houses a museum of the town, with history of the gunfight at the OK Corral. I was there 43 years ago, but didn't remember anything about the happenings on October 26,1881. I guess I always thought it was clear at the OK Corral as to who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. But not so. It was over pretty quickly (30 seconds?), with the end results of 3 dead and 3 wounded. Wyatt Earp was the only one with no injuries or death. I can hardly lift a glass of wine to my mouth in 30 seconds, let alone fire a gun at people. One thing that bothered me was that they were using their horses as shields. Where was PETA? They should have been johnny-on-the-spot there. One place, I saw a poster looking for the Earp brothers for information about the fight. I also heard that there was a trial for the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. I guess there are still questions about the fight. I mean, how could anyone tell what happened in what sequence, in 30 seconds, even if there were eye witnesses. I bought a book about Doc Holliday, written by one of his descendants. And we know that family members always get the facts right. So, I'll learn more.

I still love the shoot-em-up stuff. I remember in El Paso a gunfight which lasted 4 minutes resulted in 5 deaths. I got a kick out of the tour guide, who mentioned a man died from lead poisoning - from a 45.
 

At the courthouse, was a short blurb on Nellie Cashman. I started reading it and thought, "I know this woman." Nellie came from Ireland, and found her niche in the mining camps. She mined, but also cooked, provided boarding, and developed other small businesses as they were needed. She established a restaurant in Tombstone. She followed the gold rush to Alaska, and, again, was able to develop businesses to service the miners, as well as mine her own claim. One story is told that many miners were dying of scurvy. Nellie organized a group to get fruit (mostly limes?) to the miners. She also developed schools, hospitals, etc in the areas she mined. In 2006 Nellie was inducted into the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame. I've run into stories of Nellie in many places I've toured. In Seward, Alaska we ate at Nellie's Roadhouse, and I bought a book about the woman. I've always told people it's okay if I read a book I've already read, or take a tour I've already taken, because I can never remember things, so it's all new again.  ...But this time, the old memory actually worked. Of course I had to look up the town of the cafe and a few other things.

 
I toured Tombstone, and went to Boot Hill. I didn't see any gunfights, since they were all inside buildings and cost money. I guess on the weekends they shoot each other on the streets. But browsing Boot Hill confirmed life was violent. A lot of graves were unknown, but there has been research of town and family records, so a number are identified. People would get shot for ridiculous reasons. Two guys fought over whether you should drive the cattle fast or slow. One lost. Another two guys argued over the fastest way to draw. Again, one lost. Other reasons included mine claims, women, men, the color of your shirt, etc. I thought there was a gravestone on Boot Hill which said "He died with his boots on," but I guess not. A little folklore that was untrue, or I made it up.

 

 

Frank Leslie killed Killeen and then married his widow.

 

I had lunch at Big Nose Kate's. That was lots of fun. They had entertainment, staff in costume (as was most of Tombstone), and good food. Big Nosed Kate was Doc Holliday's girlfriend. Her nose was not big in size, but always shoved into other people's business.