Adventure Location: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, NM
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Adventure Date: October 16, 2019
Brian showed up right on time for out next desert adventure. The goal was up the mountain a ways until we hollered UNCLE real loud. It did not take near as much as we thought to get the OFM to scream UNCLE. But we did have a great time.
Brian led the way and we soon stopped to consider which exact ravine we wanted to attempt to get to. Here is Brian thinking about our objective.
Now remember that what is called a trail in this story is nothing but a less dense stretch of thorny plants. There are no actual trails we found. After the considering we did Brian led off as the pathfinder.
Here Brian is working out a way for us to move on forward toward the goal we had chosen.
We made a good effort but sometimes the going was tough. Unseen from our eye level were the many 3 -4 feet deep ravines in the desert floor. Those ravines are not much of a trouble for a savagely able bodied person such as Brian, but for the decrepit OFM they were serious obstacles. We plowed forward for hours and hours (editor note:about 40 minutes) but we finally made the half worn out point way up on the side of the mountains. ( Editor note: At the bottom of the mountains).
After a few seconds of rest we were ready to get on the trail again. (Editor note: The OFM was screaming uncle and nearly crying to go back to the starting point.) In reality we rested for about ten minutes as Brian checked out the land around us for more places to go exploring.
We made it back to the Castle and were ready for another mountain to climb. (Editor note: Yeah right. The OFM almost could not climb the steps into the Castle.) We gossiped for a good while and made a date for tomorrow at noon for another great lunch at Si Senor restaurant.
We are very certain that this Team adventure came very close to having tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, NM
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Adventure Date: October 15, 2019
As the OFM was walking up the hill today, the nice looking gentleman coming our way said you must be Gavin’s grandpa and the OFM was stunned. Charles turned out to be a blog reader and fan of Arctic Fox travel trailers. We had a great time visiting and swapping good places to go visit. Thanks for all the good suggestions.
Tonights pictures came from a desert plants garden here in the park. It has labels on most of the plants but the OFM missed the labels with the camera.
The sun was just starting to peak over the mountain tops when this picture was taken. That is the park sign on the way into the park.
We thought this might make a pretty picture with the pink flowers showing off. Was the OFM right?
Here is the whole HOG. The label displays the name of the sticky bush.
New thorns on the HOG were a beautiful red that seemed to glow. We bet they hurt when they stick in you.
Then this is a neat bush with special shaped leaves with points. When the new leaves come into growth they are a gorgeous shade of red.
When the flowers are blooming, you can sit on the bench with red ribbons in your hair and the hummers will be swarming you along with the plants. That sounds like a good way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, NM
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Adventure Date: October 14, 2019
The day started with the OFM doing three loops of the campground including down to the park entrance and back. Lots of hill climbing involved in that walking. I believe it was one loop too many from the conversations with the knee team. Tomorrow will be a lighter workout for sure.
Brian got here and we started the jaw flapping and it lasted for several hours. We covered the easy trails and the mean trail up the mountains.
Then we went into the museum for him to see the exhibits.
It was a fun day for him and the OFM. Visiting with old friends can be a wonderful way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, NM
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Adventure Date: October 13, 2019
The OFM Photography Team has been working hard the last few days. After spending a long time today culling photos the OFM had the pile down to 98 pictures to still edit and choose for blog posts.
Then we had clouds in the sky tonight so the OFM headed out with the camera to try for a decent sunset. 43 pictures happened but he got this pile down to two for tonight. We hope you enjoy them.
While waiting we noticed this black tipped agave plant. That was a first for us to see a black tipped agave. It was really a nice specimen so a picture had to be taken.
Now it was time to pay attention to the sunset. It seemed to go on forever. About twenty pictures were taken and only one made it to the blog. But WOW what a sunset. We hope you enjoy the scene.
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| NM Sunset |
Today has been a very fun day and tomorrow looks like an even better day. The OFM gets to be a tour director for the nice couple that used to own The Quiet One RV Park in Rockport Tx. Now the OFM gets to guide them around the easy trails and sights of Oliver Lee Memorial SP. It is easy to imagine the great time we will have tomorrow trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, NM
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Adventure Date: October 11, 2019
The OFM Photography Team had a great chance to take pictures to prove a point the OFM pushes often. When going into the wild, wear clothing that will make it easier for a rescue team to see you or your remains. On this day a nice fellow was heading up the Dog Canyon trail. The OFM has tried this trail twice in his earlier days and it was too much for him.
This man was heading up the trail wearing a black shirt and dark backpack. His white bald scalp was shining in the sunlight. Very shortly after he started the trail we could not easily spot him even though we knew where to look.
This first picture is less than five minutes after he started up the trail. We have circled him so you will have an easier time seeing him than we did when we started to edit the pictures.
He progressed for another few minutes and we grabbed another picture.
Then we waited until he topped the first ridge and got one of him there.
Even when you know where to look he is hard to spot. Imagine a search chopper or ground search team hunting for the hiker if he was in danger or injured. When hiking in the wild please always wear bright reflective clothes. It will give the rescue folks a much better chance of getting another chance later at trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, NM
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Adventure Date: October 11, 2019
It was 44 outside when the OFM woke this morning. It was 58 inside the Castle with no heat added during the night. It was a wonderful quiet night. We waited until 0830 for the sun to get above the mountain and put some more heat in the Castle. By 0915 it was 68 in the Castle. The overnight low for the batteries was 12.59 volts. Those LED replacement fixtures have made a major difference.
First thing this morning when there was light the OFM walked all the loops of the campground. Then we went to Walmart , got supplies and came back to the Castle and squared it away. Then the OFM headed along the Dog Canyon stream taking pictures. He quit taking pictures when the camera battery ran out of go for it.
Since the solar panels had the batteries back to full by the, he put all the batteries to charging. By noon everything was charged totally and many of the morning pictures were culled and edited. There was about 70 pictures left after the culling.
(GRock is the rock grandson Gavin painted to go with the OFM on adventures)
About then GRock spoke up. When are you going to take me on an adventure again?
The OFM looked at GRock and said How about right now?
Fantastic GRock said. Where are we going?
How about exploring the BLM land just outside the State Park gate where folks can camp for free. There is only a few thousand acres there.
GRock said WOW> Lets go.
So we loaded ourselves into Sierra and headed out.
When we got outside the state park land GRock asked Where is the Castle from here?
It is a white dot right up there near the cliffs of the mountain the OFM said.
So the OFM took a picture and edited it with text so we all can tell which rig is the Castle.
Next Sierra turned in to the rough entrance of an access road for the BLM land and stopped. GRock hopped out to look around. GRock did not know what to make of the area.
What can you do here? Run nuts and have fun camping and exploring said the OFM. OOOOHHHH BBBOYY said GRock.
Sierra pulled us over to another former road that is now blocked with a dirt pile. GRock hopped from Sierra and ran over to got on top of a big rock so the old road was in view.
What is down there GRock asked. I do not know said the OFM. That is part of the fun of a place like this. You get to explore and find out what is down there.
Great said GRock. Lets go. Whoa said the OFM. To go exploring you need supplies like water and snacks. Oh said GRock. Next time lets be prepared better. Great Idea said the OFM.
We turned back and headed out again on the main road. Suddenly Sierra slowed and turned into another dirt entrance road and stopped. The OFM and GRock looked down the road and the OFM said Look at that another area to explore. This is getting better and better.
But this road needs to wait said GRock. I am getting tired and need to go back to the Castle and rest. So Sierra backed out and took us to back to the Castle.
When we got back GRock went to his cabinet spot to rest and the OFM got busy editing the photos. And now it was only 1500. That left a lot of time for the OFM too run around in the desert taking more pictures.
When darkness finally came upon the land, GRock looked out from its cabinet spot and said We really did a great job of trying to have tooooo much fun today.
Adventure Location: Plains Tx. to Alamogordo, NM.
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Adventure Date: October 10, 2019
A great start to the morning got us rolling at 0745. We quickly picked up 380 west to head into New Mexico. Here is entering NM heading west.
The rolling was easy and traffic light all the way on all the roads. We turned left onto hwy 70 to go through the mountains around Ruidoso, NM.
Sierra handled all the situations with nary a whimper. Even going through Apache Pass at 7500 feet was a so what as far as Sierra was concerned. Mighty beautiful country up there. reminded the OFM of Idaho. At the other side of the mountains we took a left on hwy 54 and on down to Oliver Lee Memorial State Park.
By 1330 camp was set up and these pictures taken.
From camp to the north is the mouth of Dog Canyon.
From camp to the west across the valley.
And lastly from camp to the southeast.
Now we are all set for a long visit with old friends from Rockport.
The weather when we arrived was 80, gentle breeze and wonderfully dry. The OFM purchased the one year pass to the NM state parks for $225. That lets us dry camp in most of the parks for a full year at no more cost. We use the dump station, refill with water and use any other parts of the park except the electric. For electric at a site we have to pay $4 a day additional. The Castle generates its on electricity with the solar panels so we expect to skip that charge. $225 a year for camping in a park is pretty good.
Our old friend from Rockport has stopped by for a visit already and we had a great gabfest. Yep we are working on trying to have tooooo much fun with great vigor.
Adventure Location: Denver City, Tx.
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Adventure Date: October 9, 2019
Tonight is the last night here at this wonderful free camping location. Tomorrow we roll on to Roswell and see where we end up for the cold front. The Castle and Sierra will be coupled this evening and ready to roll early in the morning.
We have been having very high winds this afternoon and they are predicted for tomorrow afternoon. We want to be long gone when the wind on the plains get moving again. With a little luck we will be on the other side of the Sacramento Mountains by noon.
While walking this afternoon the Teams meandered down by the park pond. Naturally the herd of ducks came running to beg food. The OFM just kept on walking, but the head duck closed in closer. Here is its picture.
When some folks with a small boy and a bag of chips showed up the ducks hurried right on over to a better prospect. Yep the boy got a kick out of feeding them.
The OFM man meandered on around the pond a little further and there it was. Turtle Beach with a nice collection of turtles piddling around.
After taking a few pictures and looking for other opportunities to waste electrons, the Teams started the uphill trek back to the Castle. On arrival back the OFM checked tire pressures and topped off two of Sierra’s tires.
That puts us ready to head to new places for trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Clyde Tx to Plains, Tx
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Adventure Date: October 7, 2019
It was a great sleep last night in this peaceful free campsite. Then a short trip to the Thriftway grocery store in Denver City, Tx about five miles away. The store was excellent and well maintained. Prices were slightly above Walmart but still reasonable, expecially for a small town way out in nowhere Tx.
Now let us back up to yesterdays travel. It was a very pleasant travel day. Weather was great as you will see and plans were meant to be changed at will. It turns out the OFM had never in his memory been on these roads before. That always makes it a great adventure. All the sights were nice and some very pretty.
The scenery was nice and slightly rugged and bright colors. This picture was from just west of Sweetwater Tx from I-20. Nope not all of Texas is flat contrary to many folks ideas.
We rolled gently through the hills and mesas and wind farms for a couple of hours. It seems like every hill we topped revealed a new nice canyon or other feature.
When we got to Post Tx. and took a left on 380 it was more highway we had never been on before. WOW this was certainly a nice adventure. Shortly the road climbed up onto the agricultural plains of the panhandle of Texas.
For the next hundred miles or more it was rolling plains covered with all sorts of crops like cotton and beans. A couple of huge vineyards in select areas was a nice break in the scenery. These are huge farms measured in sections not acres.
A roadside rest area came into sight and it was time for a break and a mystery as it turned out. After the Teams got parked and things taken care of, the OFM needed a short walk to feel better. So the camera came along just in case. Yep we found a mystery for our readers to help us on.
At the picnic tables shelter areas were these baskets. One basket per table area.
What are they for? The OFM cannot recall ever seeing something like this before.
From the rest area we rolled on to Plains Texas and took a left to Yoakum County Park and Golf Course for the night. We have a nice site with water and electric. A dump point is nearby. And excellent Internet and miserable T-mobile phone.
The Castle is the white object to the left side. We will be here about three nights to explore the nearby towns and wait for the cold front coming from the west. In the meantime we are searching the web for other things for trying to have tooooo much fun.
ON EDIT
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| Oil Wells and Sunset |
Adventure Location: Clyde Tx to Plains, Tx
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Adventure Date: October 7, 2019
The OFM Adventures Teams got going a little later this morning since we planned a short trip today of a little over 150 miles. But about an hour into the days journey the Teams decided that all the way to Plains was a better idea. And WOW was it ever. More about this tomorrow.
Last night was about six months since the last time the OFM slept at a rest area. Normally he has no trouble but this rest area is right next to the Interstate and vehicles going by seemed to delight in making extra noise. It was not the truckers and others in the rest area.
Before bed time the OFM decided to go out in the night to see where the extra noise was coming from. The clouds from the front were congregating and the partial moon was fighting for a chance to shine. The OFM tried to take hand held shots of long exposures to get some great photos. The best of the bunch is shown here.
While he was out in the night he stepped into the rest area street and took a picture of the “carnival lights” the vehicles were showing.
But the temps were dropping and the tee shirt was not enough clothing so it was quickly back inside the Castle. The OFM decided it was time for bed and a few minutes later the splatter slam of huge rain drops in great quantity and velocity engulfed the Castle.
The OFM looked out the bath room window on the back of the Castle and could see the rain drops splashing in the run off from the rest area road. So he grabbed the camera and grabbed a few shots to see what they would show. Here is the best one. The runoff was deep enough the raindrops made some large splashes. It was an interesting picture anyway.
After going back to bed it turned out to be a fitful night due to all the highway loud noises. Why folks have to blow their LOUD horns to annoy other folks is beyond our comprehension.
Anyway we took a different route to our next destination and had a lot of fun today. The next blog will catch us up and show the really nice place we went to for trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Martin Creek Lake SP, Tx to Clyde, Tx.
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Adventure Date: October 6, 2019
The OFM Adventures Teams got going at daylight today. After giving the Castle a chance to lighten the load at the dump station we rolled. 0809 put us on the road. We paused at a rest area a little west of Tyler to check out if last nights plan was still good. NOPE NOT EVEN CLOSE.
Ahh the joy of a full timer. So it was back on I-20 rolling west to see what we ended up doing. The traffic was rolling smoothly and even going through the Dallas-Fort Worth cities went easily and well.
When we cleared the western Fort Worth city limits we were out of the pine forest and into the more open country.
We rolled on and on since traffic was flowing smoothly. Then our nest for tonight came into sight and we rolled to a stop. Our exact location is Callahan County Safety Rest Stop West Bound a couple of miles west of Clyde, Tx.
Sierra was reporting 96 degrees when we stopped but the dry breeze made it very comfortable. It is 1907 and 82 supposedly heading down to 51 tonight.
We noticed the table legs on the picnic table are hell for stout. They are made from structural beams like we used in the chemical plants to hold up BIG things. Vandals will have their work cut out for themselves to do much damage to these legs.
There is a lot of plantings here but the best one is the Texas Sage. We haven’t seen one in a long time and this one is even blooming. WOW.
Morning starts another rolling day. We have several routes under consideration for the travel to Alamogordo but which one? We do not know. What we do know is we have to keep working on having tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Martin Creek Lake SP, Tx
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Adventure Date: October 5, 2019
The OFM wants you to meet his newest best friend. He is a wonderful pup a neighbor owns. His name is Steve and he loves everyone that will scratch his ears and pet him. When he lays down on your feet you can feel all 205 pounds of him. He is about normal size for an English mastiff.
That is all the excitement for today. But the weather is cooling off so we can run amok trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Martin Creek Lake SP, Tx
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Adventure Date: October 4, 2019
It was a nice not hot morning as we left the campground to grab a few minutes of internet at the office. Then we headed off to get the Texas required vehicle inspection for Sierra. The place available ( it is a small town) got right on the job. They were really nice folks and did a very good inspection. A brake light up on cab was not working. They took the light apart and replaced the bulb. Water was found inside the fixture so some maintenance work by the OFM is needed. A few minutes visiting and away we went all legal again for $15.
Back at the campsite the OFM needed to get in some serious walking. It had been five days since he got his feet out for exercise. He grabbed the camera and a hat and away we went. It was starting to get warm but we needed to go what we could. The heat and humditity shut the walk down before we made three miles but it was good to be active again.
One picture we got was of the reason for Martin Creek Lake to exist.
It is the cooling lake for a coal fired power plant. A nice side effect is the state park across from the plant giving the area a nice place to come and play in the water.
The island and its campsites was mentioned before but today ole knuckle head remembered the camera so we have a picture of one of the large number of tent sites available. Here is a typical site and the ones inland a bit are like it without the water view.
The OFM says that he will not camp with a tent if he has any other choice. He wants the night time rest room very close by not down over yonder through the woods.
We took several more pictures of nice views but this one was the best one. A gentle breeze was wafting through the area while the OFM was getting the picture.
Today and tomorrow and we roll again. So far we are averaging 100 miles a day for our travels on this fall trip. As we meander our way to Alamogordo NM, we hope to have more interesting things to show everyone. So far it has been a nice pleasant drive, except for Shreveport Louisiana and I-20. It was not a great place for trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Martin Creek Lake SP, Tx
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Adventure Date: October 2, 2019
After posting the blog this morning the OFM decided he wanted to try some fishing for the first time in five months. So he unlimbered the short rod, added a spinning reel and a lure and away we went. He chose a parking spot close to the rest rooms, drinking fountains and the easy walking.
On the very first cast the lure hit the water and absolutely nothing bothered it all the way back to the rod. But on the next cast the same thing happened. However it was a very pretty day and the pictures came out well as you will soon see.
It was a successful fishing trip since the OFM found two new circle hooks and two nice lead weights he will be able to use in a few weeks.
This next picture is what you see when launching your boat at the boat ramp. It is a pretty finger of the lake.
That is part of the large island attached to the main part of the park. It is open to tent camping if you carry all your stuff into the area. No motor vehicles are allowed. From the map we read there is over 2 miles of trails on the island and many camp sites. The OFM forgot to take a picture or four on the island but here is the bridge you get to cross on your way onto the island.
On around to the left of the bridge on the mainland is another pretty finger of the lake easing its way up into some of the camping area. You could camp fairly close to the water and mosquitos if you choose to do so. Not the OFM Teams.
During our morning meandering on this very still day we saw another angler over there a ways stalking fish. We hope it was a successful stalk. It did make a very nice picture we think.
All the nice scenery and coolish calm conditions made it a nice time of trying to have tooooo much fun with a fishing rod.
Adventure Location: Martin Creek Lake State Park, Tx
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Adventure Date: October 1, 2019
Things are going fairly well if you like extreme heat. 96 this afternoon and no breeze here in the shade of the pine trees. The Castle lost two more Walmart bags of stuff we did not need any more today. Who knows what more might go?
The OFM renewed his Texas fishing license and Texas Parks Pass today. Now we have free entry to all the Texas parks for another 13 months.
While he was down at the lake practicing casting to get his abilities back after no casting for five months, he took this nice picture of a small finger off the main body of the lake.
We kept hearing large splashes near us and finally located the source. Lots of the big tall pine trees are loaded with 36 to 54 pound pine cones. the trees love fools to walk near so they can have a bit of target practice. The OFM dodged a couple of them while getting this picture of the pine cones ready to go into action at a moments notice.
One of the neat things in this park is all the use of field stones instead of poured concrete. This ditch is a good example of the hand laid stone work of years gone by.
Sure enough there are nice fungi around us. In fact this stump is displaying a nice collection of them. It is in our “yard” near the Castle.
The Internet at the HQ is working well but we have to pack the computer back over to HQ to use the Internet and sit in Sierra in the heat. So our Internet time is kept fairly minimal. But we are finding other ways of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Location: Morton, Ms. to Tatum, Tx.
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Adventure Date: September 30.
If things go as the Teams hope for them to go paying attention to the Adventure Date may be important because we will not have Internet all the time and publishing can be very erratic.
We rolled out about 0750 this morning and hit I-20 and stayed on it for about 265 miles. For those who need to know Shreveport Louisiana I-20 is a very unpleasant stretch of highway.
For this whole trip the Teams rolled at 60 mph with a gas milage average for the trip of 11.7 mpg. First night cost was $17.21 w,s,e. Tonight is $13 w and e.
The first exciting event was in Mississippi. A Forest Service truck was in the median of I-20 and the driver was taking pictures of a large dead black bear. We bet some driver got more excitement than they wanted.
Everything rolled very smoothly both days. The new tires on the Castle behaved extremely well. It is the OFM’s opinion that the Goodyear Endurance tire is much better than the old Marathon tires. It was a good move to $wap out all the tires last month, even the Marathons that were not hardly worn.
Meanwhile we were all set up in our site in Martin Creek Lake State Park by 1430 with an odometer reading of 312 miles for the day. Here is our campsite.
It is a nice and very well maintained state park with the only downside for out desires is the inability for the hotspot to find good signal. The Park does have Wi-Fi at the check in station that campers can use. We checked it out this evening and will have to use it for blog publishing and any other internet needs.
The OFM walked down to the water this evening and tried out the baitcasting reel he purchased in Alabama. It worked ok and will likely be a very good bait fishing reel.
On the walk back in the early evening the heavy tree and underbrush was making it pretty dark along the roadway. But the evening sun was lighting the tree tops well.
We do not know how long we will be here or where our next stop will be. But you can be sure the Teams will actively be trying to have tooooo much fun.
