Stepping Back In Time and Almost On A Rattler

Having arrived at the Casa del Gavilan it was like stepping back in time, out of today’s hustle and bustle. No TV, no telephone, no internet. Outside you hear nothing but the occasional boy scout conquering the Tooth of Time that stands tall behind the Casa. I walked around the Casa with my camera after pulling my car around back. I was just in awe of the views and the peacefulness all around me. Snapping away I found three cats at attention when I walked over to see what they were eying. I really couldn’t see at the base of the tree because of the brush. I started to hear an interesting noise which I couldn’t place, one I had not heard before. Bridget came out hollering for me, as she came closer we both realized it was a rattlesnake the cats had cornered at the tree. We could see the tongue now darting in and out. Of course the photographer I am, needed to get a close up shot so I ran back into the Casa to get my other lens. I needed a close up shot but I wasn’t crazy enough to get to close therefore needing my telephoto lens. On my way back out the innkeeper, Amanda, had her precious daughter in her arms for me to meet. I was so torn, adorable Shelby or get the shot? I had to get the shot! I yelled, “oh your precious little girl, rattlesnake by the tree!” and ran past out the door. Later I felt awful about that especially because I didn’t get the shot. But I must say the rattlesnake was pretty exciting. Amanda’s brother, Cody who helps out at the Casa came out with his shotgun and took care of the rattlesnake. That worked up an appetite. Now it was time for dinner at the Double C.

Hector Campos is the owner of the Double C. He opens at five with no set hours to close. If there are no customers he closes. Amanda called ahead to let him know we would be coming so that he would stay open for us. I’m glad he did, it was a wonderful meal. The Double C is located in front of the Cimarron Inn and RV Park off of Hwy 64 but they are not connected. Hector serves classic Sonoran food along with some American traditional. Hector’s grandmother was Mayan who lived to be 100 years old in Northern Sonora. This is where such great dishes such as The Ugly Steak, South of the Border Prime, Chorizo Con Pappas and the Sonoran Chicken Breast hail from. Hector, himself is retired from Xerox, having moved to Cimarron from Tucson three years ago. He is a friendly sort making his way to each table to visit with customers. I liked Hector not just because his food was good but he is a very humbling type person, friendly, one that always makes you feel at home in his restaurant. Bridget ordered the Chicken Taco Salad. I the hamburger on the homemade bun. Let me say both were absolutely wonderful, reasonably priced. We topped them off with peach cobbler, ice cream and a great cup of coffee. Our waitress, Sandy was precious, having moved to Cimarron from Eagle Nest to escape the cold. I would have thought escaping the cold would have meant you moved to Florida, not down the road but what do I know. Double C gets a double A+ from me. You can order take out but you’d be missing half the fun of getting to know Hector and his staff. I say take the time to sit a spell and enjoy the Double C.

Now came the challenge of finding the Casa del Gavilan in the dark and remembering where I put the gate code. Needless to say I missed the turn to the Casa the first time and had to turn around. I couldn’t find the gate code and after several failed attempts at what we thought it was we finally buzzed Amanda to let us in. It was funny to hear Bridget walk from the car to the front door, scared there might be another rattler lurking on the path. I promised to give her a flashlight for tomorrow nights adventures to get from the car to the Casa. We had a wonderful visit with Amanda, who comes from Texas and became the Innkeeper in March. She cooks breakfast every morning for the guest. As full as I am, I’m looking forward to breakfast but first a goodnight sleep.

Heading to the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Heading to Cimarron we took the Scenic Byway State Road 21. Taking this route gives you a good idea of the beauty the early travelers of the Santa Fe Trail saw as they traveled southward. The beauty was marked also with dangers such as Indians, harsh weather, outlaws, bears and rattlesnakes to name a few. The Santa Fe Trail consist of two main branches, the Mountain Branch and the Cimarron Cutoff. We are going to be exploring the Mountain Branch which passes through Cimarron and across the Cimarron River to Old Town. The two branches meet up approximately 90 miles south of Cimarron at Fort Union.

The drive along SR 21 is filled with hills, mountain views, Pronghorn and a dry heat. We happen upon what is called Miami Lake, named after the small town we passed through. I would have to say calling it a lake is going a little far but it is breathtaking none the less. Casa del Gavilan, the Bed and Breakfast we are staying at is just off SR 21. It was built in 1912 by J.J. Nairn and overlooks the Santa Fe Trail. From start to finish it took 8 years to complete. Casa del Gavilan means House of the Hawk. The B&B sit’s a mile off of SR 21 and is majestic as you drive up to the Casa on the dirt road. The white traditional adobe house sits strikingly nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain with the Tooth of Time overlooking it. The Tooth of Time was a landmark for the wagon caravans of the SFT. At seeing this they knew their final destination was only 7 days away.

The Casa has six rooms to rent. Inside you will find exquisitely decorated rooms in Southwestern antiques, artwork and handmade furnishings just waiting for you to put your feet up and enjoy them. Southwestern author and illustrator Will James created some of his best works during his stays at the Casa. Surrounding the Casa are trails available for you to hike which range from a quarter of a mile to two miles. You will have exquisite views of the mountains and the Casa. The plains in front of the Casa offer close up views of Pronghorn. No matter which direction you look you will be in awe of the natural landscape surrounding you.

I am excited about our stay at Casa del Gavilan and what Cimarron has in store for us.

Tammy

Santa Fe Trail Surrounds Springer NM

Springer has an abundant supply of history. It was predominantly a railroad town having been established in 1879. There is quite a bit to see while in Springer and the surrounding area. A landmark and camp ground for wagons traveling on the Santa Fe Trail was Point of Rocks just east of the town. This was a popular place because of the abundance of water available from the natural spring. There was plenty of wood also for campfires. At the same time it was a target for ambushes by Indians. There are eleven graves located here. The wagon trains on the SFT had to also worry where to cross the Canadian River. Parts of the river are very sandy, making it impossible for wagon wheels to cross, while other parts are in a deep canyon that are impassable. The wagons would need a “solid slab of rocks” in shallow water to make their crossing which could be found at Rock Crossing. Today this site is on private land, Dos Rios Ranch.

A trip to the Santa Fe Trail Museum in the historic Old County Court House is a must. The Court House was built in 1882 and is located in the middle of town. Springer also has what locals call a lake but what we Texans call a pond. It is beautiful with the hills and New Mexican landscape surrounding it.

There was no question as to where Bridget and I were to eat. The historical Brown Hotel was top on our list and thankfully it lived up to all we had heard. While not a part of the SFT it is a place to put on your list to visit. You walk in and feel yourself instantly go back in time. The Brown Hotel was built in 1922. There are eleven rooms for rent if you want to stay the night, ask for the back rooms upstairs if they are available. The café is all home cooked food and absolutely delicious. We had hamburger soup with grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, followed by pecan pie.

Next to the Brown Hotel is the old stone livery stable which now is used for storage of antique treasures. It is a lovely building to see. There are two very old churches in Springer. One is a Catholic and the other is a Methodist. But I must say for such a small town there are quite a few churches located within the historic downtown area. Even the old theatre, Zia, is converted into a church.

After a long day in Springer and on the road it is time to head toward Cimarron.

Tammy

Where the Grass is Always Greener...Clayton, NM

I just have to give you more on Clayton before we head to Springer. It is such a nice, quaint town. With the arrival of the railroad, Clayton was established in 1888. It was named in honor of the son of a former Republican Senator and noted cattle baron Stephen W. Dorsey. He helped in the planning of where the railroad would be located. His son, Clayton was a highly respected attorney in Denver. The town served as a railroad shipping point for large cattle drives from the Southern New Mexico area. It rivaled Amarillo.

Within the town are some interesting historical buildings still in use today. One that I found very fascinating was the Luna Theatre which was established in 1916 and takes you back in time. The original velvet curtains still hang across the stage. The owners have resisted the urge to modernize the theatre splitting the screen to make two screens. They choose not to change the original make up of the building and when you see it you will understand why. The antiquated barber shop with the barbers pole will make you feel Andy Griffith is just around the corner. Unfortunately, the Eklund Hotel and Restaurant has been hit by the faltering economy leaving it closed but plans soon to see a revival. It has been a landmark to travelers since the 1890s.

I would love to share some of the allure of the Herzstein Museum. It is a fascinating place first of all because of where it is housed. The museum is in the former Methodist Episcopal Church which has an historical value dating back to 1920. The stain glass on the second floor is all original from 1967 except the middle piece which was replaced in 1987. The church once had a one lane bowling alley in it, which is where you will find the medical section of the museum today. Franz Dyche grew up in Clayton always having fond boyhood memories. Upon his death, family members donated some of his favorite items to the museum which included John Wayne's putter and an ink drawing by Salvador Dali, "Velaquez". The Herzstein family, for who the museum is named, gave much to Clayton but it is evident that they received just as much from Clayton throughout their life that could not be measured materialistically. I have to mention Toni our tour guide. She was so sweet and so knowledgeable. This museum gives individual tours and they are free.

The Santa Fe Trail began in 1821 used by traders, merchants, mountain men, gold seekers, military expeditions, emigrants and a few early day tourist. It was used as a method for international commerce and trade into what was then known as the Republic of Mexico. Much of the Santa Fe Trail followed old Indian trails. McNees Crossing near Clayton, on the Santa Fe Trail is where Robert McNees and Daniel Munro were ambused and killed by Kiowa Indians in 1828. Also, at this site is where a 100 member wagon caravan held our first Independence Day Celebration as we know it today. This was on July 4, 1831. With the railroads pushing forward in 1880 it eventually saw the end of the Santa Fe Trail.

I hope this gives you a little insight into Clayton and the Santa Fe Trail, maybe even feel like you were there with us. Springer is next and I can't wait to see what is waiting for us there. Hope you join us!

Tammy

On The Road Again...Santa Fe Trail

Sorry guys that we missed you yesterday but there are actually areas in today's world not all caught up in the computer WIFI readiness! Here you go hope you enjoy...

On the road again, da da da da da da da, on the road again...no humidity, cool breeze, loving this weather. For those of you who did not catch on to who Lucy was (mom and Amy), she is our GPS system and we could not have done it without her. We are traveling from Dalhart to Clayton New Mexico today. Lucy is taking a break, I think I've got it from here. As we travel along the road we start noticing so many items that look like Farm Town, can you say Farm Town withdrawl (our favorite Facebook game). Everywhere we look we see some of our favorite crops and Farm town items, Sunflowers, wheat, corn, also seeing windmills and livestock. Bridget and I are so thankful we didn't plant any crops before leaving Katy - we are so not having this conversation are we...yes unfortunately we are. We were the first of many stopping at the Texas/New Mexico State Line, also known for the changing into Mountain time zone. Bridget was lucky enough to get her picture taken not only with the Now Entering Mountain Time Zone sign but also Entering New Mexico Sign with the stench of cows right next to her as flies swarmed her legs. We quickly had a fly contest to see who could get the most flies into the car, laughing at all those pulling in behind us with no knowledge of what was in store for them. I think Bridget won the fly contest.

On the drive to Clayton it was fun listening to Bridget discovering something new that she had never seen before. New land, new territory, excited by what lay ahead on this adventure of ours. Arriving into Clayton we soon learned the flies were from surrounding feed lots. Clayton is a charming town steeped in history. Did you know that brooms are made from broom corn and so is corn whisky? That Black Jack Ketchum, infamous outlaw and murderer while in prison gained so much weight that his hanging decapitated him? The pictures are actually hanging up in the Herzstein Museum. Bridget got so excited by this she had to have a blood transfusion in the Museum's medical section. Also, the swastika originated from the Navajo Indians meaning good luck or prosperity. Hitler simply stole the symbol. As you can see we have learned much on a day in Clayton and are having fun. More to come!

Tammy

The Journey Continues with the Fastidious ladies more Pooped than Energized After a Tedious Day on the Road

Typical style, at least Tammy style, just a tad late leaving but good ole Lucy helped get us on the right road after stopping for our hydration quota of XLarge Sweet Tea at Chick-Fil-A, it just might be the last of the best sweet tea we get in a long time! Took a while for Lucy to get with the game and to see how we flow. Once we realize it wasn't about her gettin with our flow but the other way around we gave up on sticking her to the window where she kept falling every 5 mins. We quite putting her on the dashboard where with each turn she slide across.We put her in a cock=eye position between the window and the dashboard and guess what she finally stayed and was such a true help to us. We love our Lucy. Did you know that you can travel from the south of Texas to the top of the Panhandle without Sirius. This was news to me. We had Sirius in the car but funny to say the only channel it would pick up was the Weather Station, hmmmmm you can only hear that so long..so on regular stations you can pick them up all over just be ready because when they stop you better have another ready to go. Leaving Katy we left listening to the awesome 89.3. praising Jesus till we got to Hillsboro which the station went dead - quickly we found 94.9 coming out of South Lake Caroll. hmmm another Christian station and I might say a pretty good one! Coming up on the Armadillo Grill at the exit to Bowie Road 94.9 fizzled. 94.5 came in strong. "Where da daddy at" over the hill - it's gone. Up the next hill 94.9 Country, The Outlaw. Pretty good radio station I must say. Just as we were singing some of the songs, we saw in the middle of no where, in the boonies, a free standing Adult Movie Store - WHAT? that was a surprise. Made a joke about it and both of us saw a bill board quickly after with the word PORNOGRAPHY and some items under it. My first impression was "Wow that is alot of porn around here" then we both realize that the board is against the pornagraphy. I saw the "victimized" on it, while Bridget saw the picture of Jesus carrying the cross. Neither one of us saw what the other one saw. What does that say about us...

Can I just say Stuckey's and 7 Eleven do not mix. Buccee's it does not make. And when 7 women have to wait in line one at a time to use the restroom find anothere pit stop! Exit 369 outside of Wichita Falls, just keep going to the next gas station to make a pit stop.

Arriving in Amarrillo, a must is going to The Big Texan, fun for all! With a store and a fudge bar it will rival a Buccees, then add a steak house and it becomes more than Buccees. Fun place to go with friends, family, groups. Bridget just had to have her picture taken all over the place. Be looking for those pictures! She wanted to eat the big 72 oz steak with all the trimmings but I held her back. You have a special place to sit in front of everyone, your table up on a platform in the center of the room for all to see.You must eat all 72 ozs plus ALL the sides to get yours free plus bragging rights plus be on their web. She so wanted the bragging rights. But if you don't eat all items you have to pay $72 and walk the walk of shame leaving. I could not let her do that. That walk of shame is tough to get over. We settled on the chicken fried steak sandwiches, french fries and a wonderful fresh salad! Oh yeah SWEET TEA! (not as good as Chick fil a though) At 9:00pm it was packed and still light outside as if it was only 7:00pm. Service was wonderful, very attentive. The live Country Music was a nice added benefit!

Arrived to the hotel, and surprised by the wonderfully awesome breeze. It feels great here. We are so exhausted and are now going to bed resting up for our huge day tomorrow. Looking forward to it! Out for now and we will talk to you tomorrow. Pray for us to have a safe journey!

Tammy and Bridget

Over the next twelve to fifteen days two fastidious friends will travel the old Santa Fe Trail, one is researching for a book, the other is along for the ride. I say fastidious not because either one thinks of themselves in that matter but mostly because we both are mothers of teenagers, they themselves think of us at times as difficult to please, my husband would probably tend to agree, well for that matter so would alot of people in my life. I can't say the same for Bridget, my traveling buddy on this trip, one of the easiest people to get along with, just don't mess with one of her kids. Originally, this trip was meant for my daughter and me to take but as a teenager that just doesn't always work out. Doing some research, then on to our place in Durango and relaxing with some fishing and family. Now it has turned in to a quick trip with no time for Durango until possibly the latter part of summer. I thought as kids got older it got easier but they just get more involved in things and schedules get changed. As depressing as it was to give up the time with Kaykay, the mind had to rethink and a girls trip came out of it. The Santa Fe Trail is steeped in history, adventure and beauty. Follow us as we travel it, hopefully you will have as much fun as we do and gain some interesting facts of the Santa Fe Trail too.