Summer 2021 Tour Ruidoso, New Mexico Episode 1: We roast in Tucson and arrive in Ruidoso

On August 12, 2021August 11, 2021 By LToddIn Arizona, New Mexico, RV Travel, Travel8 Comments

We left the cool San Diego breezes for the furnace of Tucson, where temps reached 115 degrees or more. Tucson/Lazydays KOA Resort was our stop to split up the 12-hour drive to Ruidoso. It was 6:30 pm when we arrived. About an hour later, Jon walked in the door and sat down. Seconds later someone knocked on the door. It was the security guard who had showed us to our site. He said management wanted us to move.

What? No!

A regular guest wanted our site because it had a tree, and they were staying until October. Really? The tree was a scrawny little thing, and the site was one of several that had a cover for shade. Jon talked the manager out of his crazy idea and averted a heatstroke.

The next day we washed clothes, cleaned house, and stayed cool in the air conditioned trailer. We ended the day with an early dinner at Obon Sushi + Bar + Ramen, a place we had eaten before and highly recommend.

While walking back to the truck, I captured a few murals we saw in an alley and a couple of buildings. It’s never too hot to snap a few photos.

Rialto, California, is where I grew up, so whenever I see the name, I have to take a photo. Wikipedia lists 22 theaters named Rialto across the United States.

Mural found in the alley next to the theater

On Thursday, June 17, 2021, we drove the final 6 hours to RV Resort of Ruidoso, New Mexico. The location of our site could not have been better. The park is terraced, and our site was below one site and above another so that we did not feel crammed together. The bonus was that we only had neighbors on the weekend. Compared to all the other sites in the park, I think ours was the best.

We jumped at the chance to have Bailey’s mother and step-father show us around town. This helped us get our bearings and see where everything was located. The gracious company and our lunch at Oso Grill in Capitan was the highlight. Thanks Dale and Dorothy.

On Saturday, we headed to the Hubbard Museum of the American West. Sadly, it had not reopened after its pandemic closure, so we admired the statuary outside.

The empty parking was a sign the museum was closed.

I had seen the galloping horses from the street when we were driving around the day before and wanted to see them up close.

The breeds represented are Standard, Thoroughbred, Quarter horse, Appaloosa, Paint, Arabian, and Morgan.

The Free Spirits at Noisy Water are a collection of eight bronze horse sculptures created by Dave McGary who is known for his realistic and colorful portrayals of Native Americans.

It’s hard to believe the tail and mane are made of bronze too.

The horses appear to jump and gallop, their muscles taut, manes and tails flowing. I was amazed to learn that the eight horses weigh 3,000-5,000 pounds each and are supported and balanced by only nine hooves.

It’s unbelievable the foal galloping next to its mother has all four hooves off the ground.

Plaques detail information on each of the seven breeds represented. The distance from the leaping horse at the top of the hill to these two out front spans 255 feet.

After capturing the photos of the horses, we walked across the street to see if Billy the Kid Scenic Byway Visitor Center was open.

Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway Visitor Center

We picked up maps and pamphlets and wandered around the museum. Billy the Kid (born Henry McCarty and also known as William H. Bonney, Henry Antrim, and Kid Antrim) was a busy guy in Lincoln County. He left a trail of so many historical spots where he committed crimes, where he was jailed, or where he hid out from the lawmen, that he rates a National Scenic Byway. The roads connect the dots between Ruidoso, Capitan, Fort Stanton, Lincoln, and Ruidoso Downs along Highways 48, 380, 230, and 70.

With all the attention Billy gets in this area, you’d think he was a national hero, not an outlaw and murderer. I guess notoriety, no matter what kind, is something to commemorate.

Visitors can learn about many of Billy’s escapades, including his role in the Lincoln County Wars, from the displays.

Billy says, “Learn more about me in Lincoln. I’ll see you there.”

We’ll share a few more tidbits about Billy the Kid in future episodes.

Interested in extraterrestrials? They’re featured here to give a shout out to Roswell.

Extraterrestrials are also featured. Roswell is only 75 miles away.

Smokey the Bear is another popular guy in Lincoln County with a museum dedicated to his life and memory in the Village of Capitan.

The Village of Ruidoso is in Lincoln County and next to the Lincoln National Forest. It had a population of approximately 8,000 in 2019 and sits at an elevation of 6,920 feet (2,051 meters). Ruidoso is a popular destination for the ski resorts in the winter. The rest of the year, the village and surrounding area offers lake and river fishing, hiking, exploring local history, and horse racing at Ruidoso Downs.

Next we drove to Midtown Ruidoso to check out the independent stores and eateries. We didn’t stay long. With so many out-of-town visitors, it was difficult to find parking and hard to walk on the sidewalk with the families and friends taking up the entire width.

We found a much calmer atmosphere when we came back early in the morning one day during the week. With no crowds and few people, I had fun photographing the murals that graced many of the buildings. The Midtown Association funded the public art project, creating a fun outing for photographers and for people who share on social media.

Artisits: Logan Flerity, James Flores, and JB Heard

While taking the mural photos, I came across this Citizens Bank building. I sure would like to know why that little wooden door is there.

Another curiosity were the antique vehicles out front of Rusty Balls Speed Shop.

And the final spot in this post goes to the Ruidoso Fire Department’s community-built Wall of Courage mosaic monument. The monument measures twenty by seventy-five feet.

*Wall of Courage*, Brian Sarinova, designer and lead artist

Stay tuned for more episodes covering our week in Ruidoso.

Safe Travels

Summer 2021 Tour San Diego, California Episode 3: Valle de Guadalupe, B.C., Mexico

On August 5, 2021August 4, 2021 By LToddIn California, Photography, RV Travel, Travel8 Comments

We’re back with our last episode of San Diego, California. Lack of WiFi and data service kept us offline for several weeks. Then my laptop needed an update to connect via WiFi. Now that we’re home, we can continue with our regular blog schedule. In this episode, we visit Valle de Guadalupe, B.C. Mexico and look at the construction taking place at the old Jack Murphy Stadium.

A Wine Tasting Tour in Baja? What about COVID? We heard Mexico’s protocols were more stringent than those in the United States. They continued with social distancing and wearing of masks, whether vaccinated or not, except for drinking and eating, making us feel comfortable and safe.

On Saturday, June 12, 2021, Kevin, Bailey, Jon and I crossed the border at Tijuana as foreign pedestrians. After crossing to the Mexico side, we met Jaime, our tour guide for the day. Bailey served as our interpreter since the rest of us Gringos only spoke English.

It was a scenic one and a half hour drive. As we passed Rosarito Beach Hotel, Jon and I laughed as we remembered the hotel when we visited in 1975 or 76. Our accommodations were not in the multi-story building we had just driven past. Instead, the “hotel” was composed of a few rows of single-story manufactured buildings with maybe four or six rooms per unit. I’m sure the bed was lumpy, the linen suspect, and unless my memory is faulty, a shared bathroom was involved. My, how things have changed over the past 47 years.

The landscape had also changed with the added freeway and toll roads and the amount of growth south of Tijuana and into Ensenada. Nothing was like we remembered.

When we turned off and headed east into Valle de Guadalupe, it was as if we were driving into Sonoma or Napa, California. Vineyards blanketed the bowl-like valley below brownish hills. One notable difference was the sparseness of paved roads. Although the main roads were paved, dirt roads usually led the way to the wineries.

Our first stop was at Sol Y Barro, which translates to sun and mud. It’s the sun and mud, or soil, that makes the wine, or so our server told us. We liked the winery for its comfortable rustic atmosphere amid the vineyard. Nothing fancy there, just good tasting wine and friendly service.

The second stop was supposed to include lunch. When our guide pulled into the parking lot and saw five tour buses sitting there waiting for their passengers, he chose a different winery instead. That was fine with us. We weren’t ready to get up close and personal with a bunch of people we didn’t know, even if our stomachs were growling.

Our guide had arranged a tour at Baron Balch’e followed by a tasting. The winery tour guide told us about the wine-making process while escorting us through the steel vats, barrel room, and bottle room. It shocked me to learn they use egg whites (1 to 2.5 egg whites to 60 gallons of wine) during the process. The egg whites contain albumen which reduces harsh astringent tannins. I had never heard of that before.

The mural depicts the different stages of growing grapes

check out the post and ceiling in the winery gift shop

Our final stop was at El Cielo Winery. Food at last. Was it our hunger, or was the Baja-Yucatan fusion cuisine really that delicious? I’ll give all the props to the chef at Latitude 32 for his inspired dishes. With our bellies full, we proceeded to another round of fine wine tasting and entertainment by the resident peacock that wandered through the tables and delighted the guests.

The restaurant is on the right and wine tasting on the left

Or, choose a table on the lawn and order from the Smoke Kitchen

Bailey’s iPhone captured this view from the restaurant

I couldn’t resist a closeup of his shimmering colors.

We let Jaime do the driving back to the border. We were all tired, a bit tipsy, and wanted to get home. But first we had to navigate a line to meet with the border agent and reenter the United States. Our day trip to Valle Guadalupe was a great adventure even if we were all wiped out from the wine, food, and long drive back. Next time, it would be fun to stay overnight.

Before I wrap up the San Diego series of our Summer 2021 Tour, I want to take one last look at San Diego Stadium (also known as Jack Murphy Stadium (1981-1996), Qualcomm (1997-2017), and SDCCU (2018-2020). The stadium sat for decades at the foot of Mission Village Dr. on Friars Road where the Chargers played their first game on August 20, 1967.

Instead of a concrete structure, we saw piles of dirt, work trucks, and equipment preparing the acreage for its new life.

Piles of dirt have replaced the concrete structure

Although the stadium is gone, college football, other sports, and events will continue at the site when San Diego State University completes the new stadium. Besides a new stadium, the $3.5 billion project will include housing, office and retail, hotels, 80 acres of parks and open space, and a 34-acre river park on city property. These amenities are expected to roll out over the next 8-10 years.

The stadium trolley station is temporarily closed until construction completion.

It was sad to look at the rubble that was once the stadium and parking lot. However, after learning about all that will replace the aging Jack Murphy Stadium, I can see the benefit of letting go of the past and looking toward the future.

Cranes lift steel girders in place on a new building

I finished taking photos of the construction site, and then we went to The Original Pancake House for breakfast. We arrived early enough so that we only had about a 10-minute wait for a table. My mouth waters just thinking about the apple waffle with apple syrup I had and Jon’s pecan pancakes and side of sausage looked pretty good too.

Next up: All appeared clear for travel in New Mexico, so we pointed the truck east toward Ruidoso.

Safe Travels

Summer 2021 Tour San Diego, California Episode 2: We take a hike at Torrey Pines State Park and Reserve and Explore Local Beach Scenes and the Bay

On July 9, 2021July 8, 2021 By LToddIn California, Photography, RV Travel, Travel2 Comments

A hike or two is always on our itinerary when we visit the San Diego area, and this trip was no exception. We parked at Torrey Pines State Beach and joined other hikers up the steep road. At the top of the hill, we walked past the visitor center, restrooms, and drinking water toward the trail that leads through a portion of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve’s southern maritime chaparral.

Time for a rest, water, and inbox check. Bailey, Kevin and Jon.

View of the chaparral and ocean from the trail

The chaparral supports a variety of plant life. We followed the Razor Point Loop and Beach trails, walked out to either Razor Point or Yucca Point (I’m not sure which), and admired the views of the beach below and the ocean beyond when we stopped at various viewpoints.

People enjoying the beach at the foot of the stairs

Beachcombers gather around and on Flatrock

Sets of stairs led the way down to the beach. It was low tide, so we didn’t have to worry about climbing over rocks and dodging waves to return to the parking lot, which we had to do a few years ago. Instead, we had a leisurely walk back to the car.

Lunch was in order after our trek, so we piled into the car and drove to Del Mar. Bailey recommended Poseidon, and we couldn’t have been happier about our choices and, due to the late hour, our lunch turned into dinner.

Hungry for seafood? Head to Poseidon. With outdoor seating overlooking the ocean, it’s a favorite place.

Check out the detail on this sand castle.

Flowers along the walking path in Del Mar

Purple and yellow is a good color combo in nature

Imperial Beach was another town we explored this trip, not so much the town itself, but for the beer at Mike Hess and tacos served up by City Tacos.

San Diego’s mild weather is perfect for outdoor seating.

Kevin and Jon enjoy their beers and conversation while I sneak away to take photos.

We also drove around town gawking at different houses and condos. Some of the properties showed off their pride of ownership. Other condos and houses were undergoing needed renovation work, while others waited for someone to repair the damage caused by the harsh beach air.

In my last post on Chula Vista, I incorrectly identified the photo below as a Chula Vista building. It is actually in Imperial Beach, next door to Doggos Gus. A restaurant dedicated to serving up bacon-wrapped hot dogs with Mexican style toppings. They also serve burgers and have a vege option.

Imperial Beach with San Diego skyline at the horizon

Visit Tin Fish Restaurant at the end of Imperial Beach Pier for fish and chips and lobster rolls

On another day, we started at Liberty Station in Point Loma and walked to Harbor Island. At Liberty Station we passed by art galleries and museums, shops, restaurants, and various businesses.

Visions Art Museum exhibits works of art by quilt and textiles artists

Veltz Fine Art specializes in one-of-a-kind sculpture surfaces inspired by nature

Kevin treated us to beignets from a stand at Liberty Public Market. They were yummy and reminded me of the beignets Jon and I ate with our coffee and chicory at the Café du Monde in New Orleans years ago.

Children climbed on the playgrounds, and families and friends gathered for picnics and celebrations at the park.

The naval theme is present throughout since Liberty Station was once part of the Navy Base.

Three ship guns in the middle right of photo

The USS Recruit, where new sailors learned how to maneuver around a ship

We crossed the bay on the pedestrian bridge on Halsey Road and walked through Spanish Landing Park and Cancer Survivor’s Park, where bronze statues walk through what looked like windows. The sculptures, created by Victor Salmones, depict people of all ages as they enter and walk through their treatments and come out on the other side.

Halsey pedestrian bridge from Point Loma to Harbor Island

View of bay and marina from Spanish Landing Park

Along Harbor Island Park, we passed by the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina and the Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island properties until we reached our reward. Dinner at Tom Ham’s. After three miles, my mouth watered for the scrumptious meal and libation that awaited me inside.

Our patio seating was the perfect place to watch powerboats and sailboats skim across the bay and admire the San Diego skyline on the horizon.

While we finished our dinner, the USS Coronado (LCS 4) navigated through the bay on its way out to sea. The Independence-class littoral combat ships are magnificent to see under sail and even more impressive up close. We had the opportunity to tour the USS Manchester (LCS 14) in San Francisco during Fleet Week in October 2018.

After the drinks and food, we all laughed at the idea of walking three miles back to the car. I was so glad Bailey said, “I’ll call an Uber.” If I had walked anymore that day, full-blown blisters would have erupted on the bottoms of my feet. Note to self: Wear good socks and shoes next time you go on a three-mile trek.

Next Up: Wine Tasting in Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe

Safe Travels

Summer 2021 Tour: San Diego, California, Episode 1

On July 2, 2021July 8, 2021 By LToddIn California, RV Travel, Travel4 Comments

It was Wednesday, June 2, 2021, and time to roll down the road to see how far we could go. California planned to remove most pandemic restrictions on June 15, allowing most businesses to open at full capacity and vaccinated persons to remove masks in most situations. We had our eye on New Mexico even though the state had not yet announced changes to their COVID restrictions. A week or so in San Diego would be sufficient time to see how the situation progressed, and we could visit with our son Kevin and his better half Bailey.

We made a stop at Castaic Lake RV near Magic Mountain for the night and arrived at Chula Vista RV Resort the next day. On June 4 we went to check out the fitness center, vowing to keep our fitness routines intact while on the road.

I was pleased to meet the yoga teacher who asked if we were attending the class. “Well, I wasn’t, but I will now,” I said. “Let me get my mat.” For the next week and a half, except weekends, it felt like I had a personal yogi teaching me new poses and critiquing my form since I was the only person who showed up.

Why had we not found Chula Vista RV Resort sooner?

Chula Vista RV Park was definitely a step up from the RV park in La Mesa where we usually stayed while in San Diego County. Staying in La Mesa may be more convenient, but the rumble of semis at all hours of the day and night was always a nightmare. Had we found a quieter place to stay for future trips? Not so fast. Read on.

What will happen to the beautiful palm trees and other vegetation?

Chula Vista (Beautiful View)

Chula Vista is the second largest city in San Diego County with a population of 268,000. The city’s 52 square miles is composed of a variety of coastal landscape, canyons, rolling hills, and mountains. We were disappointed to learn Chula Vista RV Park would soon close since it was in the way of the 535-acre Bayfront Project. The new project will eventually include residential options, a hotel, and conference center. Another RV Park, Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, recently opened near the Sweetwater Marsh to take its place.

Chula Vista’s vibrant historic downtown on Third Avenue between H and E streets invited us to park the car, stroll through the Chula Vista Memorial Bowl and Park, and continue on the street past restaurants serving Mexican, Italian, Asian and American fare. Other businesses and shops include jewelers, clothing and accessories, gifts, salons, spas, and others.

We saw several of these on the sidewalk. A bike rack, perhaps?

We parked near the 3.8-acre Memorial Park where there is lush green grass, lots of trees, an amphitheater, swimming pool, play equipment, and gymnasium.

Clumps of flowers dotted the grassy area

Welcome to Third Avenue in Downtown Chula Vista

Culichi Town coming soon to compete with the plethora of other Mexican restaurants in Chula Vista

Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and Living Coast Discovery Center

Kevin and Bailey thought they’d seen it all in San Diego County until we found a new place for them to explore. We arrived about an hour after the Living Coast Discovery Center opened and boarded the shuttle that took us to the center. There we found an aquarium with an assortment of sea creatures, aviaries with birds of prey and other birds, a composting display, and various trees and plants. For those who find the San Diego Zoo too large or expensive, they should consider the Discovery Center. The views of Sweetwater Marsh could not be beat, so we ventured along the native pollinator garden and the trail leading out to the bay. My favorite part was the giant sea turtle at the front of the center.

Sea Creatures Sculpture at the center’s entrance

Cans, plastic bottles, and other trash fill the turtle’s shell

Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep here? Go away.

Bailey and I took turns taking our group photos at the entrance to the Native Pollinator Garden. It would have been difficult to get the arch in a selfie. The garden had an excellent display of different plants and shrubs, and they were all abuzz with bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Even cholla make tasty blooms for pollinators

Along the trail leading to the bay, we saw several cement pads that are the ruins of the Hercules Powder Company. The company was the largest of 11 kelp-producing plants in 1916 along the Southern California coast. The company processed the kelp, combined it with other ingredients, and produced gunpowder. They ended production after World War I. I wonder who had the idea to create gunpowder from kelp.

Giant kelp was a major ingredient in the production of gunpowder during the early 1900s at this site.

Ice plant sparkles in sunlight while showing off its blooms

Sweetwater Marsh, ship to the right, Coronado Bridge, and San Diego skyline

Minus the buildings and trees on the horizon, the marshland is what must have greeted Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo from Spain in September 1542 when he arrived in San Diego Bay aboard the San Salvador.

View of Sweetwater Marsh toward Chula Vista

Other things visitors might do and see in Chula Vista:

Swim, splash, and slide at Aquatica San Diego in Chula Vista
Have a picnic at Chula Vista Bayside Park
Attend a concert at North Island Credit Union Amphitheater
Take a tour at South Bay Salt Works

Upcoming episodes include a hike in Torrey Pines, a quick visit to Imperial Beach, a walk from Liberty Station in Shelter Island to Tom Ham’s Lighthouse, and a trip to Valley de Guadalupe in Baja, Mexico.

Safe Travels and Stay Safe

Updated: July 8, 2021, to remove photo that was not in Chula Vista

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