DAY 86- Alpacas & Rough Riders…

Yesterday when I drove through Mora, which is north of Vegas, NM, I saw a sign about feeding Alpacas at a place called Victory Ranch.  It was almost the Ranch’s closing time when I drove through but I thought I might still check it out.  So here I was doing a bit of backtracking so that I could have the opportunity to feed live Alpacas.  Yes, that’s the story of my life these days; as sad as it may sound.

Photo- Alpacas out grazing in the field at Victory Ranch.

I drove to Mora about 29 miles north and halfway through town I turned right and headed east.  At mile marker one, the ranch was off to the left.  I had driven by Alpacas who were out on in the field for about the last ½ mile.  I followed the signs and took a dirt track back to a barn like store towards the rear of the complex.  I parked and went in.  There were all kinds of wonderful wool products available for sale.  I asked the girl if I was too late for the 11AM feeding for the Alpacas.  It was a couple minutes after 11AM, and the next feeding time posted was 1PM.  She said that it should be no problem and got on the phone.

I paid my $5 fee and she set me up watching a video about Alpacas while I waited for Brian to show up.  She said he does the educational talk before you go out to feed the Alpacas.  I had just barely managed to sit down and watch the video when Brian turned up with a Folgers plastic coffee can in hand.

Photo- Brian, Mr. Educational, at Victory Ranch.

Brian led me out to the veranda part of the store, had me sit down on a bench, and started explaining the history of Alpacas.  Alpacas are related to camels.  There used to be camels in North America and some moved over the land to South America and others moved over to Asia and Africa.  They’ve all adapted to the climates and have changed from the original camels.  The camels in North America became extinct in the 1200’s; but the others have survived.

Brian went on to explain that the different aspects such as; breeding, sheering, and how the farm is set up.  There are four dogs and four lamas to protect the Alpacas.  The four dogs I understood but the Alpacas?  That was new to me.  But they are gentle with the herd and fierce when it comes to protecting the herd.  They will attempt to stomp on any predator.  It’s their natural instinct, and they are also related to the Alpacas only they were breed for carrying rather than for their fur.  He went on to tell a couple of stories of when they’ve had the lamas cornered wolves.  It was all very interesting.

Photo- Coal entering into the pen with the kindergarten crew of Alpacas.

Photos- Feeding the Alpacas.

 

Then, Brian used a walkie talkie and had Coal come take me out to feed the Alpacas.  I would be in the pen with what they called the kindergarteners; all of which were still in their first year.  They did the feedings of these youngest ones so that they could get used to being around people.  That way it would be easier later on to deal with them when it was sheering time.  Coal walked to the pen and right away they spotted the red Folgers coffee can.  They knew what was coming and they were all gathering at the gate.  Coal poured a little on the ground and then let me fill my little cup with some so I could start feeding them.  Quite a few of them were working on the ground but a few were watching as I got prepared to feed them.

I put some from my cup into my open slightly cupped hand and here they came!  One that was called Duke was especially a greedy one and stayed right by my cupped hand waiting for me to fill it.  Duke had this figured out.  I kept on moving my hand to let other get a chance and there were plenty of them wanting their chance.  There were almost 20 of them in the pen.  In general they were not very aggressive at all; rather docile.  They have no upper front teeth just bottom teeth so it was rather interesting having them feed out of your hand.  The feed had molasses and oats in it and this was a treat for them; normally they would be munching on grass out in the field area.  I was allowed to continue feeding until the Folgers coffee can was empty.  It was a fun experience.

Photo- Duke, the greedy Alpaca!

I drove back south through the ghost town of Mora and past Storrie Lake; into Las Vegas I went.  I was headed to the town museum where part of the museum is dedicated to the Teddie Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.  I parked outside and went in.  I was welcomed and told there was no charge but there was a donation box if I wanted to donate.

Photo- Gear from the Rough Riders in one of the cases in the Las Vegas,NM Museum.

The Rough Riders as they came to be known were the 1^st US Voluntary Cavalry Regiment led by Theodore Roosevelt.  Quite a bit of the collection in the Las Vegas museum is material from the Cuban Campaign of 1898 Spanish-American War.  But there are photos and objects from the Rough Rider “Reunions” that took place in Las Vegas, NM too.  The Rough Riders were a tight knit group and met for yearly for reunions.  The first reunion took place in August of 1899.  Las Vegas at that time was the BIG city in the area and was convenient by railroad.  There were reunions in other cities such as; Oklahoma City, Colorado Springs, San Antonio, and Prescott, AZ.  But those that were left voted to hold any further reunions in Las Vegas.  The last “reunion” was held in 1968; one of the last two remaining past away later that year.  The last man standing of the Rough Riders pasted away in 1975.

Photo- Plaque of famous quote made by Teddie Roosevelt.

Also at this small town there were memorabilia and signs from the HUGE Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo which were quite the event in Las Vegas for years.  It also seemed to fit in nicely with the Rough Rider Reunions.  Las Vegas also happens to be on the Santa Fe Trail which there was old road signs and move memorabilia from that too.  It was quite the interesting little museum.

Photo- Statue in Las Vegas Plaza area.

Photo- Some of the historic building on the Plaza in Las Vegas, NM.

Next, I wandered down to the Plaza area of Las Vegas.  It’s an oval city park plaza area that is surrounded by older historic buildings.  There was a colorful sculpture in honor of “Our Lady of Sorrow Parrish” and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  Our Lady of Sorrow Parrish was the first Catholic Church in the area.  I walked around the square and checked out the buildings and what not.  Then, I had lunch at El Rialto Restaurant which Coal at Victory Ranch had recommended.  He grew up in Las Vegas and said it was his favorite place outside of his girlfriend’s cooking.  But he did say that anything in the Plaza area was good.

I ordered the three combo taco special with posole, which I have never had before.  It was the posole or Mexican rice, and I had never tried it so I thought what the heck (sorry hanging out in Utah too many years).  Posole is hominy spiced up, AND I happened to discover that I didn’t like it.  However, I LOVED the tacos.  These tacos were made from scratch right down to the taco shell.  They were amazing!  Then, I had fresh made to order sopapilla with honey for dessert.

Next, I was zooming along on the road on my way to Albuquerque for the night.  From there I would head further south, and I hope on to warmer weather.  I ended up getting stuck for a while in Albuquerque rush hour traffic.  But I will say it still didn’t hold a candle to the San Diego Rush hour before Monday Night Football.  I took an easy night in and ended up doing laundry.  I was a bit over due for this but now was the time.

DAY 85- Historic Taos & Another Vegas...

I left the hotel and headed south about ½ mile towards the Taos historic area.  I had driven on the main road through the area and had visited the Taos Historic Inn the night before but hadn’t really gotten a full look at the area.  I turned on Carson Road and parked in a free parking lot.  I walked around the Historic area.  Most of the shops were not opened and I was wondering if I was really hitting it during the off season time.  I did see a wonderful little courtyard area as I checked to see if a gallery was open. 

Photos- There are several courtyards in historic Taos.

I crossed over Hwy 68 to heart of the Historic area.  I visited a couple of art galleries; one of which was a collective.  I ended up talking with the gal that was manning the collective about bicycling in the area.  She did it a little bit and had recently been joining her daughter in running in the area too.  She was real nice and I asked her what the winters were like in Taos.  She said that it got really cold and snowy; nothing like what I’ve gotten used to in Utah.  I asked her about other things in the area too. 

I continued to wander along.  I went to a t-shirt shop where I found a Taos t-shirt that I liked; a big surprise.  NOT!  I talked with the clerk at this shop and found out that quite a few of the businesses didn’t open until 11AM.  She didn’t know why but they did.  But she did say that it was a slow time of year until they started getting some REAL snow and then the skiers would be swinging by.  She teased me that I was more than welcome to hang out in her shop with her for the day; that was she wouldn’t be too lonely and I wouldn’t be chilly.  I had left my gloves in the car, and it was a bit chilly.   She was a bit of a character.

Photo- A side area of historic Taos.

Next, further down the way on the other side of a courtyard, I went into a clothing shop where a young gal had managed to get me to try on some items of pricey clothes that I really did not need at all.  She was a good salesperson.  She was fun to talk with and it was just fun trying on stuff that I knew I would never wear or need.  I felt like I was shopping with one of the gals.  I thanked her for her time and wished her luck finding an earring she had dropped just before I got there.  She said she had forgotten about the earring while I was there.

I went into a sporting goods store down the street where they had a covered outside area that you could shop in.  I was kind of hoping to find a cheap winter cap but the cheapest I could find was $35.  I also looked at some nice winter jackets but they were way too pricey for this girl.  But I was having fun and the people in the area were fun to talk with.  I went in several more shops and eventually through another courtyard area.  I had a side walk vendor ask where I got my bag; he liked it.  And I couldn’t remember where I had gotten the bag.  I apologized to the guy and he said no worries gal.  I continued to explore and took a couple of turns.  I was almost across the street from where I went for dinner last night. 

I was in the mood for late lunch.  I found a nice little restaurant called Graham’s Grill which I had seen in the same booklet as the Adobe Bar I went to last night.  I went in and asked to see the menu.  There was a pumpkin bisque that sounded wonderful and I was very much in the mood for some soup.  I asked to be seated and was shortly after waited on. 

Photo- One of the entrances to Graham's Grill in Taos.

I ordered a mocha latte, the Pumpkin New Mexico Red Chili Bisque with a Caesar salad.  The server seemed glad that I knew what I wanted.  I could understand; on one side there were a pair of women talking over their open menus and on my other side was a guy with glass of wine, menu off to side and he’s pecking away at a laptop.  A HUGE green cup came with my steaming mocha latte.  I had to let it cool down, but I always love it when coffee is served in huge ceramic cups.  I looked around while I waited.  The walls were a warm lemon yellow; there were touches of royal blue and sage green with vaulted ceiling.  It was a fun atmosphere with a hint of yuppie. 

The bisque with salad arrived.  The salad threw me for a bit.  It was a Caesar dressing served over part of a still intact baby romaine lettuce head.  I definitely needed to use a fork and knife for this salad.  Awe! The bisque was amazing!  First there was the sweetness of the pumpkin and then the spice of the red chili and other spices would give it a wonderful kick but not too much of one.  The balance of the sweet and spicy was pure perfection.  What a wonderful meal it was and if the recipe for this bisque was in the cookbook that was being advertised on the table it might be worth the purchase.  But the last time I got to cook was over two weeks ago; what did I need a recipe book for?  But if any of you are looking for a gift for a cook in the family I bet this would be a good cookbook to get.

Photo- A bit of snow and evergreens heading south out of Taos.

Off south I went on Hwy 518 out of Taos; this was called a scenic byway.  I went through a forest of evergreen trees with bits of snow on the ground here and there.  The road wound around, up and over.  It was really a pretty drive and there was little traffic.  As I headed more south the scenery changed from evergreens to a more rocky arid landscape and then eventually to an almost flat dry brush.  There’s a lot of variety in the New Mexico area and maybe that’s why they call it the land of enchantment.

Photo- A rocky landscape as I headed further south towards Las Vegas,NM.

I drove into Las Vegas, NM and wouldn’t have known it until I saw the city limits sign.  Eventually, as I drove further there was a Wal-Mart and strip malls along the road.  It was nothing like the other Vegas; this one was a small town with no gambling.  I quickly got checked into my hotel, ran to the post office for stamps (got to keep the Popette in formed), and then ran by the visitor’s center.  The lady at the visitor’s center was in the process of locking the door when I arrived. 

Photo- The landscape just before Las Vegas,NM.

She asked me how she could help and then gave me a historical brochure that had over 900 different locations in the town; 900, huh?  That could take me awhile.  Most of the places were buildings that had historical significance for the Santa Fe Trail which went through the area.  I drove around for a bit and tried to get my bearings and find places.  But it was getting dark and it was hard finding places in the dark.  I grabbed some take out and went back to the hotel.