Leaving Phoenix

3/16/2018 After working the NASCAR and LPGA events, I officially left on the Epic 2018 Road Trip. Before leaving Phoenix I stopped at Allan and Denise’s to say goodbye. I had lunch there before I left. After such a late start, I was only able to get to Show Low, Arizona where I spent the night in the Kmart parking lot (free).

3/17/2018 I left Show Low for Roswell, New Mexico wanting to see where Allan landed in his spacecraft. I got off of Interstate 25 onto Highway 380, which is the Billy the Kid Trail to Roswell. I saw the sign to the Trinity Site (about 20 miles off the Highway 380) where the first atomic bomb was detonated. I visited the Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, New Mexico.

Smokey is buried there and the visit was very emotional for me. I loved that Bear. 🙂
I found a nice place to stay in the Snowy River Cave campground (free).

3/18/2018 I installed a new Zamp ZS-30A 30 amp Solar Controller and tested it with one of the two Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline (Slim Design) Solar Panels that I plan on installing on the roof of my Nash 23D travel trailer. The one panel charges the battery quickly and holds the charge when using power within the trailer. 

I met Steve, a fellow camper from Florida, who is traveling around looking for a place to settle. We talked and had dinner in Capitan.

 

3/19/2018 I visited the New Mexico, United States of America military Fort Stanton (built 1855) that was active in various capacities for 155 years.

It was established to protect settlements along the Rio Bonito in the Apache Wars. Kit Carson, John "Black Jack" Pershing, Billy the Kid, and Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th Cavalry had all lived there. I also drove to Ruidoso, New Mexico for a look around not much there that interested me. I had dinner once again with Steve in Capitan.

3/20/2018 I'm still camped at the Snowy River Cave campground near Capitan, New Mexico. Steve left this morning which inspired me to move on. Drove through Lincoln, New Mexico where Billy the Kid was imprisoned and who then shot two deputies during his escape. The Tunstall Store is still open for business with its original 19th century merchandise on display and Lincoln as a whole is a very well kept historic town. I continued to drive through the beautiful Hondo Valley full of fruit trees and cattle. I checked into the Bottomless Lake State Park ($14.00) and met Al the campground Host.

I drove into Roswell for dinner and to shop for solar panel parts at Home Depot. I also bought sheets, groceries and a Roku at Walmart. I stayed up late configuring and watching TV using the Roku device.

3/21/2018 I'm still camped at the Bottomless Lake State Park and will probably stay here a couple of days. Went into Roswell and did my laundry. Afterwards, I visited the Roswell Museum & Art Center which consists of historical artifacts and esthetic art both pertaining to the region. For a town of this size (population 48,000) to have such an outstanding museum is very unexpected. I drove around and found this town to be quite surprising. The New Mexico Military Institute is here and to name a few notable alumni:

·         Sam Donaldson, former ABC News news anchor and reporter

·         Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton Hotel chain

·         Roger Staubach, former quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

·         Owen Wilson, movie actor

Additionally, Robert Hutchings Goddard the American engineer, professor, physicist, and inventor credited with creating and building the world's first liquid-fueled rocket resided in Roswell from 1930 until 1942 accomplishing his fundamental development of rocketry.

Roswell is a nice small town within a relatively nice setting with abundant outdoor activity and it has a lot larger town feel. The town seems as though it is not as Hispanic and/or Indian as the rest of New Mexico and is more like a Midwestern town.  

Hanging out with a Roswell Resident

3/22/2018  My last day in New Mexico was spent playing golf at the Nancy Lopez Golf Course at Spring River in Roswell. The rate was $19.25 for 18 holes and it was not a bad course. I had dinner at Peppers Grill & Bar in Roswell. The reason it is named Peppers is that the food can be very spicy (hot). The rest of the evening was consumed creating a new Blog.   Additionally, I had volunteered to review Antelope Valley College scholarship applications and this night I began the review of the first 8 candidates.