Monday, August 14, 2017

The Zees Go a Little Farther West

We live down in the unseen valley between this mesa and those mountains


The irrigated valley where we live in southern New Mexico is surrounded by mountains. Between the valley and the mountains are flat-topped mesas. The other day we traveled west out of town and up onto the West Mesa to see what we could see. 

We traveled west until we came to the Corralitos Road, a place we had never explored. It was pretty wild west-y out there. The range was open, meaning fences like this one are relatively rare, so the grazing cattle can wander where they will.






The road was silent and empty, like so many roads in New Mexico. But, wait... What are those black spots up ahead?


Look out commuters, there's a bit of a traffic jam and a possible slowdown in the right lane.  No, the left lane.


No, the right lane...


After the traffic cleared we had the road to ourselves again. No sounds but the tires on the dirt, the crickets and the birds. 

The geology was fascinating...



... and so was the botany.



There was even a little astronomy going on, off in the distance. What wonderfully dark skies they must have.




While heading back down to our own peaceful homestead, we paused at the Corralitos Ranch to admire this rustic building...

Just behind that barn are the little corrals that give the road its name


... and to give some thought to the sign we'll remember for the next time the grandchildren visit.





4 comments:

Margie's Musings said...

What a neat trip! Thanks for posting here again!

Jean (aka Auntie Bucksnort) said...

It would be fun to go for a horse ride out there!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Beautiful -- we like exploring 'lonesome' roads and this is a wonderful find. Can you imagine what the stars would look like up there? They're fabulous just about anywhere in your area and I wouldn't necessarily want to be up there at night (at our age because of driving back home in the dark) but how amazing it must be.

clairz said...

Sallie, I had to laugh at the idea of driving home in the dark along this road. I was recently asked by my eye doctor if I had any trouble driving at night. I had a hard time remembering the last time I was even out after dark (except trips out to the coop to check on the chickens)!