When we designed our trailer we foolishly elected to not add air conditioning since we ‘only camp in the high country of Colorado’. So where have we been so far? Big Bend National Park where although it routinely got below freezing at night when we arrived in January 2016, it just as routinely reached temperatures above 100˚ by the time Alan left several months later. And what was our first trip this year? New Mexico – where the temperature was 102˚ inside the trailer every day for a week! (Notice the highs at the bottom of the image below.)

We headed down to Rio Rancho – just outside of Albuquerque – for the National Speleological Society annual convention. The opening ceremony featured an Eagle Dance accompanied by drums and songs courtesy of a family from Zia Pueblo followed by a busy week of programs and exhibits at convention, catching up with friends we’ve known for over 40 years, a trip to Galena King Mine, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Santa Fe Opera house and excellent New Mexican food.

Galena King Mine is a privately-owned mine in the Manzano Mountains outside of Albuquerque. Entry into the mine is by invitation only. The Friends of Galena King Mine offered to run 3 trips with 12 people each from those attending convention. Alan and I were lucky to be included.

The first claim for the mine was filed in 1909, and it is assumed they were hoping for gold along with the fluorite. The mine was never really profitable and mining ceased during World War II when the military used the mountains for testing proximity fuses. UXOs (unexploded ordnance) can still be found so we were told to stay away from any metal objects we might see and to report them to our guides.

Going down in Galena King Mine:

In the following photos the blue and yellowish/clear cubes are fluorite, the dark grey cubes are galena and the clumps are barite: (It’s not really that simple as you’ll see, but you get the idea.)

Checking out one last place before leaving the mine:

After convention Peter joined us for a quick trip to northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. We were determined to visit Bisti Badlands after an unsuccessful attempt several years ago. Fortunately, the temperatures had cooled down to the 90s, but we still got an early start to avoid the worst of the heat and were back at the truck by 1 pm. It was worth the wait and the heat.

Bureau of Land Management provided the description below.

It felt as if we’d been transported to another planet:

Looking up:

Looking down:

Looking up close:

Petrified Logs:

Our last stop before heading home was Williams Creek (north of Pagosa Springs in southern Colorado). The fishing was less than hoped for, but we enjoyed catching up with friends from Big Bend and the cooler weather – cool enough that we could sit around a campfire in the evening and watch the moon slide through the trees.

Stay tuned: Our next big trip in the trailer will take us to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.