Sunday, November 6, 2022

The Past Intrudes, Revisiting Places from a Previous Life

We drove south from Albuquerque and stopped in Socorro, where we met, and where we both went to college at New Mexico Tech. We didn't go to campus at all, but we did stop just a few miles south of town in San Antonio to eat an early lunch at the Owl Bar. When I lived here, I usually ate at the Owl about once a month, but never with Russ. He wasn't in my close circle at school (different departments). This lunch triggered an avalanche of nostalgia that has continued all the way through Tucson.

Chaos and Green Chile at the Owl Bar.

Green chile onion rings.

The road south from Albuquerque. I know this road well.

We stayed at City of Rocks state park. I actually climbed (bouldering) here when I was in college. During my first year, we weren't allowed to take more than 12-16 credits per semester, so I had time for other pursuits. I got into rock climbing. We typically climbed at Box Canyon, which is only about 20 minutes from campus, but would occasionally take weekend trips to other climbing areas. City of Rocks near Deming, NM was one of my favorites. I haven't returned to City of Rocks in over thirty years, and yet the stones whispered to me of the past. It's a spectacular place, and a nice one for camping, because the sites are all separated by rocks, so it feels private. We got very cold at night and had to use our propane heater to get out of bed in the morning, but I loved being here again. The sky is so dark, the stars provide sufficient light to see.

A different kind of rock group.

Our campsite.

Smaller group with the moon above.

Our spot from a different angle.

Sunset. The golden hour. Looking west.

Moonrise over rocks and prickly pear.

On our way through Silver City, we made a brief thirty minute visit to Russ' cousin's house. It was nice to see him (and his family), but we couldn't stay long. Russ' cousin had to coach a game that morning, so it was just a courtesy call, really. I would have liked to talk longer. We are back in the land of Roadside Tables instead of Rest Areas. I love them! We saw quite a few last year, but this is the first time we saw any on this trip. I missed taking a photo of the sign for the roadside table area. Maybe I'll get another chance later on in this trip.

Roadside table. There is usually a sign.

We stopped for the night (two nights actually), at Gilbert Ray Campground outside of Tucson, Arizona. It's super nice; crowded, but quiet. We hiked the Sendero-Esperanza Trail in the Saguaro West Section of Saguaro National Park. Lovely. I've been here before as well. I was in Tucson for a work conference around the year 2000. When my colleagues were unable to do anything else after we finished on one of the days, I took the rental car to the park by myself and joined a guided hike with only me and the park ranger. This visit felt different; the park was less crowded. I still ended up feeling very nostalgic for the young woman I was then, ready for an adventure on my own, and ambitious and feeling like work was an adventure, too.

Sunset from camp at Gilbert Ray.

Sunrise from the back window of the R-Pod.

Saguaros!

Sentinel of the trailhead parking lot.

From the top of the ridge, looking towards Tucson.

Big views in the other direction (back the way we came).

A smol saguaro.

We got back to the trailer and cleaned up a bit, then drove into Tucson for food and gas. We had a late lunch at the 1912 Brewing Company. Good beer and pizza. It would have been nice to spend longer in the city, but we are pushing to get home for some specific events, and so I choose to stay no longer than two nights at any one campground, no matter how much there is to see.

Pilsner and Red.

Nice digs. Dark and cool.

Italian veggie pizza.

The brewery logo.

We took two cans to go. We don't have any wine or beer left in the R-Pod, only gin. Our next three nights will be all dry camping, so we may want to have some beer close at hand!

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