Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Emory Pass, A Little-Known New Mexico Pass

Emory Pass, New Mexico Twain Harte, CA, Library

 

    On Sunday 8 May 2016 using NM Route 152 I decided to drive from Caballo to Silver City over the Black Range. Just after leaving Caballo I stopped to take a few photos of the clouds.

 

 

 

 



    I ended up doing a 360 -- that is, taking photos as I turned in a complete circle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Here's a final photo from near Caballo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    After passing through Hillsboro and one or two smaller towns I reached the mountains where I had looked for a level spot to boondock in 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    A photo of one of the high ridges as I drove generally west.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Though not level, I could have parked here in 2012 had I driven this far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    "Are we to the top yet?"

 

    "No, but we seem to be gaining elevation."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Note that Emory Pass was discovered and used by Lt W.H. Amory, U.S. Army, in 1846, while it was still part of Mexico.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Links:
Routes:
    Problem getting Blogger to display previous [Actual] Routes
    --
  • Su 12 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Tuol Lib - Sonora Lib - Big Lots - W/M - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • M 13 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Safeway - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • T 14 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Big Lots - $ Tree - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • W 15 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Save-Mart - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • Th 16 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Safeway - FS Rd#3N01 bd
  • F 17 Jun Actual Route: FS Rd#3N01 bd - Sonora Lib - Oakdale - Banta Rd W/M - Pacheco Pass - Santa Cruz
  • Sa 18 Jun Actual Route: Mission St Safeway - CA1N bd - Lighthouse Pt - S/W - CA1N bd
  • Su 19 Jun Actual Route: CA1N bd - Lighthouse Pt - Costco - DWL's - WHL's - CA1N bd
  • M 20 Jun Actual Route: CA1N bd - Lighthouse Pt - Marina W/M - Aptos Lib - CA1N bd
  • T 21 Jun Actual Route: CA1N bd - Lighthouse Pt - SV Lib - Safeway - Garfield Pk Lib - CA1N bd
  • W 22 Jun Route: CA1N bd - Lighthouse Pt - Aptos Lib - Garfield Pk Lib - S/W - CA1N bd

Finding Campgrounds:

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.
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Saturday, January 2, 2016

Two Carter Cemetery Plots

Two Carter Cemetery Plots Sonora, CA, Library

    Carter Cemetery is the only cemetery in Tuolumne, California. It was established in 1854. For more information check out the the first link below, which is a Find-A-Grave piece with a photo of the main gate.

    Because the sun was directly behind the headstones [on T 7 Jun 2016] I did not try to photograph them. The one on the left is for Katie Wilcoxson, who was born in Colorado in 1885 and died in Tuolumne in 1939. Her husband Ernest's headstone is somewhat more complete. He was born on 23 Sep 1888 in Louisville, CO, and died in Tucson, AZ, on 7 Feb 1950.

 



    This second plot contains the remains of three Wilcoxsons as well as Cordelia's mother "Lizie" Farley. The following are some closeups.

 

 



    The joint headstone for David W. Wilcoxson Sr and his wife M. Cordelia Shackelford Wilcoxson. He was born in Louisville, CO, in 1896 and died in Watsonville, CA, in 1984 while Cordelia was born in Comanche, TX, in 1898 and died in Sonora, CA, in 1980.

 

 



    The middle headstone is for Martha Elizabeth "Lizzie" Farley Shackelford Colbaugh, who was born in Lakeport, CA, in 1874 and died in Tuolumne, CA, in 1949.

 

 

 



    The headstone to the left side of this plot is for David W. Wilcoxson, Jr, who served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during WWII in New Guinea and the Philippines. He was born in Tuolumne in 1922 and died in San Jose, CA, in 1968.

 

 

Links:
Routes:
    Problem getting Blogger to display previous [Actual] Routes
    --
  • M 6 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - W/M - Lib Pk Lot - Tuol Lib - M-Wuk Lib - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • T 7 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Twain Harte Lib - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • W 8 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Safeway - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • Th 9 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - W/M - Big Lots - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • F 10 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - USFS - VA Clinic - Sonora Lib - Big Lots - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • Sa 11 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Tuol Lib - Sonora Lib - Big Lots - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • Su 12 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Tuol Lib - Sonora Lib - Big Lots - W/M - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • M 13 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Safeway - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • T 14 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Big Lots - $ Tree - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • W 15 Jun Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - 99 Cnt Store - NF Tuol Riv bd

Finding Campgrounds:

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.
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Sunday, December 20, 2015

Magdalena Mountains, New Mexico

Magdalena Mountains, New Mexico Benson, AZ, Library



    Here are three photos taken on W 4 May 2016 during a planned trip from Socorro, NM, to Eager, AZ, which I aborted when my truck transmission began slipping. While the area is mountainous, it has several large plains.

 

 

 

 



    I don't think the prominent mountain in the first photo is South Baldy since it's to the north rather than the west. However, the New Mexico Scenic Marker names one of the plains in the area, calling it La Jencia Plain. Farther to the south are the Plains of San Augustin.

    Another sign which I did not photograph indicated that there was a Bureau of Land Management Campround in Water Canyon. So, if you're tired of parking at Walmart in Socorro, and especially if you're a senior with a Senior InterAgency Pass, you might want to inquire about the Water Canyon Campround at the BLM Socorro Field Office; its address is 901 S. Highway 85.

    Incidentally,a National Radio Astronomy Observatory VLA (Very Large Array) is on US60 near Datil.

 

Links:
Routes:
    Problem getting Blogger to display previous [Actual] Routes
    --
  • M 23 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - W/M - Lib - Love's Truck Stop
  • T 24 May Route: Love's Truck Stop - P.O. - Lib - W/M - Lib - McD's - Love's Truck Stop
    • ...
  • M 30 May Actual Route:- Las Vegas Lowe's - Blue Diamond Lib - Red Rock Rd bd
  • T 31 May Actual Route: Red Rock Rd bd - Las Vegas - Beatty - Death Vy NP - Independence County Pk
  • W 1 Jun Actual Route: Independence County Pk - Big Pine - Bishop City Pk Lot
  • Th 2 Jun Actual Route: Vons - Bishop City Pk Lot - Pioneer Cem - E Line Cem - Bishop City Pk Lot - Vons
  • F 3 Jun Actual Route: Vons - Bishop City Pk Lot - Lake Crowley - Sonora Jcn - Sonora Pass - Mill Crk bd
  • Sa 4 Jun Actual Route: Mill Crk bd - Strawberry - Sonora Lib - Safeway - NF Tuol River bd
  • Su 5 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - W/M - Lib Pk Lot - Twain Harte Coin Laundry - Sonora SfWy - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • M 6 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - W/M - Lib Pk Lot - Tuol Lib - M-Wuk Lib - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • T 7 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Twain Harte Lib - NF Tuol Riv bd
  • W 8 Jun Actual Route: NF Tuol Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Safeway - NF Tuol Riv bd

Finding Campgrounds:

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.
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Friday, November 20, 2015

Elephant Butte, New Mexico

Elephant Butte, New Mexico Benson, AZ, Library

    One of the noteworthy geographical features of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, is Elephant Butte, seen here in a photo taken on 6 or 7 May 2016 from the T or C Walmart, which is situated on a hill overlooking McDonalds just as the sun is setting in the west.

    In the distance one can see a long rock outcropping which allegedly resembles the back of an elephant, with the McDonalds sign roughly in front of its tail.

    The supposed head of the elephant is behind the whitish light pole on the road below.

 

 

 



    Zooming in the elephant-like features become somewhat more apparent despite the haze or blowing dust.

 

 

 

 



    But the next morning the air was much clearer and resulted in this view of Elephant Butte.

 

 

 

Links:
  • Wikipedia article on the town of Elphant Butte, NM
  • Many Elephant Butte Reservoir Photos
Routes:
    Problem getting Blogger to display previous [Actual] Routes
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  • Th 12 May Actual Route: Sagebrush RV Pk - P.O. - Benson - W/M - McD's - Love's Truck Stop bd
  • F 13 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop bd - W/M - Benson Public Lib - Love's Truck Stop bd
  • Sa 14 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop bd - W/M - Goodwill - Benson Public Lib - Love's Truck Stop bd
  • Su 15 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - W/M - Goodwill - Benson Public Lib - Love's Truck Stop
  • M 16 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - W/M - P.O. - Benson Public Lib - Love's Truck Stop
  • T 17 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - P.O. - Benson Public Lib - W/M - Love's Truck Stop
  • W 18 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - P.O. - D.A.V - Lib - W/M - Lib - Love's Truck Stop
  • Th 19 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - Lib - W/M - Lib - Love's Truck Stop
  • F 20 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - Lib - W/M - Love's Truck Stop
  • Sa 21 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - Lib - Coin Laundry - Love's Truck Stop
  • Su 22 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - W/M - Lib - McD's - Love's Truck Stop
  • M 23 May Route: Love's Truck Stop - W/M - Lib - Love's Truck Stop

Finding Campgrounds:

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.
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Tuesday, October 20, 2015

A Great Bargain for Seniors!

A Great Bargain for Seniors! San Angelo, TX, Library

    I've been traveling full-time since Nov 2010. Since then I've visited most of the major national parks in the contiguous 48 states. And because I'm older than 61 my costs for entering those parks has been zero. That's right! Because I bought a Golden Age Pass in 1995 when I was 62+, I have been able to take advantage of one of the best bargains Congress has ever provided for us seniors.

    Furthermore, I paid half-price while camping at campgrounds maintained by the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. However, if the campground is run by a contractor or concessionaire, there is usually no 50% discount. The camping fee at Pinnacles Natl Monument in California, where the photo to the right was taken, jumped from $5 in 2006 to $37 in 2010.

    As of 1 Jan 2007 the Golden Age Pass, while still honored, is no longer being issued; it has been replaced by what is now called the Senior InterAgency Pass or the Senior Pass of the "America the Beautiful Pass Program." Here are the requirements as listed on the first link below.
  • Available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are age 62 or older
  • A Photo ID
  • A one-time charge of $10 for this lifetime pass. The pass provides free entrance to most federal recreation areas and provides a 50% discount on use fees, such as camping fees. [Note: the two National Recreation Areas I've visited, Armistad near Del Rio, Texas, and Flaming Gorge on the Utah/Wyoming border, are each run by one of the five government agencies above and honor Senior Passes.]

    Because it'a a fairly long drive from where I am now in San Angelo to Armistad Natl Recreation Area, Guadalupe Mtns Natl Park, or Big Bend Natl Park in order to buy a Senior Pass I'd suggest you locals obtain one online or by mail from either the Army Corps of Engineers (1st link below) or the U.S. Geological Survey (2d link below).

    If you live in the west or near the Applachians, there's likely a U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station within a reasonable driving distance. The 3d link below is an example of the USFS website for Ashley Natl Forest. [N.B. Forest or Districts within a Forest are more likely issue Senior Passes than are temporary stations only manned during the fire season.]
Links:
Routes:
    Problem getting Blogger to display previous [Actual] Routes
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  • T 10 May Actual Route: I-10 bd - Lordsburg Pilot - San Simon - Willcox, AZ - Sagebrush RV Pk
  • W 11 May Actual Route: Sagebrush RV Pk - P.O. - Willcox Lib - Sagebrush RV Pk
  • Th 12 May Actual Route: Sagebrush RV Pk - P.O. - Benson - W/M - McD's - Love's Truck Stop bd
  • F 13 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop bd - W/M - Benson Public Lib - Love's Truck Stop bd
  • Sa 14 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop bd - W/M - Goodwill - Benson Public Lib - Love's Truck Stop bd
  • Su 15 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - W/M - Goodwill - Benson Public Lib - Love's Truck Stop
  • M 16 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - W/M - P.O. - Benson Public Lib - Love's Truck Stop
  • T 17 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - P.O. - Benson Public Lib - W/M - Love's Truck Stop
  • W 18 May Actual Route: Love's Truck Stop - P.O. - D.A.V - Lib - W/M - Lib - Love's Truck Stop
  • Th 19 May Route: Love's Truck Stop - Lib - W/M - - Lib - Love's Truck Stop

Finding Campgrounds:

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.
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Saturday, October 10, 2015

Selected 2015 Photos

Selected 2015 Photos San Angelo, TX, Library

 

    Sign at the lowest high point (345') of the 50 states in Walton County, Florida.

Updated State High Points

     [Photos posted on this blog from 15 Mar to 30 Sep]

 

 

    A view of the Gulf of Mexico from Pt. Charlotte on Florida's west coast.

Florida's West Coast

 

 

 

 

 

 

    A view of the Gulf from Ft Myers, where both Thomas Edison and Henry Ford had second homes.

Florida's West Coast

 

 

 

 

 

    There are some trees in the Everglades -- but not many.

The Everglades

 

 

 

 

 

    A Key Largo Marina.

Key Largo

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Some flooding on the Ouchita River.

Flood Waters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Looking back down at the road through the Great Smoky Mtns National Park.

Smoky Mtns Natl Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Falling Springs Falls in the Sam Snead country of West Virginia.

Loop Thru West Virginia

 

 

 

 

 

 

    The Appomattox Court House in Virgina where Lee's surrender to Grant did not take place.

Appomattox Court House NHS

 

 

 

 

 

    Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.

Pine Creek Canyon

 

 

 

 

 

 

    From Watkins Glen at the southern end of Seneca Lake, NY.

NY's Finger Lakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Sha-Qua-Ga Falls south of Seneca Lake.

NY's Finger Lakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Gettysburg National Cemetery near the site of Lincoln's Address

The Gettysburg Address

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Cooperstown, NY, exhibit on Willie Mays.

Baseball Hall of Fame

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Falls in Overlook Park, Ticonderoga, NY.

Some Falls...

 

 

 

 

 

    Sandusky Bay & Harbor, Ohio.

Sandusky Bay & Harbor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Football Hall of Fame photo of Vince Lombardi.

Pro Football Hall of Fame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Ft Ticonderoga cannon at the southern end of Lake Champlain.

Ft Ticonderoga

 

 

 

 

    The Grand Canyon from Zuni Point.

Grand Canyon + Some Professional Photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

    A 2014 Sunset.

 

 

 

 

Links:
  • Adjacent to Each Photo

Routes:
    Problem getting Blogger to display previous [Actual] Routes
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  • M 21 Mar Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Santa Fe Park - Visitor Ctr - $ Tree - Sherwood Way W/M
  • T 22 Mar Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Santa Fe Park - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • W 23 Mar Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Dr Anderson - Santa Fe Park - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • Th 24 Mar Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Lib - Santa Fe Park - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • F 25 Mar Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Lib - Santa Fe Park - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • Sa 26 Mar Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Lib - Santa Fe Park - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • Su 27 Mar Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Visitor Ctr - Santa Fe Park - Sherwood Way W/M
  • M 28 Mar Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Lib - Visitor Ctr - Santa Fe Park - Lib - Sherwood Way W/M
  • T 29 Mar Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Lib - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • W 30 Mar Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Lib - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M

Finding Campgrounds:

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.

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Monday, October 5, 2015

Flash Howard of Bloomington

Flash Howard of Bloomington San Angelo, TX, Library

 

 

    You've all heard of Flash Gordon, as played by Buster Crabbe -- especially if you watched movies in a theater during the 1940s & 1950s.
    Moving down the alphabet have you heard of Flash Howard? Here he is with his wife Cassie in front of their fireplace at their home in Bloomington, Indiana. Note the flashing eyes!!

 


     [Photos taken 6 Oct 2015]

 

 

    After taking a second shot notice that not only are Steve Howard's eyes flashing, but so too is the photo above the mantel of their fireplace. [I learned two days later from the ranger at the Mammoth Cave Natl Park Campground that she turned off her digital camera's flash by using the "Nightime Setting." That was not mentioned in my camera's manual, for I read the entire thing the night before and found no mention of how to turn off the flash.]
    Steve Howard is a high school classmate of mine. He stood out not only because he was the tallest in the class but also because he was the drum major for the Santa Cruz High School Marching Band.
    A while after he graduated Steve enlisted in the Navy as a seaman recruit (E1) and over time worked his way up to rank of Captain (O6), which is the equivalent of full colonel in the other military branches. Thirty-six years later he retired from the Navy after commanding the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center near Bloomington.
    After a stint as Chief Honcho of the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce he and Cassie bought a sailboat and sailed it from San Diego to La Paz on the Sea of Cortez. They lived aboard it for about five years before returning to terra-firma again in Bloomington and San Diego.

 

 

    Steve parked about 6 or 7 blocks from Indiana University. Here's a photo he took of the restored dome atop the Monroe County Courthouse. However, his nefarious plan soon became evident

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Here I am holding hands with a statue of a former President & Chancellor of the University, Herman B. Wells.

 

 

 

 

Links:

Routes:
    Problem getting Blogger to display previous [Actual] Routes
    --
  • Sa 6 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Community Hosp ER - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • Su 7 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • M 8 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - S/A VA Clinic - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • T 9 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Visitor Ctr - Community Hosp - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • W 10 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Lib - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • Th 11 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Lib - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • F 12 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Comm Hosp - Lib - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • Sa 13 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Lib - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • Su 14 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Lib - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • M 15 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Visitor Ctr - Lib - Comm Hosp - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M
  • T 16 Feb Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - S/A VA Clinic - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M

Finding Campgrounds:

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.

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