Aug 16 - Trinidad, Colorado

Today we drove up to Trinidad, CO not too far north of the NM border and across Raton Pass.   It was a beautiful drive despite the devastating fires that ravaged the Raton area.  As we drove north on I-25 you could see that the fires came up to & presumably jumped the highway as the burnt areas were on both sides of the road.  We had planned on camping at Sugarite Canyon State Park on this trip but discovered it was closed indefinitely due to the wildfire's destruction.  Below are a couple pics of the fire and aftermath - my photos of the fire zone are too blurry.

Courtesy of KOAT TV website

Courtesy of FOX13 TV

Photograph by Marty Mayfield/The Chronicle-News

We stopped in the town of Raton for some info and then stopped for some photos at the top of Raton Pass.  Raton Pass is located on I-25 between Raton, NM and Trinidad, CO at an elevation of 7834 ft.  The pass is part of the historic Santa Fe Trail (1822 - 1880) and is designated as a National Historic Landmark.

We descended into Trinidad, CO (Elevation 6025') mid-morning and the first stop was at the visitor's center where we loaded down with information and a walking tour brochure.  The town is beautiful, lots of Victorian architecture that has been preserved has kept the town's charm.  The walking tour leads you down the restored historic district and gives brief descriptions of buildings that were standing almost 150 years ago when the town was established.  The town was first established in 1862 and incorporated in 1876, the same year that Colorado became a state.  It is sited along the Purgatoire River (Rio de las Animas Perdidas en Purgatorio - the River of Souls Lost in Purgatory).  The main industries 'back in the day' were servicing the Santa Fe Trail, ranching and coal mining.

Below are a few photos of the buildings and if I could find my tourist info, there would be descriptions too but as it stands right now... you get photos.  :-)

View from the Visitor's Center - Trinidad, CO

Cobbled streets of Trinidad, CO

This used to be a fire station it is now

a children's museum.

Detail on the Bank building

One of the old gas lights from days

gone past - has now been converted to 

electricity.

Trying to Finish Our New Mexico Trip Blogs

Why is it so hard to find time to write a few sentences and load up some photos?  Geez...  I mean I am usually off for 4-days so I should be able to get everything done, right?  Whatever...

I think the 12 hour days are getting to me.  The day after I work I just want to sit, sleep & do nothing... which I seem to be doing since I'm not getting anything done. Then its catching up on housework since I stay up in Ardmore while working.  It's really all excuses for being lazy but it sounds better than saying I'm lazy.  Right?

Anyway - I'm going to spend today trying to finish the NM blog posts and looking for jobs. Tomorrow I'm off to visit two of my sisters and then to a great-niece's housewarming party in Burleson.

Stay tuned...

Aug 15 - NRA Whittington Center, Raton, NM

Cimarron Canyon campground in the morning

So, Monday morning we drove east toward Raton to check out the NRA Whittington Center's campground.  On the way, we passed a couple herds of Buffalo and a whole-lot of nothing else.  :-)  But the setting at WC was actually very nice - butted up against the mountains, there were pretty good views of rolling hills, mountains and extinct volcanoes.

The NRA Whittington Center is located about 11 miles west of Raton on Hwy 64.  While it bears the NRA name, it is solely supported by it's own fees and donations.  First established in 1973, it has come a long ways in amenities, now boasting a small, gun museum and library, gift shop, and 14 different shooting ranges varying from  pistol to high-powered long-range rifle, skeet and black powder.  There are several cabins that can be rented out as well as 2 campgrounds with 125 full hook-up sites.  What we liked the most was the peace & quiet - which seems a bit of an oxymoron considering all of the gun ranges.  I'm sure there are times that it would be crowded and loud but the week we were there it was peaceful.  In the early evenings a few police officers came in to shoot but we pretty much at the whole place to ourselves.  HEAVENLY considering we had people tromping through our last campsite...  but I get a head of myself.

Visitor Center at the NRA WC

Wayfinder at NRAWC

One of the shooting ranges

Another shooting range

There was quite a bit of wildlife throughout the WC - antelope, deer and rabbits.  I brought a hummingbird feeder so we had a few hummers too.  The Center staff warned us about bears and a mountain lion in the area - there had been a very large fire near Raton and it has driven the bears and lions down into the area, the staff were more worried about out dogs than us - but alas we didn't spot any of the predators.

Antelope crossing the road

Deer in camp

Hannah & Maggie spotted the deer in outside the camper

Deer on the hill

One of my hummers

It was so dark, the night skies were amazing - so many stars and cool enough that you could actually stay out and enjoy them.  We had great moon rises.

Sunset

Moonrise