Ken & Diane Travel

 February 22, 2023 Yet another adventure yesterday out exploring the country side. We were on the Agua Caliente Road outside of Gila Bend. Using my ON X Off Road app we found this trail around the Gila Mountains. It was to be a 3 hour (3 hour tour :)  and 87 miles. It took us 5 hours and 130 miles. We did run into two other Jeeps going the opposite direction and exchanged info on the rest of the trail. And going where they had just come from was a lot more challenging than where we had just come from. There were a lot of washed out areas that we had to traverse.   On the route we came to a Sundad, a ghost town. No buildings remain, just these rock formations that were created by people that partied there over the years. They even used broken beer bottles to add to their creations. Beer and wine bottles in the center of these. pile of tin cans from the original town. Old Mine shaft      Gillespie  Dam ( to the right of bridge) and old steel bridge. Bridge opened in 1927 and has been in

 February 20, 2023 We spent the last 4 days in Bowie, AZ at a small campground that's specialty was jerky of all kinds. In Bowie there is nothing else but this place with the jerky, gas, propane and campsites. They also have a food truck which seemed to be the only restaurant in town. Most of the town is run down or closed up it seems. buildings in Bowie sign in from of Jerky RV Park  We did several day trips into the mountains surrounding Bowie including a trip to Fort Bowie, Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Forest and then searching for ghost towns.  We did what is listed as a mile and half hike to Fort Bowie which ended up at 4.1 miles round trip. The altitude got to me on the way in as it was uphill most of the way. I had to make frequent stops: did not seem to bother Diane. there are just stone walls left of the fort today. But pictures of the original fort showed a huge complex of officers, infantry and civilian housing. There was a hospital, mess hall, stables

 February 13, 2023   We took a trip to the Kilbourne Hole, a volcano carter, yesterday. We have been here before and it is always a nice dirt trip. We head south to La Union, NM about 25 miles from Las Cruces. Then headed for the dirt roads. We ended up putting on about 60 miles in the dirt. And as you can see from the video, got a bit lost. Lets say never lost if I would follow Diane's directions. My way gave me another hour in the dirt. I loved playing in the dirt as a kid and that will never change.  Kilbourne Crater, 1.5 miles X 2 miles in size. 140 feet deep.                                                     

 February 6, 2023    We did do some trail riding, in the sand, this past week, got a bit lost, ran into an 18 wheeler and got directions from the driver. The trail would have been better with an ATV as it was quite narrow. But it was challenging and fun. Did I mention FUN.  

 February 6, 2-23 More Pics Cafe in old town Mesilla Drone pictures from White Sands Car crash in the Lincoln National Park. Looked like it hit the mountain and was hit by another car.                                                       Back roads in the San Andrea Mountains

 February 3, 2023 No Hiking until today, over did it last week.  We paid a visit to the White Sand National Park today Got about 4000 steps in walking in the sand. We left at 9 am and got back at 4:30 PM. One of our longest day trips. We did do some trail riding,  in the San Andres Mountain and the Lincoln National Park outside of Alamogordo, NM.   In White Sands the temp was 38 degrees and the sand was very cold to the touch. I did manage to climb up one hill and tried to slide down, did not work as you can see in the video Diane took.                                                                             When you drive around in the back country, especially on dirt roads, you come across many old vehicles.                              In the back country a house being built looking like a castle.                                                               Tunnel in Lincoln National Park San Andreas Mountains