Southeast New Mexico

Carrizozo, New Mexico: it's just two hours away

Carrizozo, New Mexico: Painted burros, cherry cider, Photozozo, and a restorative pit stop at the Valley of Fires Recreation Area (2023)

The experience most people have when visiting Carrizozo, New Mexico is slowing down to stop at a four-way stop sign at the intersections of Highway 54 and Highway 380, possibly filling up their gas tank at the gas station, and continuing on to their final destination. Carrizozo is generally considered to be a pit stop, not a destination. A local resident described...

Getting to the finish line ...

Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico: A Day at the Races, Beginner’s Luck, and “Free Spirits at Noisy Water”

When it comes to horse racing, I’m an idiot. Then again, I’m an idiot when it comes to most things in life, so perhaps that’s not saying much. I have very limited experience with horses and I’m not into gambling or betting. So, it’s probably a good thing that I’ve never been to a horse race before. But on a sunny August afternoon...