DonTom

[Tulecreeper]

Yeah, but I have no clue how much "wildlife guys" usually know about reptiles.

-Don- Flagstaff, AZ

I understand...30 years doing the job and raised by a father who also spent 30 years in F&W before me, I might surprise you on my breadth of knowledge.

 

[DonTom]

This is the Ring-necked Snake we have here. Very tiny, seldom getting to 12-inches.

View attachment 168357

Yeah, but I think the Regal Ringneck grows the largest of them all, around 32" IIRC. But the one I saw yesterday was less than a foot long.

BTW, Ringnecks are common snakes in the SF area, but there they have orange bellies instead of yellow. And there their main food are slender salamanders.

-Don- Flagstaff, AZ

 

[ziplock]

That place is really pretty.

How far was it from the campground?

Did you count all those steps?

I guess you didn't see any bears.

 

[DonTom]

That place is really pretty.

How far was it from the campground?

Did you count all those steps?

I guess you didn't see any bears.

By road, 7.9 miles from this very spot. 5.7 miles for a bird.

For wildlife, all I saw there was a bunch of baby lizards. Western Fence Lizards, as their eggs just started to hatch in the last few weeks. They are also all around both of my houses (CA & NV).

No, I didn't count the steps, but there are many to climb back up.

I'm not all that good with cameras, so you really have to see the place, my photos do not show even close to what the place really looks like.

-Don- Flagstaff, AZ

 

[Jackiemac]

Nice photos!

We did the short hike to the cliff dwellings which was great.

I really loved Montezumas Well are you going there?

 

[DonTom]

Montezumas Well

That is 60 miles from here and is out of range of a round trip (120 miles) of my electric motorcycle (Unless there are places to recharge on the way).

But no, it is not in my plans for this trip. But I always like to have a few places in reserve for my next trip. I do not want to see everything possible on each trip, as I may need a good reason to return someday.

-Don- Flagstaff, AZ

 

[DonTom]

My entire day today (since ziplock will like to know!):

First, I rode six miles south for breakfast, to Denny's to have my loaded veggie omelet with pancakes and fruit fix. From there I went 21 miles north to Sunset Nat'l Monument. I did some hiking there and watched the complete movie at the visitor center. Then from there, I went past here again to go to SafeWay and brought back $130.00 worth of groceries on my little motorcycle and still had room left over. Includes a pack of 24 bottles water and a two 12-packs of the ICE drinks I like. And various other thingies to put in my (4-door) refrigerator and freezer here. And since by that time, I was quite hungry again, I got one of their hot meat loafs and ate half of it as soon as I got back here to my RV.

I put on 44 miles on my electric motorcycle and had 44% (coincidence, both were 44) SOC left when I got back so I am now charging it back up to full from my outside outlet on this RV. It will take a few hours charging this way, but no hurry.

So after I put all this stuff a way, I did other useful things such as wash clothes here at the KOA. Here, their machine takes credit cards only. I think that is the best way to do it, at least for me.

I leave here tomorrow morning. Headed east.

I will post some photos of the Sunset Nat'l Monument after I post this.

-Don- (this is my last night at the Flagstaff KOA for this trip)

 

[DonTom]

Here are some of the Photos from Sunset Nat'l Monument:

 

[DonTom]

And here is 12,637 feet (3,852 m) elevation Humphrey Peak of the San Francsico Mountain Range in AZ as seen from Sunset Nat'l Park.

This mountain habitat is artic tunda. Not a single reptile or amphibian has ever been discovered on this mountain, not counting at the very base within the treeline.

No creeks or rivers on this mountain, the only water is from snow melt draining down about equally all around to get to the rivers and creeks well below. Very dry and cold all year long up there. Elevation at (Sunset and here) is around 7K'.

-Don- Flagstaff, AZ KOA

 

[ziplock]

What kind of soil is in that picture that has that nice fence?

 

[DonTom]

What kind of soil is in that picture that has that nice fence?

It's sand that you see, but it is all lava just next to it. There is a trail at the white fence that goes around a bunch of lava and I was on the trail. It's around a half mile loop trail.

-Don- Gallup, NM (taking a lunch break).

 

[DonTom]

I am here for the night. Big accident on I-25 just north of ABQ. Traffic was mostly 5 mph or so for quite a while, with many stops. It was dark by the time I got here. So I decided to stay here for the night. I am about an hour from White Rock, NM, where I will stay for a while. I will continue in the morning when it is nice and light.

I like this rest stop. Very quiet, no rule signs other than for pets. I don't think they care how long I stay. Not many others here. Just a couple of trucks, that are staying quiet. Hopefully it stays that way all night.

I have this RV leveled and with the sides out again, which I normally do not do at rest stops.

-Don- La Bajada Rest Area, La Cienega, NM (near Santa Fe, NM)

 

[DonTom]

I am now at the little electric only RV park by the Welcome Center in White Rock, NM. The kiosk is broken, and the Welcome Center cannot accept payments. Only $20.00 per night, but I have to pay ten miles away from here at their office.

So I will head out there in a bit on my electric motorcycle. I want to ride around this area for a while and see what is here anyway.

Meeting Paul is delayed a little. His wife, Donna, just got out of the hospital yesterday. Heart trouble. But she is now okay, just very weak after some type of operation in a hospital in ABQ.

-Don- White Rock, NM

 

[DonTom]

Paul & Donna are having me over for lunch tomorrow.

This place in White Rock has everything one could want in walking distance from this little electric only RV park ran by the county for $20.00 per night. Everything else is at a central location, water, dump, etc.

There are a couple of restaurants, a Smith's grocery store and a large hardware store within just a short walking distance.

I am now having my morning Italian Roast Coffee, made from my Keurig. In a few minutes, I will head for the taco place across the street for a Chorizo breakfast burrito.

-Don- White Rock, NM

 

[ziplock]

Chorizo Burrito​

Chorizo, eggs, house potatoes and cheese

• $6.75

Let me know if they use shredded potatoes or diced potatoes.

@DonTom

 

[DonTom]

Chorizo Burrito​

Chorizo, eggs, house potatoes and cheese

• $6.75

Let me know if they use shredded potatoes or diced potatoes.

Larger diced. I am there now, and I just finished the Chorizo Burrito. Nice and large, more than enough for a breakfast. It wasn't bad, but I would prefer the Chorizo to be a bit spicier. I will try one of their other breakfast burritos on Monday.

I don't think the Mexican food here is the typical NM style that is spicier. More typical CA style.

I had a chicken burrito here last night also. Wasn't spicy.

-Don- White Rock, NM

 

[Jackiemac]

Have you been to Bandelier National Monument? Worth a trip if you get close enough. I really loved it.

 

[Larry N.]

I don't think the Mexican food here is the typical NM style that is spicier. More typical CA style.

I don't know that restaurant, but many places in NM offer a choice of red or green chile (or a combo), mild, medium or hot, and you can ask which is hotter, too. NM style is as much about, probably more about, flavor than about "hot." I'm thankful that the company "505" (Albuquerque's area code, used to be all of NM) sells their green chile sauce all over, and Costco and some other stores offer it here locally- it has the typical NM flavor and the medium I usually see here is adequately hot too.

Many places in NM also offer sopapillas as bread for the meal, rather than stuffed or dessert, with honey. When I lived in ABQ it seemed to be universal, but probably isn't, quite...

 

[DonTom]

Have you been to Bandelier National Monument? Worth a trip if you get close enough. I really loved it.

It's on the way to Paul's place. He is up at 8,500' (2,600 m) elevation, totally off grid. So I will ride right by it and see it, depends on the time tomorrow when I leave if I go into the park. I turn onto a different road right at the park.

I can recharge my bike at Paul's place. He also owns a Tesla. His entire house is running on solar and battery, a system he designed himself.

If I cannot make it to Bandelier National Monument then, I will be here until Nov 2nd so I will have plenty of time to go there. It's only 8.7 miles from here and I can easily do a round trip on my electric motorcycle. Paul's place is 30 miles (50 km) from here, all up hill, out of cell range and several miles on a dirt road. It will be an interesting ride for me. I can still communicate with the world when out of cell range, so that is no issue. 30 miles all uphill should not be a problem for my electric motorcycle. But I am glad to be able to recharge there, but since it's all downhill on the way back, I probably won't even need it.

So either way, I will see Bandelier National Monument. Perhaps I will even go there twice during this trip.

BTW, there is a sign here at this RV park that says "Shuttle to Bandelier National Monument is done for the season and we may now drive in". And the weather has been perfect, but it could snow at Paul's place (Jemez Springs) this Sunday at 8,500 ' elevation, but not here at 6,440'. I could get a little rain then.

-Don- White Rock, NM

 

[DonTom]

it has the typical NM flavor and the medium I usually see here is adequately hot too.

A couple of years ago, I had the NM style with Mark_K5LXP & his XYL, in Albuquerque. I really did enjoy it. That was the first time I tried it.

But It's probably not common in small towns such as this one here in White Rock. Perhaps truer Mexico style here as all the cooks and employees here are Mexican in the restaurant here.

BTW, it is KM5SW who I am meeting tomorrow.

I have been active here on 40M-CW.

73, -Don- AA6GA/5 White Rock, NM