Saturday, March 20, 2021
Ruidoso, New Mexico to Post, Texas
Highlights: Billy the Kid Scenic Route, Windy Point Vista, Smokey the Bear, and weird and wonderful downtown Roswell
This morning we drove up, up, up into the mountains to the Apache Ski Resort. There wasn't a lot of snow left this late in March, but people were skiing nonetheless. We found the best views at Windy Point Vista, elevation approximately 10,000 feet.
Windy Point Vista
Sierra Blanca Range of the Sacramento Mountains
Lincoln National Forest
We were on the Billy the Kid Scenic Route. After the ski resort, we made our way past Fort Stanton, on to Smokey Bear Vista, and then through the village of Lincoln before continuing east toward Roswell and beyond.
Catholic chapel at Fort Stanton
Smokey Bear was a badly burned cub found by firefighters in 1950 in the Lincoln National Forest clinging to a charred tree after his home was destroyed by fire. Smokey's cartoon image grew up to become the nationwide spokesbear for fire prevention: “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”
Jana and Smokey
New Mexico's Lincoln County Courthouse was the site of gunslinger Billy the Kid's famous escape. Arrested by Sheriff Pat Garrett and sentenced to hanging, The Kid was being held at the courthouse to await his fate, but while the sheriff was out buying lumber to build the gallows, The Kid shot his guards and got away. Three months later, Garrett tracked The Kid down and shot and supposedly killed him, though legend suggests he survived...
Lincoln County Courthouse
Lincoln livery
Lincoln, New Mexico
In the summer of 1947, something crash-landed in the desert northwest of Roswell. The military claimed it was a weather balloon, while others believed it was a flying saucer. In 1994 the Air Force changed its story and claimed the debris came from a test flight of a then-classified high-altitude balloon designed to spy on the Soviets. An admitted government cover-up, yet we're to believe them now? Regardless, the Roswellians have fun with it!
The truth is out there
Jana and friends
Got the t-shirt
Yeehaw!
US government weather balloon
We followed US 380 east out of Roswell and into Texas, enjoying the small towns and countryside along the way. Tahoka, Texas, county seat of Lynn County, has a fine-looking courthouse in its otherwise largely abandoned downtown.
Lynn County Courthouse
Tahoka, Texas
Lodging: Budget Inn in Post, Texas, our stop for the night since there's not another town big enough for a hotel for hours. For dinner we got burgers from the Sonic across the street.
A typical motel for us on this trip
Driving distance: 319 miles
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