Volcano

Well, Jimmy Buffet might not know when the volcano blows, but I can tell you about the Capulin Volcano. Blew 65 (something) years ago and it must have been a doozy cuz that was the end of that. Nowadays you can actually drive up the side of the volcano and hike the rim.

Let me tell you about the drive. Long flat long flat all the way out of Colorado and then we make it to Raton (Karen says it means mouse) where the terrain starts getting better. The eastern road goes to Texas but we turned off and stopped, nabbed a geocache at the visitor center and got to use Karen’s old lady pass to get in. And then up the road. Steep, NO GUARDRAILS. Karen was clenching the majority of the way and I had to straddle the center line but we made it! No chance we looked at the views on the way, but no matter. At the parking lot there was a very nice geologist and university professor from some place back east who gave us some details and off we went around the rim trail. Who should we meet on the way? Germans of course. Those feisty devils are everywhere.

The views from the rim and spectacular. You can see Black Butte from there to the east, evidently the highest point in Oklahoma, a mere 55 miles away. I shudder to think how flat that place is. No wonder this area was called the dust bowl.

For Bryce: we have seen butterflies, a herd of antelope, mule deer and lizards.

For Jim: its a cinder cone this volcano but you already know I bet.

We are now in the Cimarron Canyon, which is lovely, and will head around the Enchanted Circle and check out Taos tomorrow. SO EXCITED.

For those of you who are worried we are having van issues: We are making peace with the rig. And learning to be strategic about charging our devices.