I slept later this morning than any other day of the trip. Not sure why, maybe felt safe in the trooper's yard. I could hear Ralph and Faye talking, so climbed out of the tent and started getting things ready for the day. Ralph was on duty today, so getting ready to head out. We talked for a while, Faye brought out some cans of food for my trip, and I set out. Artesia is still about 50 miles away, so I was just trying to get some of those miles behind me. The day was cloudy and cool, and the terrain gently rolling or downhill. The creek that had been beside the road most of yesterday, had now meandered off to the south. And the mountains that have been around since I entered New Mexico, have mostly disappeared.......replaced by a rolling terrain of grassy fields. But still lots of cacti around.
Ralph patrols the road I am walking, so I saw him several times today. Also saw him make a few traffic stops. He had court today in Artesia, and stopped by on his way there and left me a couple of sodas. Also stopped on his way back, and handed me a burger he had picked up in town. Ralph reminded me that I was still in rattlesnake country, so be aware of that. I had mostly forgotten about rattlers, so will try to be more careful. Before long, I saw the largest one of the whole trip.......unfortunately for the snake, a car got to him first.
As I started my final walk for the day, a car pulled alongside, and a woman jumped out and introduced herself as Diana Kie (rhymes with Pie). She and her husband Robert live about 2 miles up the road, have a big house, and invited me to stay the night. She said rain was predicted, I couldn't make the next town, so maybe wanted to stay inside. I really wanted to make a few more miles today, but decided to accept the offer. I walked to her house, Robert was just coming in from work, and he showed me where to put my stuff. (He didn't seem surprised to have a stranger show up at the house, so maybe Diana has done this before.)
Diana had taken her car to Mescalaro for some repairs, so Robert and I had to go pick her and the children up. It's a long drive, but I was able to learn much about the Mescalero tribe along the way. Both Robert and Diana are Native Americans. Robert was born on the Mescalero Reservation, Diana in California, but later lived on the reservation. The Mescalero are one of a few (or maybe the only tribe) to be able to stay on its land when most other tribes were relocated. As we came into the reservation, a band of horses were running loose alongside the road. They belong to the tribe, and run free within the reservation. Robert also told me New Mexico is a "free range" state, meaning animals can roam freely without being fenced in.
The trip was long, but very interesting. We passed through some rain and storms on the way back home. When we arrived, I was tired and ready to get in a soft bed.
Ralph patrols the road I am walking, so I saw him several times today. Also saw him make a few traffic stops. He had court today in Artesia, and stopped by on his way there and left me a couple of sodas. Also stopped on his way back, and handed me a burger he had picked up in town. Ralph reminded me that I was still in rattlesnake country, so be aware of that. I had mostly forgotten about rattlers, so will try to be more careful. Before long, I saw the largest one of the whole trip.......unfortunately for the snake, a car got to him first.
As I started my final walk for the day, a car pulled alongside, and a woman jumped out and introduced herself as Diana Kie (rhymes with Pie). She and her husband Robert live about 2 miles up the road, have a big house, and invited me to stay the night. She said rain was predicted, I couldn't make the next town, so maybe wanted to stay inside. I really wanted to make a few more miles today, but decided to accept the offer. I walked to her house, Robert was just coming in from work, and he showed me where to put my stuff. (He didn't seem surprised to have a stranger show up at the house, so maybe Diana has done this before.)
Diana had taken her car to Mescalaro for some repairs, so Robert and I had to go pick her and the children up. It's a long drive, but I was able to learn much about the Mescalero tribe along the way. Both Robert and Diana are Native Americans. Robert was born on the Mescalero Reservation, Diana in California, but later lived on the reservation. The Mescalero are one of a few (or maybe the only tribe) to be able to stay on its land when most other tribes were relocated. As we came into the reservation, a band of horses were running loose alongside the road. They belong to the tribe, and run free within the reservation. Robert also told me New Mexico is a "free range" state, meaning animals can roam freely without being fenced in.
The trip was long, but very interesting. We passed through some rain and storms on the way back home. When we arrived, I was tired and ready to get in a soft bed.
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