Northern New Mexico, Part 5. More Bandelier and a Prank.

I had a good rest Sunday night and slept well until dawn. Bright and early, though, as I lay awake in bed, I heard a "ka-chunk" from the van. Hmmmm.... looked out the windows and didn't see anything. Maybe a wayward pinecone? It sounded more mechanical than that. Hmmmm....

More about the mystery later.

I wanted to have a yummy lunch with BobBIE! so I got an early start on my last Bandelier hike. I stayed on the mesa and headed out from the campground to the Tyouani Overlook Trail. A mile and a half each way on an out-and-back. Another easy one for me!

It was similar to yesterday's Frey Trail to the rim, but also different! Here ya go:

Something new! This trail has at least one example of alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana), whose bark is checkered instead of hairy, as has a "regular" New Mexico juniper (Juniperus monosperma). I did not know about this kind of juniper before this day! Juniperus deppeana is usually found in the southern part of the state, but here is a nice one!

Here is the typical juniper you'll find in the area:

Juniperus monosperma's hairy bark.

A partially excavated dwelling. There were more unexcavated rooms in this area

The view of Tyouani Village in Frijoles Canyon.

Another view of the riverbed looking up the Frijoles River

A white velvet ant (actually a wasp). I did not know white ones existed. Do not touch! Just for looking. 

Geez! Either my device dies or I forget to start my walk. This is the map-ish of my loop to the lookout and back.

I got back to my campsite in time to pack up before heading to base camp at BobBIE!'s to take a much-needed shower and head off to lunch.

But first, dump Poppy's tanks!

Remember the "ka-chunk?"

I'm so careful to check the dump tank levers throughout my trips, and especially before I dump. I've heard of ne'er-do-wells pulling open a lever on an unsuspecting camper.

On my way out of the park, I went to the dump station. Checked the levers once more to make sure they were closed, started to take off the cap, and .... Yikes! SHIT! 

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" 

I quickly put the cap back on but not before black waste had spilled. I was wearing gloves, thank goodness, and it didn't splash. I was able to get the cap back on before too much gushed out.

I checked the lever. Yes, closed. I looked under. Was something broken? No. It was then that I realized, the ka-chunk was someone opening and closing the black tank. 

Who does that?! Mean people, that's who.

I was able to finish my dump in the usual fashion, although with an extra rinse on Poppy and the surrounding area. I hoped it all washed down the drain. I apologized to the people who had pulled in behind me. 

Soon I was on the hunt for some sort of idiot deterrent. There are no available locks for the levers, but I was recommended to get a clear extension/cap. At least I would see what's coming, and it would probably be a deterrent since the element of surprise is removed from whatever motivates the idiot's mind. I really don't know why it's funny. If they could follow me to the dump station and watch me get shit on, then maybe I would understand. But no, they just get to imagine the scenario, and they could do that for free without involving me.

I just don't get mean people. 

Anyway, I was able to get back in time to take a good long cleansing shower, get to lunch with my twin sister 10 years apart at a favorite restaurant, and used the rest of the afternoon for a needed rest.

My friend the raven cawed a goodbye.

I had only a day or two left! Stay tuned for more!

Part 2. White Sands National Park

A First! I'm not sure I ever visited White Sands before. If I did, it was when I was very small and pre-memory.

I had planned to go to Carlsbad Caverns, but wind and dust conditions, plus a longer drive than I really wanted, made me pivot to White Sands.

It was cool! Literally – the gypsum sand stays cool to the touch no matter the weather. 

Now, a National Park as of 2019

I accidentally walked a cat!

Moonrise was awesome!

And so was sunset.

Poppy and I stayed the night at the WalMart in Alamogordo, NM.

Nextas: Texas!

Georgia

 When we hit the road again after visiting the Mighty Eighth Army Air Corps Museum, we arrived to Andersonville an hour before closing. We did a walking tour around the prison site. It was sobering. I had had a vague understanding of Andersonville, but it really hit home to see the space and read the stories. Learn about Andersonville. 

Recreation of the stockade and entry gate. 

Aiming North to ward off the damn Yankees

It was well before dark before we found our next stop for the night, a Boondockers Welcome host called Evergreen Cove in Ellaville, GA. 

Breakfast in the great outdoors.

So far, Evergreen Cove is our fave! Boondockers Welcome is a subset of Harvest Host. Once a separate platform, they merged in the last couple years. BW hosts allow you to stay on their property for free. It’s often a driveway or a field or whatnot on private property. There’s no business to support, so no need to buy anything. Totally free! Sometimes they have electrical hookups for a fee. But Poppy never needs that! Whooop!

Evergreen Cove was a nicely outfitted camp spot, with water and electric if you needed, plus a fire pit with free wood! 

It was secluded and quiet and felt safe, despite the occasional leaf-rustling of a small critter nearby (see pics).

Barely a toad! He still has a bit of a tail!

A luna moth. I don't think I've ever seen one in person.

We almost hated to leave the spot the next morning, but there were more adventures to be had!

We got out fairly early and made our way back to Andersonville, where we toured the cemetery and the POW Museum. It’s quite sobering to understand what happened to those men in Andersonville. What a tragedy. One tragedy in a universe of tragedies during the war. 

Thanks to Clara Barton and Dorence Atwater, there are only a few Unknowns among the thousands buried at Andersonville. If you don't know that story, you should. Read about their work!

Sgt. Tuttle's grave is the only one that has a dove adornment, and it is a mystery.

We mustn't forget.

Soon we headed to Plains, Georgia to visit Jimmy Carter’s former and current haunts. 

He still lives in the house that he and Rosalynn bought in 1961. It's the only house they've owned! We walked past his current home. We couldn’t see the actual house, but we know he was inside the complex, on hospice, but undoubtedly doing that one last task to make the world a better place. 

Rosalynn has many butterfly stops in Plains

The front part of the Carters' property.

This isn't the main house, but a carriage house or some such at the front of the property.

I took a picture of this house that is directly across the street from the Carters'. It's a little shabby and run down, but it illustrates how unpretentious the Carters are to live in their modest house in this very small town.

We walked around Plains, visiting the wonderful museum housed in the Plains High School building, where he and Rosalynn attended school. It educated students until 1979. It's a good museum in its own right.

A quilt signed by many admirers, including world leaders and Plains folk.

I learned a lot about how principled this man is, starting from a very early age. I love him!

We visited the train depot which served as his campaign headquarters when he ran for president. 

We drove out to his childhood home and farm and were just in time to walk through before they closed.

The back of Jimmy's childhood home.

The home is not filled with original furnishings, but it's outfitted the way it was pre-electricity in the 1930s.

Here's a bit of the narration that accompanied some of the rooms of the house.

The property also had a commissary, and the Earl Carter family sold items to local farmers and farm workers on credit 

A refreshing stop for peanut ice cream in town (we gobbled it down and forgot a selfie!), along with a few other landmarks, and we were off again, making the three-hour drive to the Atlanta area and our next sleeping spot.

We hunkered down at another brewery, this time Cultivation Brewing Co in Norcross, GA, just north of Atlanta.

Cultivation Brewery was a lively brew house, but a comfortable place for the night, once the parking lot emptied and Poppy could find a good spot.

While in Atlanta, we visited the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum. I can’t get enough of Jimmy! He is true statesman in every sense of the word. Actually, he is a worlds-man. He has done so much for the U.S.A. and for the world. I admire him greatly.

This is a cool painting, made up of images that were important to Jimmy Carter's legacy.

I hadn't remembered that President Carter visited New Mexico.

We took turns visiting the museum, as Punk is an anxious little beastie and cannot be left alone. I had noticed the "oil change required” notice on Poppy’s dash, so I dropped Trish off a the MLK National Historical Park and Punk and I went to a nearby oil change place. 

Poppy’s first oil change (since I’ve owned her!). I had thought about doing it before I left, but decided to throw caution to the wind and just do it when the notification came on. I hated to miss the MLK museum, but luckily, we were in Atlanta, and I had no problem finding a place nearby for the oil change, and it was done lickety-split.  

Or as Punk says, licky-spit:

Waiting for Poppy

That Friday afternoon, it was northward bound again! We were headed for Shenandoah National Park, and this time decided to stop when we were tired and hungry. Since we were on the Interstate, we had many Cracker Barrels to choose from, so we swung off the freeway, ordered some down-home food, and ate in. I forgot to take a pic of Poppy in situ at the 'Barrel.

Onward!