Adventure 729: Lyons and Campbell Ranch Headquarters/Post G

We ventured into some more of the area history today. We went into town for an early lunch at Diane's Bakery, which tickled our senses with sandwiches made with bread good enough to cause Judy to say,"I wish I could bake bread like this." Then we met Jane for a hike on the Dragonfly Trail, so called because of the petroglyphs the original inhabits carved into the rocks. It was a good hike, and the trek through the wash kept us out of the ever present brittle wind. Afterwards, we drove through Fort Bayard, a place established to take care of the "Apache" problem. It's a derelict space, and empty as the cause that brought it into existence. After circumnavigating the main fort grounds, we dropped Jane off and took a tour of her home. It's a pleasant space, neatly tucked down a gravel driveway to ensure privacy. She and her husband, Doug, have lived there for twenty years. Then we drove the thirty-five miles back to the ranch. That's normal for these parts, which is a bit disheartening because the ranchers around here will have a hard time swallowing the hike in fuel prices. It might end some, although I pray they make it through. We're just about at the end of our stay here at the ranch. Tomorrow, we'll get back on the bikes for a spin around the neighborhood, and who knows what else. We're just in a place where our life is good, especially today.

Selfie of the day.

Imagine sitting in the rocks just scraping away with dozens of your friends around you ding the same thing.

Miss Jane, hike leader.

My hiking buddies outside Jane's back door.

It's possible this etching had more resolution a few hundred years ago.

Worth a stop if you're ever in downtown Silver City.

I, for one, am intrigued by the concept of the circle.

Liz was trying to get this guy to fly away.

This little guy has a trail named after him.

Ranch data.

Adventue 728: Lyons and Campbell Ranch Headquarters/Post F

After another pretty frigid night (17 degrees), we waited until midmorning for the sun to warm. By ten we were off on our bikes for a two hour spin around the neighborhood. We went twenty-one miles in all. After lunch and a game of three handed cribbage, we spent the afternoon knitting, napping, and reading. Not bad pursuits. Judy, ever the multi-talker, also washed the bedding. My job was to make the bed, which has become easier with practice. The weather is gradually warming. By next week, after we leave, the days will warm to the mid seventies, and the nights will be above freezing. We missed the warmer weather, but the clear blue sky that greets us each day makes us forget the hardship. In fact, if it weren't for the brisk, bone chilling wind, it would be quite pleasant. Regardless, we enjoyed another blessed day, riding and relaxing just like we were on vacation. For us, life is good, especially today.

For a hoop junkie like me, this is the best time of year. Go Zags!

I bent a little wire. This one is called "A New Sheriff in Town".

My Bunny at the stove whipping up a scrumptious dinner. Me with my happy face.

Good riding country, even with nowhere to go.

Our little wagon circle.

Another wire: "Barroom Dancers".

Biker babes.
 

Adventure 727: Lyons and Campbell Ranch Headquarters/Post E

We spent another fine, though chilly, day wandering around Southwest New Mexico. We started by hiking a little ways up the trail from the Sherridan Corral trailhead. We turned back when the trail became indistinguishable from the side of the mountain. I guess we should have heeded the sign that read: "Trail not maintained and difficult to follow." No worries. We decided to go up to Mogollan (MOE GHEE YAWN), a ghost town now, but once the richest silver strike in New Mexico. It's hard to believe that over six thousand people lived in the little crevice where the town is located. It was quite an experience driving the eleven miles up and down into the crevice. The speed limit was ten and the hairpin turns were formidable. I dared not take my eyes off the road, for the drop off was formidable, too. Unfortunate it would be to leave the road. An unfortunate would have quite a few seconds to pray before crumpling like so much mine debris. The fact that it's stunningly beautiful country made it all the harder to focus. We made it in and we made it out, so thanks again for traveling mercies. Before we left this morning, another guest at the ranch drove by while I was doing the form. We chatted a little bit, and he said, "Maybe we'll have a beer later." To prepare for that possibility, I stopped at the Last Chance liquor store on the way home to buy a six pack. I chatted the lady up a little bit about liquor laws, and she was eager to explain things as she understood them. On the way out I noticed a female mannequin dressed in a fuzzy Christmas like one piece. The mannequin cradled some kind of toy gun in her arms. I asked the lady, "What's that?" She replied, "That's an a-salt rifle." It turns out that it really shoots salt at flies and millers and such with a stream of salt. She chortled as I headed out the door, "My husband says we should write a letter to Nancy Peloki (accurate quote) and tell her we have an a-salt weapon in our possession." I thought to myself, "Remember, you're the one who live and let live." So I moved to my default position, "Life is good, especially today."

It's been awhile since I've punctured a can of beer.

The ghost town has a year around population of fourteen. May through Sept. the place is more lively. The cafe is open. The museum is open, and a few more folks are out and about.

Doors into the side of the mountain are scattered about the crevice. Mine shafts as it were.

Reading is easy. Understanding comes a bit harder.

Liz and Judy checking GOOGLE maps. We live in an astonishing world.

Today, we entered an enclave that's hoping to make America great, again.

Mining debris is littered throughout Mogollan. 

A perfect description of our brave new world. This cabin, built in the 1880s, has electricity.

Gun toting mannequin. An allure for the local cowboys.

Wow factor high.

42 degrees, climbing, and still smiling.

One side of the street in Mogollan.

We had lunch at Alma's Griddle in Alma, NM. Our young blond waitress was sweet, polite, and efficient. Our fellow customers were dour, vocal, great Americans. One lady said, and I agree with her, "If a politician's lips are moving, he's lying." Her friend replied,  "I heard a poll that only 40% of the Democrats would fight for this country if it came to war." That made what little hair I have on my head stand straight up. C'est la vie. 

 

Adventure 726: Lyons and Campbell Ranch Headquarters/Post D

Woke up to a frigid seventeen degrees. Fortunately, the systems on Frac held. No freezing, no leaks. We didn't let the weather intimidate us. In fact, by the time I did the form at 9:30 it was a balmy 35 degrees. About 11:30, we drove to Silver City to pick up Liz's sister, Jane, who joined us for the day. We headed for the City of Rocks and hiked around for about an hour and a half (5 miles). Afterward, we enjoyed an hour long soak in a private hot pool at Faywood Hot Springs, which was wonderful. We returned to the ranch in time to enjoy some satisfying clam chowder and corn muffins before settling in to watch the Zags play USF. Gonzaga won, but they won't be satisfied with how they finished the game. They lost their rhythm in the last four minutes and had to hold on to beat the pesky Dons. I guess that's why they call it March madness. By any measure, our day was excellent, so all we can say is, "Life is good, especially today."

A little mid hike snuggling.

Lots of wind in these parts. Jane informed us that we're on the edge of "windy" season.

Florida mountains in the distance.

My Bunny dangling her toes in the hot 105 degree hot pool.

I got in a little deeper.

Unusual starfish cactus.

Liz got in deeper yet.

The sisters enjoyed the day, regaling us with stories of growing up.

Adventure 725: Lyons and Campbell Ranch Headquarters/Post C

We woke up this morning too tough to care about the frigid twenty knot wind howling in from the Southwest. We donned our warm fuzzies and headed out into the New Mexico wilderness on our bikes. We rode about fifteen miles total, and would have gone further but the last little bit ended in a box canyon where the pavement turned to a dusty, dirt road. We found out most of the grazing land around here is owned by one mega corporation. I don't know the name of it, but it's easy to see how attractive this valley has been to ranchers over the years. The Gila River never runs dry, and there's good grazing for as far as the eye can see. After our ride we spent a couple of hours with our host, Alex. He regaled us with a plethora of historical tidbits that showed both his expertise and his practiced delivery. His family has owned this property since 1961, and beyond that his whole family has been avid antique collectors. When they purchased the ranch headquarters, it had been abandoned and was functionally derelict. Several of the building roofs had collapsed. In the ensuing years, they've rebuilt much of the existing structures well enough to house their vast collection of antiques, trinkets, and debris. It's hard for my untrained eye to discern what is valuable and what's not. Regardless, Alex's obvious pride in his family enterprise beamed in every tidbit he shared. It was a fun tour. One project his family undertook was to convert a failed ice making factory into a theater space. Sometime this week, we'll enjoy "movie" night in front of his twenty foot screen. Like I said in an earlier post, diversity is good, and so is life, especially today.

Alex rebuilt the back bar, and he and his brother did the work refurbishing and replacing the tin ceiling. The saloon was built by Lyons and Campbell in an effort to keep the cowboys around. Normally, they'd get their pay, head to Silver City, and never be seen again. L&C thought if they could provide some down time relaxation, they may keep a few cowboys around. The headquarters was also built to entertain the ranch's investors. Lyons had many connections, a board of regents, and these Eastern dudes liked to come West to play cowboy and have a good time. Happy to oblige, partner.

I think this is Campbell, but I don't really know. His photo was on the right, and since every thing has been Lyons and Campbell (LC), I'm just guessing.

Legend has it that Lyons and Campbell even brought in some female companionship for the cowboys to dance with. 

And of course there was all types of gambling.

Lyons made quite a go of the ranch after Campbell died of liver disease. Things went along swimmingly until Lyons was murdered. His widow was taken in by swindlers and eventually the bank foreclosed on the ranch. Who knows who picked up the pieces? So it went in the wild, wild West.

Though the photo doesn't show it very well, the keys on this 1917 American made piano are made of Mother of Pearl.

The family dining room.

And of course, the saloon has a pool table.

It really was quite cold.

This old juke box is in the saloon, but it's really part of the family antique collection.

Many a cowboy sidled up to the bar, and the jail was right next door for those who needed to sleep one off.

 As part of our unspeakable history (CRT as it were), this piano was reclaimed from a basement in the old Fort Baird, which was established in the late eighteen hundreds to deal with the "Indian problem." By dealing with the Indians, the mining operations in Silver City could proceed without interruption. After all, the area needed to be civilized.