Back on the TAT Land of Enchantment, NM.

Waving our hats to Texas

      Pulling out of Texas was truly bitter sweet. Our host while in TX. was my best bud from grade school, along with his wonderful wife. Hanging out, doing dinner, helping with landscape projects was really a great time. Like old friends we just picked up where we last left-off.

Raw Rock Sliders from Stubs Welding

After 4wks of hiatus and a new pair of front axle's, it was time to get back on the trail, "sporting my new sliders". Oh what you didn't know,   while I was in TX. I ordered custom built sliders from Richard Stubs, StubsWelding.com in Susanville CA., this guy is great. With the help of PDMconvertions.com a Texas based company for installation, it was a breeze. But the real prize goes to the guys at

Saying Good-bye to Oliver's Automotive, Sliders attached

Oliver's Automotive, a busy overland Land Rover repair shop who steered me to the right guys as they could not fit me in their schedule with installing my new sliders. Their back log of Land Rovers in need of repair, kept them from working on my rig. What makes them so great is, they took the time and found some one who could. Thanks, Bruce and Kevin.

With Sliders installed and anxious to hit it, we hit the road, Highway, y'all!! We hightailed it to the NM border due west by north west but before driving 470 miles we stopped for a early lunch In-n-Out (10am) Double-double Protein animal style, breaky of champions. We rolled into the border town of Clovis NM.

Hightailing it for the New Mexico border

The long hot drive from TX., we were once again grateful to sleep in a bed and Trixie had pool time too. Next door was a cool New Mexican little coffee breaky joint. We recharged and searched to get back on the TAT.

It was like a switch turned on when we crossed the NM border you could tell it was definitely different. Basking in the aura of difference we rolled down the trail with smiles as we explored more of our enchanted journey. Heading north CR 209 we drove to Son Jon NM and CapRock Wind Farm.

CapRock Wind Farm NM.

Huge wind mills dot the landscape while deep cut arroyos coerced the twisting road, the ride was breathtaking. From Logan NM. jumping on 39 we took the CR 420 turn off (no lie), the cliff's worn away faces tell a story of ancient people living as Cliff dwellers.

Wind Farm rest area, one of many.

Taking a dirt trail just passed Bueyeros NM we came across an old rock alter setting, Misa Del Cerro since 1934. Exploring this ancient outcrop of rock we discover a small cave opening at the base. Cool cold air was flowing out as it seemed to be a portal to the Indian underworld.

Spiritual Place in the middle NM desert

Trixie picking a line in 4wd low

We crossed east to hook up on the TAT in Clayton NM. Camping at Clayton Lake State Park for the night, plus check-out the 6th best preserved Dinosaur tracks in the USA. Picking out a campsite was pretty cool too as we drove around for miles on these 4wd tracks just to get to the sites.
We chose one with a lake view and a gentle breeze off the lake. In the calm, peaceful morning we sipped coffee and conversed about the hellacious wind storm we endured during the night.....what in the *#%** happened with the weather Gods?!??

Detailed foot print of a prehistoric herbivore Clayton Lake State Park NM.

Packing up we hiked over to the Dinosaur tracks, which was very cool!! Showers done, we were back on the TAT heading north on 370 where the road winds through cattle fields , narrow arroyos and weather beaten, crumbling small structures.

Crumbling Adobe block building in NM. prairie

Taking a detour off the TAT we wanted to see more of NM so we head west on 72 just outside of Folsom NM. Great choice climbing this 7864ft pass while we crisscrossed the Cimarron River.