Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Living Ghost Towns
Thanks to writer John R. Catsis for the article on “Living Ghost Towns,” Hillsboro and Kingston, New Mexico in the February 2007 issue of MotorHome Magazine. The timing was perfect having read the article while camped in Fort Stockton, Texas within easy reach of Mr. Catsis’s directives. On Jan 21st, we drove North on Interstate 25 to the town of Caballo and then turned west onto route 152 into Hillsboro.
Parking our 36’ motor home/tow across from Sue’s antiques (closed for the season) was not a problem. No one was on the move. The streets were quiet and carried a thin layer of snow. Walking up the block we stopped in Ben and Doreen Lewis’ Barber Shop Café and General Store for a chat and advice before continuing on route 25. Next, we crossed the street to the Percha Creek Traders Artists Co-Op. The artists represented live within a 60 mile range, producing creative and innovative crafts in wood, wire, fabric, clay and mixed media bordering on the unusual and must see categories.
On Ben’s advice and Mr. Catsis’s recommendation, we continued along route 152 (indeed a beautiful and worthwhile journey) toward Kingston with Ben’s promise that we could indeed turn our rig around at the courthouse and fit under the 2 bridges marked “clearance 12”6”, just a few inches above our requirements. We wished to continue west to Emory Pass at an elevation of 8828 feet and then down the 10 MPH switchbacks (reminiscent of other mountain road adventures) to route 81 and the beautiful campground at the City of Rocks.
What I have “failed” to report thus far is the increase in the amount of snow, not falling, but sitting heavy on the grass and trees. The road was closed at the entrance to Kingston preventing our sighting of the courthouse or even Kingston. Our choice was to unhitch the toad, pull a K turn and return the way we had come. Not a terrible prospect, to experience once more the beautiful mountain scenery shrouded with fresh snow.
Further rewards awaited us with cattle, bulls and buffalo crossing the road, llamas in the pastures and a deer racing us along the side of the road for 1/4 mile pegged at 40 miles an hour. Our GPS system directed us to follow route 27 to route 26. Our Trailer Life Guide directed us to stop at the Starlight Village RV Park and Motel.
The following morning delayed by a blizzard, the campground became our “mecca.” All southwestern New Mexico roads are closed, snow is falling, winds are howling and we are content having spent a day in living history.
Parking our 36’ motor home/tow across from Sue’s antiques (closed for the season) was not a problem. No one was on the move. The streets were quiet and carried a thin layer of snow. Walking up the block we stopped in Ben and Doreen Lewis’ Barber Shop Café and General Store for a chat and advice before continuing on route 25. Next, we crossed the street to the Percha Creek Traders Artists Co-Op. The artists represented live within a 60 mile range, producing creative and innovative crafts in wood, wire, fabric, clay and mixed media bordering on the unusual and must see categories.
On Ben’s advice and Mr. Catsis’s recommendation, we continued along route 152 (indeed a beautiful and worthwhile journey) toward Kingston with Ben’s promise that we could indeed turn our rig around at the courthouse and fit under the 2 bridges marked “clearance 12”6”, just a few inches above our requirements. We wished to continue west to Emory Pass at an elevation of 8828 feet and then down the 10 MPH switchbacks (reminiscent of other mountain road adventures) to route 81 and the beautiful campground at the City of Rocks.
What I have “failed” to report thus far is the increase in the amount of snow, not falling, but sitting heavy on the grass and trees. The road was closed at the entrance to Kingston preventing our sighting of the courthouse or even Kingston. Our choice was to unhitch the toad, pull a K turn and return the way we had come. Not a terrible prospect, to experience once more the beautiful mountain scenery shrouded with fresh snow.
Further rewards awaited us with cattle, bulls and buffalo crossing the road, llamas in the pastures and a deer racing us along the side of the road for 1/4 mile pegged at 40 miles an hour. Our GPS system directed us to follow route 27 to route 26. Our Trailer Life Guide directed us to stop at the Starlight Village RV Park and Motel.
The following morning delayed by a blizzard, the campground became our “mecca.” All southwestern New Mexico roads are closed, snow is falling, winds are howling and we are content having spent a day in living history.
# posted by Ann Carol @ 9:54 PM 
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