Kiva Campground, New Mexico - June 12, 2008
HI EVERYONE,WE STOPPED AT KIVA CAMPGROUND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TO REST AND DO SOME SHOPPING FOR PROVISIONS BEFORE GOING INTO THE GILA MOUNTAINS AND WILDERNESS AREA.
THIS WAS A VERY NICE RV PARK WITH FULL HOOKUPS AND HORSE FACILITIES. IT WAS LOCATED 50 MILES SOUTH OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO IN THE SMALL TOWN OF BERNARDO.
IT HAD NICE, SAFE FACILITIES FOR OUR HORSES WITH LARGE PADDOCK AREAS AND A SHELTER. THE OWNER LOVED ANIMALS AND RESCUED HORSES, DONKEYS, GOATS AND EVEN GUINEA PIGS. THERE WERE DUCKS, GEESE, AND A POT BELLIED PIG ON THE PLACE. QUITE A MENAGERIE OF ANIMALS. THE HIGH DESERT HERE WAS FREE RANGE MEANING THAT THERE WERE NO FENCES.
WE RODE OUT FROM CAMP ONE LATE AFTERNOON TO GO FOR A TRAIL RIDE WITH OUR GPS. WE COULD QUICKLY LOSE OUR WAY BACK TO CAMP WITHOUT IT, AND WE DIDN’T WANT TO WONDER 40 DAYS AND NIGHTS IN THE DESERT.
THE HIGH DESERT WITH ITS HILLS OF SAND AND OUTCROP OF PINK ROCK CLIFFS OVERLOOKS THE RIO GRANDE RIVER. AS WE RODE ALONG, SOME TUMBLE WEED WAS FOLLOWING THE WIND AS IT BLEW ACROSS THE DESERT.
EVEN IN THIS HARSH DRY LAND, THE PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS WAS BLOOMING WITH A PRETTY YELLOW FLOWER. A LARGE JACK RABBIT HOPPED FROM SCRUB BUSH TO SCRUB BUSH TRYING TO HIDE FROM US.
IT WAS GETTING LATE, AND THE SUN WOULD SOON BE SETTING IN THE WESTERN SKY, SO WE HEADED BACK TO CAMP.
DESERT RIDING WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN ANY RIDING WE HAD DONE BEFORE. WE ENJOYED THE CHANGE OF SCENERY AND THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE LAND WITH DISTANT MOUNTAINS FOR A BACKDROP. YOU DO NEED TO GET AN EARLY START IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE NOON SUN HEATS UP THE DAY.
ATTACHED ARE SOME PICTURES WE HOPE YOU ENJOY!
WE WISH YOU MANY “HAPPY AND SAFE TRAILS”
BOBBIE AND LARRY GREENE
June 12, 2008
