Enjoying NM

We have been at Bonita Park for a month now and the time has gone by really fast. We have been working in the dining room in the serving line five or six time each week. We spend between 2-2 ½ hours each time and that includes us getting fed. The food has been awesome and we both have gained weight. (not a good thing) So we are trying to cut back on all the good food. The desserts have been great and are my downfall.

We are no longer the only volunteers in the RV park and have met some great people. We watched the new gym go up in five days and already the kids have put it to good use.

Deer in the RV park looking south and showing the 'ribs' of the new gym and the aftermath of the fire on the hill

The 'ribs' of the new gym are up

Pulling the fabric over the ribs of the new gym

Putting on the end pieces of the new gym

The new gym minus the garage door

Because it is a soft sided building and pretty empty when the kids get in there the sound echos rather loudly and often they are in there until past 10 PM. It looks pretty awesome with the lights on at night since the light shines thru the walls.

The gym "glowing" at night

One of the fun things we did soon after arriving was go on the zip line at night. It was a blast but I want to do it again in the daylight so I can see where I am going. Larry had his phone drop out of his pocket as he was nearing the top of the zip line tower (50 ft up) but PTL with his Otter Box case and it landing in the water fountain his phone is fine. The tower to the zip line also serves as a climbing tower but I didn't want to tackle that.

Zip line tower that goes 70 ft into the air (note the water fountain at the bottom)

Me in my Kitty hard hat and spotlight ready to go on the zip line

Looking up 50 ft on the tower where Larry's phone fell from

Water fountain where Larry's phone landed


We took a bike ride to Bonita Lake one Sunday afternoon and cannot get over the devastation to the area. Most of the campgrounds around the lake are closed due to the fire and the lake is down a lot because of the drought. This area was beautiful before and it is so sad to see all the “sticks” that used to be full green trees.

Bonita Lake showing the dam

Private covered bridge over the Bonita River, one of the few structures in the area that did not burn


We went to Capitan, NM 10 miles north and visited the Smokey Bear Museum. The "real'" Smokey bear cub was found burned in a forest fire near here in 1950 and is buried at the museum.

Poster of Smokey in the Smokey Bear Historical Museum in Capitan

The final resting place for Smokey Bear after 27 years in Capitan, NM

We used to eat at home nearly every night and go out to eat on Sunday after church. Now we ate “out” at the camp dining room nearly every day/night and now eat at home after church on Sunday since usually Sunday is “transition” day here at the camp. Our food bill is nearly nil and we have not been to the store for groceries in three weeks. I am not complaining at all just wondering if I will remember how to cook when we do leave the end of September!

Larry repaired a golf cart that was shaking so badly it was hard to drive. It turns out the engine bracket weld let go so he made a beefed up bracket and welded it back in place. He also covered the top with left over material from the gym and finally found a rear view mirror to put on it. It looks really good now and runs great. Right now he is repairing a door latch on one of the camp trucks. He is waiting on parts from the local Chevy dealer to finish the job. He was able to fix the passenger side door latch without getting new parts. It doesn't look great but it is functional. Most of the vehicles around here have been donated and need some type of repair. That will keep Larry busy all summer along with the dining room 'duties'.

The utility cart before Larry put the top on it

The cart with the top in place

The utility cart fixed and ready to go with the new gym in the background