Flash Floods

We have continued to have rain nearly every day so the place is greening up nicely but so are the weeds which are giving Larry's allergies fits. We finally took a day to move the MH and went to Valley of Fires about 25 miles northwest of us. We had planned to spend the afternoon looking around but as soon as we got out of the MH we were attacked by loads of small flying bugs that got in our eyes, ears, noses and mouths so we basically turned around to come home.. It turns out the bugs were a God thing as our weather alert radio went off warning of flash floods about ten miles from the camp. It started raining buckets and we drove through several mildly flooded areas on the road. We also saw two deer who thought about crossing the road in front of us but changed their minds when Larry honked the horn. They jumped straight up and over the fence, such a slight to see but of course too quickly to get a picture. We arrived back at the campground just five minutes before another flash flood went through the camp again cutting it in half. We were so thankful the bugs sent us on our way or we would have been caught on the wrong side of the flash flood and would have had to wait for the road to be cleared of the debris and would have had mud all over the coach.

          Valley of Fires near Carrizozo, NM showing the nice camping spots

We had another flash flood go though the campground a week later, so that is three flash floods we have experienced here. And we had never experienced flash floods before. God protected us each time.

The second flash flood that went through the campground that we missed by five minutes

A couple, Phil and Claudia, who live in Capitan, also volunteers at the park and we have seen at church, took us out for lunch after church at KaBob's Steakhouse in Ruidoso. I had catfish since fish is something that is not served here at the camp and it was wonderful!  We had a nice afternoon with them then worked the dinner shift that evening.

We took a bike trip to Ski Apache, 17 miles one way and 3000 ft up. It was the first day that looked like it might not rain so we took advantage of it. The ride was lovely with beautiful wild flowers all along the way of a very curvy road. Many of the curves were named like Horseshoe Bend, Texas Bend, Last Bend, Cat's House and Shady Lane. We were disappointed it wasn't open when we reach the top as folks over 70 can ride the lifts for free. There are maybe 10-12 runs and four lifts including a four seat gondola. It is only open on the weekends during the summer and we are working mostly weekends now that the kids are back in school so it probably won't happen.

           Larry at Ski Apache showing three of the lifts including the gondola

                          Looking down on the curvy road leading to Ski Apache

                                   Wildflowers along the road to Ski Apache

After 26 days we were able to finally pick up our car in Roswell. It was done eight days before that but the insurance company didn't get the supplemental check to the body shop before then. Larry had them put a new wing on the back and he is quite pleased with it. It looks like a totally different car.

                        The car fresh from the body shop with the new wing on it

                            What the car looked like before the wing was added

After several calls to our insurance agent, the insurance checks for the trailer and MH are finally on their way. Thanks, Chris, for your help!

Larry put the new brake pads on the bike which he bought when we first arrived in NM. We have had so much rain daily he had not been able to put them on before. (that and our work schedule). We took a bike ride to Fort Stanton for his birthday before we worked the dinner shift. We watched a short movie about the place and I learned the Indians called the black soldiers stationed there “Buffalo soldiers” because their curly hair reminded them of buffalo.

"Black Jack" Pershing stance  made famous by General Pershing in 1887 when he began his active military career at Fort Stanton

July,a Tough month but it is behind us now

July started off with a bang. On the afternoon of the 2^nd we had a thirteen minute hail storm with golf ball size hail that did a lot of damage to the car, trailer and motorhome.

                          The damaged TV dome on the top of the motorhome 

Hailstones on the slide out cover that ripped it from the MH.  The hail also damaged the other side out cover and all seven window awnings.

                                       Even the tire covers were shredded

                                  Maxx Air vent from the top of the trailer

                         Side of the trailer that was hit the hardest by the hail

              Some of the cracks in the car windshield caused by the hailstones

                                Big dents in the top of the car from the hail

Larry was gone into town on his bike during the storm and I didn't know where he was or what happened to him for two hours since we have lousy cell phone service in the park. PTL, God protected him because the part he was after was delayed so he was inside at the dealership, along with his bike, during the storm. Had the part been there like it was supposed to be, he would have been on the road when our storm hit with nowhere to hide since on one side of the road is a sheer drop-off and the other side is a wall of rock. The next day I started experiencing dizziness and was unable to work my shift in the dining hall. Then on Sat July 6 after my shift working I wasn't feeling very good and went to sit down. Shortly after that I passed out and had two goose eggs, one on my head and the other on my nose, to prove I went down. I remember nothing. We went to the emergency room and they ran all kinds of tests on me but came up with nothing—no apparent reason for me fainting. Since then I haven't felt quite “right”. Several people have suggested altitude sickness but I was here for five weeks with no problems so I really don't think that is it. I may be having a reaction to pressure changes as the next week our weather alert radio went off every day with severe storms warnings and we have had storms nearly every day since.

Friday July 12, since it was raining (again, all day) and we didn't have to work Larry decided to move the cell booster to see if we could get better reception and noticed the washer looked lope-sided (the booster connection is above the washer). Upon further investigation he discovered the floor under the washer had collapsed on one side! He spent the rest of the day taking the washer out (putting it on the bed frame which meant he had to get it done so we could go to bed), re-doing the floor and re-installing the washer in the tight quarters.  He finished at midnight but we didn't get anything put

away until Saturday. Also on Saturday the insurance adjuster finally made it out here to assess the damage.

                              How Larry took the washer out of the corner 'nook'

                                   Larry repairing the floor under the washer

Our friends, Ed and Lana, who have a place in the area, stopped by and then we all went to the big church service that the camp was having that involved five local churches. There was great music especially the acappella group from the Church of Christ. I really liked the bass singers (3) and one was a very deep voice that was wonderful. This past Sunday we went to the Inn of the Gods after church for lunch with them as they are leaving the area and won't be back before we leave in September. It is a beautiful hotel, casino complex on a man made lake with teepees around it for an added touch. It is on Mescalaro Indian land.

Saturday the 27th in the mid afternoon we were talking to some new campers when we heard a roaring sound and quickly saw we were experiencing a flash flood through the campground that basically cut the camp in half. It lasted about thirty minutes and left about 10-12 inches of mud and debris including a tire all across the road.  The camp director came with a frontloader and cleared most of the mud so people could get to their homes and we could get to the dining hall to serve dinner.

The flash flood from the south side of the gym

                             
               Larry 'checking out' the flash flood from the north side of the gym



Monday July 29 we took the car to Roswell to the body shop for repair. They will have it three weeks. Since we were in Roswell we went to the UFO Museum there and spent several hours reading and looking at all the evidence of the “Roswell incident” in July 1947. I remember as a kid looking at a magazine that had pictures of the creatures that the rancher found on his ranch after their craft crashed during a terrible thunderstorm. Of course the government poop pooped the idea and said it was a weather balloon. The museum has several rooms full of documents to say otherwise.

                                                    Crash site depiction

                                   Newspaper about the Roswell 'incident'

What the creatures that were found looked like at the UFO Museum in Roswell, NM

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

New Adventure

We started May out with three mystery shops at restaurants, one a new one for us, one a delivery pizza and the last one a Black Bear shop. We enjoyed them all and will miss them this summer.

Dawn, Vince and Bethany met us at church on Mother's Day and then took us out to eat at Sweet Tomatoes. We had a good time and I enjoyed the food since I like salad. Larry is not too fond of salad but then it was Mother's Day, not Father's Day! The outfit Dawn and Vince gave me for Mother's Day



On Monday after Mother's Day we met Todd and LaTia at Applebee's about half way between us to celebrate Todd's birthday since he was not feeling well when we first planned the meal for his birthday. Todd and LaTia at Applebee's.


We had a really great time together. Todd was feeling pretty good and that helped a lot. We rode the bike and enjoyed the ride as well.

On May 15, just five days before we left Phoenix, Larry had the privilege of leading one of our neighbors, Tony, to a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He went to church with us on Sunday May 19. Our primary purpose in life is to see souls saved and encourage straying Christians to return so we are rejoicing with the angels in heaven over Tony's decision.

Sunday evening May 19 we had Vince's 50th birthday party and our going away party at the clubhouse. Todd and Vince at the clubhouse for Vince's 50th birthday party.

The "boys" at the party.

The "girls" at the party.

The birthday boy and his cake.

One big problem was two grandkids didn't make the party -one totally forgot about it and the other one set his alarm for AM instead of PM and slept right through the entire evening. I told him I was disappointed not to see him again before we left but I was glad he got the needed sleep as he has been having a problem sleeping with his roommate's new whinny dog keeping him awake much of the time. Cerét felt badly for forgetting and came to see us before her work and our leaving Monday morning. That was a really nice gesture and we are grateful she made the effort. Cerét and Grandpa the morning we left Phoenix

We spent the next eight days at St David where very few folks were staying. The section of the park we wanted to park in was closed for the summer but Larry was able to jackknife the trailer into a spot that was wide and we were able to get everything into the site without unhooking. Jackknifed in our site in St David. Another view of the site in St David.

We took just the bike out and enjoyed a nice ride to Bisbee, AZ one afternoon and went into Benson after church on Sunday for lunch. It was very windy most of the time we were there so we stayed close to home. We did join the park for their Bar-B-Q on Saturday afternoon when more folks came out for the holiday weekend. Although the days were hot the nights were wonderful with the temp. going down into the low 50's or high 40's, great sleeping weather.

We had planned to spend Tuesday night, May 28 at Sam's Club in Las Cruces, NM but on arrival found they had no place big enough for us to stay that they allowed so after shopping we moved just down the road to K-Mart and spent the night there after checking with management to see if it was OK.

Wed May 29 was again windy but we had a nice tailwind much of the day and made good time and had decent mileage for an all uphill climb from Las Cruces to Ruidoso, NM. We stopped for fuel in Alamogordo and added an additive that seemed to make a big difference in our ability to climb at a higher speed. We arrived at our new adventure, Bonita Park Camp and Conference Center, 10 miles south of Capitan, NM around 1:30 PM on May 29 and are parked in the RV park as of now as the only volunteers (the three other RV's are staff members). Bonita Park RV park.

Where the gym was before the fire.

The devastation of the Little Bear fire of June 2012 is evident everywhere. Aftermath of the fire looking south from the RV park.


All the staff members except one lost their homes in the fire. There were 248 homes/cabins lost in the fire and 123 of those were on this camp's grounds. The people are very resilient though and forging ahead. One of the perks of volunteering here is we get fed and the food is awesome! We plan to stay the entire summer. God is good all the time.