Lincoln County, New Mexico

Temperatures were expected to be in the 100's today, so we were up and moving early. As we left the Bottomless Lakes area we started the drive through flat land sagebrush, the type of scenery most people associate with New Mexico. Soon we were climbing up into mountains where it was greener and cooler.

Lincoln County is slightly south west of the center of New Mexico, and figures largely in the history of wild west bad-guys. Our first stop was the town of Lincoln, famous as the site of the famous "Lincoln County War" shoot out. If you aren't a fan of western history that won't mean much, but just about everyone has heard of Billy the Kid a.k.a. William Bonney, and the shoot out that took place here is what made him famous.
Many movies have been made about Billy and his battles with the law, so it was interesting to see the town where it all took place, and how different it is from the movie depictions. Lincoln is in a steep valley, and fairly green, not the stark desert usually depicted. Most of the buildings are still inhabited, either as private homes or as part of the museum system. We toured several, including the mercantile that was owned by John Tunstall, who's murder was central in the "war". Subsequent owners had stored many of the original items stocked in the shop, and those items are now displayed in the original display cases. We enjoyed chatting with the park personnel who definitely have their hands full keeping an eye on a whole town! The state has done a really nice job of balancing preservation and history. 

After leaving Lincoln we stopped at the Smokey the Bear State Monument. A small but really nice museum that chronicles his rescue after a fire and creation of Smokey the Bear as the forest services public face regarding human caused forest fires. Nice displays include just about every novelty, collectible and children's picture book about Smokey, and a very informative garden area demonstrating a variety of habitats. Included in the garden is the burial of the original Smokey, the cub rescued from the New Mexico forest fire. He had lived at the Washington D.C. zoo for years, and when he died they flew him back here for burial. There is a new rescue bear cub taking his place. So the tradition continues.

Our stopping point for the night is Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. This is Steve's favorite site so far, as it has the "vistas" he so much enjoys . . . . we have mountains in the distance, and beautiful clouds. You just an't beat a desert landscape in the vistas department. This site has over 21, 000 petroglyphs documented, so we have plenty to entertain us tomorrow!

Photos and more details to follow......