Oasis State Park, Portales NM

4/7/207

When planning our next stop we looked to the New Mexico State Park system.  There was one just across the state line near Portales - Oasis SP.  We went on line and saw there were only 2 sites available for the time we wanted so we made reservations.  We later found out most of  the campsites in New Mexico state parks are first-come-first-serve.  In the future we'll call the park to make sure there are sites available and avoid the rigid "have to be some place" requirement and the increasingly excessive ReserveAmerica.com fees. The $12 reservation fee for 3 nights adds up to almost a night's camping, $14.

Our original plan, after leaving Muleshoe TX, was to head to Clovis, NM assuming there'd be a museum with something related to the spear point that shares the towns name.  I Googled “what to do in Clovis, NM” and found nothing relating to the Clovis Point. 

There’s a shortcut between Muleshoe and Oasis SP (just outside of  Portales, NM) so with no apparent reason to go to Clovis we decided to save some miles.  This made another 30 mile day and we arrived shortly after 1:00pm.   

Asking the ranger what there was to do in and around Portales, he mentioned Blackwater Draw National Archeological Site, just a mile north of the park.  He went on the say it was the site where the famous “Clovis Point” was found back in the 30's.  I later asked why the spear point was named after Clovis and not Portales?  Here's one answer I was given  "Portales was a dry county back then and the archaeologists liked to drink beer so they were staying in Clovis".  Clovis is only about 20 miles from the site and Portales was probably a dusty little town back in the 30's.

Blackwater Draw, Wikipedia

In a round-a-bout way, we were where we wanted to be and planned to visit the site the next day.  

I guess the moral of the story is you have the ask the right question to get right answer!

4/8/2017

We arrived at the Blackwater Draw site on a clear, warm but windy day.  Heck, almost every day in this part of the country is windy!

The site itself isn't much to see.  Basically just a large depression in the surrounding flat land. That depression isn't natural.  There has been gravel mining, off and on, over the past 90 years.  In fact the mining unearthed the original artifacts that brought the attention of the archaeologists.

There's a trail (road) that leads around the site with signs that describe different aspects of the artifacts, animals and people that inhabited the area over the last 11,000 years. 

About 1/3 of the way around the site, there's a building enclosing one of the more recent dig sites.

The jaw bone clearly seen here is Bison.

The Llano Estacado (which includes Blackwater Draw) is the flattest place on earth, according to the graduate student manning the small Blackwater Draw visitors center.

4/9/2017

Interesting cloud formation as a
dry front moves through bringing
even higher winds for our last
full day at Oasis SP.

We took a short hike (walk) to the highest point in the park. 
Sort of like the highest point in Florida.

Sunset over Oasis SP.

Coming next, on to Roswell, NM in search of.... Aliens!

Change in plan

After leaving Waco we decided to head northwest instead of southwest toward Big Bend National Park. The temperatures were starting to rise in south Texas.  The new target was a very scenic free camping area around Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, north of Amarillo, TX.

Lake Meredith

Then we found free camping in little towns on the way to and just past Lubbock, TX so we decided to spend some time exploring the area.  Also, the Lake Meredith area was still getting lows in the 30's.

While in Lubbock we received a text from friends we met last year in Oregon.  There was an unexpected opening for volunteers at  the Cave Creek Canyon Visitors Center in southeast Arizona and were we interested!  Well the timing was right (the month of May) and the job sounded like fun so we signed up.

Cave Creek Canyon Visitors Center

We have a month to go from northwest Texas to southeast Arizona so we're exploring New Mexico on the way.

More to come...

Muleshoe TX

4/4/2017
We left Littlefield early so we could avoid the forecasted afternoon winds of 20-30 mph with possible 50 mph gusts.  Got setup and hunkered down before the winds got too heavy.  By the afternoon it was rock-n-roll time again.

Took these pictures the next day.

Went into town to find the Library (free WiFi) and get some information on the area.

Bailey county Court House

A block away form the campground is the Muleshoe Heritage Center.  Historic buildings were moved to this central location so visitors could experience the past and traditions of the Panhandle-High Plains of Texas in this open air museum. 

Dug-out House

One room ranch cabin.

Ghost Shoe

The inside of the restored train station has been equipped with modern facilities for group gatherings like weddings and family reunions.

 This house was slated to be burned down by the owner before a deal was struck to move and restore it at the Heritage Center.

Unusual push button light switches

The Janes house built in 1915 for $2753.63.

The basement housed an eclectic collection of artifacts from a by-gone eras.

Crosley Iceball refrigeration unit utilizing heat and ammonia, similar to a modern RV refrigerator.

Original Coal Furnace

School House

Ranch Cookhouse

Cowboy hat rack.

This little building once housed as small eatery, dentist office and post office all at the same time.

Today it displays artifacts from the 50's.

Note the blue puddle skirt in the display case. 

And then there's the Yellow Jacket Inn.  This was a teenage hang-out for the students from the elementary and middle school across the street.  It was in operation from 1946 till 1999.  

They published a little book highlighting the history of the Yellow Jacket along with remembrances of the happy times spent there over the years.  The book also highlights the history of  businesses that contributed to moving and restoring the old hang-out.  

Here's an excerpt of one persons memories...

"I have such wonderful memories of the Yellow Jacket. Walking across the street while at Mary DeShazo to eat there made me feel grown up. I had choices of what food to eat, the food was cheap and I could visit with my friends.  It was great!

I remember the pinball machines, having burritos with cheese, Frito Pies and the burgers.  I seem to recall I could eat pretty well on $2.00. It was a great place to hang out and the people working there were always so nice.

Thank you  for the opportunity to stroll down memory lane a bit.  What a wonderful thing Muleshoe is doing remembering and honoring such and icon!" D.A. Class of 1987

Here's some pictures from inside the Yellow Jacket Inn.

We had a good time in Muleshoe, talked to some nice people and learned some local history.

Next stop, Oasis State Park New Mexico.