Saturday, May 3, 2014

Oliver Lee State Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico

I finally figured out why that state park was called Caballo.


State park mascot

If I walk over there, you had better have an apple.


I'm at Oliver Lee State Park this weekend. I was planning to stay for one night, then found it so comfortable I decided to stay through the weekend, at least.






I thought I would join the ranch house tour this afternoon, but here I am at the library. Oops.







 The afternoon I got here, there were hundreds of bees swarming one particular site. They were disappearing into (hundreds of) holes. It's the kind of place that would scare Stanley Yelnats.


Do you know what kind of bee does this?

I stopped into Oliver Lee General Store this morning and managed not to leave much money there. The place not only defies description, it sits down and refuses it.

I've been cruising around town, hoping to find a car wash. Here's a joke:

Horse walks into a car wash.

Car wash attendant says "Why the long face?"

I got a million of 'em.




20 comments:

Dawn from Camano Island said...

Watsons Wander just had a post from Oliver Lee SP too. And I totally don't get the joke.

The Good Luck Duck said...

Lol! Your not-getting of the joke makes me laugh. [Horses have long faces.]

The Good Luck Duck said...

[Also, the original has the horse walking into a bar. That seems improbable.]

Unknown said...

Great pictures! I'm glad you're enjoying the park so much that you decided to slow down

Grace said...

That second to the last photo is out-of-this-world! After reading this and Watsons Wander, Oliver Lee and White Sands are on my list. Ten months from today and I'll be RETIRED!!!!!
Grace (in Tucson)

Barb said...

There was a horse at Caballo? I'm green with envy! I figured the horses were there decades ago. Very cool.

I've not been to Oliver Lee yet, but I'm happy to hear it's a good park. Maybe next year. Great photos! :)

Al Bossence said...

We stayed at Oliver Lee back in the late Fall of 07. Liked the big view across the valley to the West. Could see long trains moving like ants on the far distant desert floor below.

Anonymous said...

Love Oliver Lee State Park - the saguaros always look so happy - arms up in cheers!

Virtual hugs,

Judie

Emily said...

Your cactus flower photos are gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Did you have an apple?
The cactus flowers are beautiful. Thank you for them, I had forgotten how bright they are.
Are those fruit trees? Apple, orange, lemon, grapefruit????
Oliver Lee loos so nice, glad you are enjoying it.
Aunt S

Pam said...

We're thinking about going there next if we can ever bring ourselves to leave Monticello Point. I thought we had missed the weather window for that part of New Mexico. Thought it might be too hot but it seems like it's about the same as it is here.

Did you happen to notice what the electric sites are like? We mostly just like sites that aren't really close together. It's hard to tell from the site maps.

I've been meaning to thank you again for the tip about MoPo. Or maybe I should curse you since it seems to have taken us captive. We've spent almost six months here with just short trips for our 6 days out. Seriously though, we love it here so thanks again for the heads up.

The Good Luck Duck said...

Pam, so glad you enjoy it! It's a great park. I would say the sites at Oliver Lee are not too crowded. All the sites look pretty much the same (except some have shelters and some do not - but I think maybe electric sites don't .. ?).

Aunt Selene, I did not have an apple. Glad she didn't walk my way.

Thanks, Emily!

Judie, Oliver Lee is my new favorite. I don't know about saguaros here - maybe they keep them in the enclosure?

Al, same great basin view here. I like hearing the trains whooo in the distance.

Barbara, you'll like it, I think.

YAY GRACE! Ten months - WOOT!

The Good Luck Duck said...

Also, for those of you silently worrying, I found a car wash. No horse there.

Suzanne said...

A horse, a Rabbi, and a Priest walk into a bar.....the bartender says "Is this some kind of a joke??"

There were some lovely claret cup cactus down at the intersection across from Site 21, if they are still a bloomin'

Jodee Gravel said...

Ha! Stanley Yelnats! Love that book/movie :-). Two guys walk into a bar....the second one should have seen it.

stillhowlyn said...

It's been years since we stayed at Oliver Lee SP. Your wildflower pics are beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

Good to see I'm not the only one who goes gaga over flowers and horses. Your photos are ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!

The Good Luck Duck said...

Thanks so much, Sue! I'm glad you were able to get the commenting situation fixed, too.

Thank you, Lynda!

HAR Jodee! I love that kind of joke.

And THAT kind of joke, Suzanne!

Jools from N. Texas said...

OK, you didn't admit this one: A duck walks into a bar and orders a drink and says, "put it on my bill".
--Jool :-)

The Good Luck Duck said...

QUACK! :oD