Just Shootin' the Breeze in the Breeze - Fri., June 1, 2018

Yesterday (Thursday), Susan Medlin and I marked the Cloudcroft 5k and 14k walks. Today is the walking event for the Cloudcroft Rails to Trails Volksmarch. The walk is rated 3B which means an uneven hiking surface, probably with roots and rocks, and it is difficult in the elevation gains.

Upon arriving at the Trestle Recreation Area starting point, we were pleased to see the gate was already open before 8:00 a.m. However, whoever opened the gate forgot to tell the camp host that they were opening an hour early. 

When Derrill, our organizer, showed up at the start point, the host wanted to know how he got up there because the gate wasn't supposed to open until 9:00 a.m. No one had let the host know the gate was going to be open early for an event. He was glad Derrill told him so he could unlock the restrooms early. That was a good thing for our walkers. 

People like to get to walks early so they can enjoy cooler morning air. By 8:30 a.m., there were already 15 walkers on the trail. All of them were doing the 14k, which surprised us. We thought at the high elevation (8,500') more people would opt for the 5k walk. 

We set up our checkpoint at the 8k mark, thinking that if anyone wanted to bail out at that point, we could give them a ride back to their car. No one took us up on it!

Susan is one prepared lady. She brought an Easy-Up, two card tables, four canvas folding chairs, a New Mexico flag to hang on the Easy-Up, tablecloths, a cooler filled with ice-cold water, snack-sized bags of chips, and fruit/nut bars.

In addition to the above, we each brought reading material for downtime. Our hiking boots, hats, sunscreen, and hiking poles were in the van for clearing the markings when the walk was finished.

After everything was set up at the checkpoint, we waited for the first walkers to arrive. I believe Bruce was the first 14k walker at the checkpoint. His face was red with exertion. We had him sit in the shade, gave him cold water to replace what was left in his bottle, and chatted for a spell. He took the warm water left in his bottle and emptied it over his cap and shirt. The evaporation will help him cool off a little.

We enjoyed shooting the breeze with everyone who came by our checkpoint and we learned a little more about each of them. The breezes picked up and we had some 25-30 mph gusts. Susan was hanging onto a leg of the Easy-Up so it wouldn't take off. She had also nailed down three other legs. We were soon covered in dust. 

Mike taking a load off at the checkpoint.

Linda, Sarah, and Doris

Elaine looks raring to go again.

Carolyn, Eddie, and Fred

Derrill (organizer), Helen, and Diane

Eddie figuring out which way to go.

The Devil's Elbow Cut-through

After the last walker went by, we took down the checkpoint, loaded it all in the van, and Susan Medlin took off walking from the 8k checkpoint, heading back to Trestle Recreation Area. She would remove all of the 14k markings. I would start at Trestle Rec Area and remove the 5k markings. 

When I was part-way down the trail, I ran into Eddie heading back up. He told me there was a couple behind him on the long, sunny, hot uphill part of the trail that "looked pretty whooped." I went past the place where I needed to pick up markings and walked farther down the trail to where I could see quite a distance. No one was there. I headed back up the trail and finished picking up markers.

Kudos to Helen and Diane, who came upon Charlie on the return trail. Charlie was hot and struggling on the 14k so they stayed with him to make sure he made it back up the trail. They missed a turn and ended up taking five hours to finish. Charlie rode home with one of the ladies and the other one drove his car back to the motel. Thank you for watching out for a fellow Volksmarcher in distress. (When Helen and Diane were at the checkpoint they also offered to pick up any trail markings they saw because they were the last ones through.) You ladies rock!

Susan finished pulling her markings a short time before I did. We called it a day for Cloudcroft and went back to the motel for a shower and change of clothes before tonight's event at the Flying J Ranch.

The event started around 6:00 p.m. When we arrived, we paid our entry fee which included all the evening's events, dinner, and  after-dinner entertainment. I know our husbands aren't going to want to hear this, but we shopped a little and then walked around the grounds.

Paying the price of admission.

C'mon, bond me out!

Jailbird

How "Billy the Kid" got his start

Teepee

Display inside the teepee.

Flying J's retail area

Blacksmith shop

Audio-animatronic blacksmith

Marvelous musicians!

Mural in ADA restroom.

We all made it out of jail!

At 6:45 p.m., there was a comedic gunfight in the middle of "town." Afterward, it was time for the dinner bell. A little boy named Brandon who was celebrating his 8th birthday was given the honor of ringing the dinner bell. Then a gentleman directed us row by row where to go to get dinner. It went as smoothly as precision clockwork. I can't believe how quickly we made it through the Chuckwagon line. 
Dinner consisted of a choice of BBQ chicken or brisket, beans, biscuit, chunky applesauce, ginger cake, and a baked potato. After everyone had been served, you could go back for more.

At 8:00 p.m., the musical entertainment started. What a talented group of artists. I thoroughly enjoyed the show, especially the fractured fairy tale about Rindercella. Plus, there was some mighty fine fiddlin' and yodelin' going on.

Flying J Wranglers

This is such a fun weekend. We've got two more days. Let's do it again soon!