The Gila National Forest is a beautiful wilderness in the mountains around Silver City, NM. Deep in the wilderness (and up a windy, steep road and a three-mile hike) are the Gila Cliff Dwellings. We hiked out and explored the three caves that are open for public access into the interiors. What an amazing place. The stone dwellings were built inside caves that not only provided protection, but surprisingly efficient solar heating and cooling. The wood beams that were used in these dwellings are still intact, even though they were cut around 1270. The desert really preserves things that the Northwest weather rots in a few short years.
Our next stop was Truth or Consequences, NM, which is on the Rio Grande. Above a damn on the river is Elephant Butte Lake State Park. The lake is quite large with several marinas and the State Park facilities extend for several miles along the western shore. We got a great site in the park with a view of the lake. Unfortunately there isn’t any Internet in the State Parks which makes it harder to keep in touch and check out future places to stay.
Truth or Consequences was built over a geothermal aquifer and the town is full of hot springs hotels and spas. Most of them look like they have seen better days but a few have been renovated. Riverbend Hot Springs is right on the Rio Grande and we spent two afternoons soaking in their pools above the river. Several cement and rock pools have continuously flowing water running through them. They also have steps that go right down into the river and Bob went for a quick wade in the river between hot pools.
We are still having windy conditions but the weather is warm and sunny.
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