Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, Alamogordo, NM

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  We got to sleep until we woke up this morning.  My sister-in-law told us about Oliver Lee Memorial State Park.  So after breakfast we decided today would be a beautiful day for a hike.  

Both above and below were our views as we were driving to Oliver Lee Memorial State Park.  The clouds are especially beautiful today!

We have arrived!  This part of New Mexico has its own beauty!!
 

As you can see, Dog Canyon still has few trees with gold colored leaves.
 

This is the ruins of Francois-Jean "Frenchy" Rochas home.  He lived here alone at the mouth of Dog Canyon for about 8 years, raising cattle and cultivating an orchard and vineyard.  He built rock walls separating cattle areas from his gardens.  Look carefully at the line going up the mountain in the background.  That is one of the walls.  See the picture below for a closeup of part of this wall.

Frenchy had about 400 head of cattle.  Frenchy's good fortune ended suddenly when he was found dead, shot in the chest.  Speculation is that he was murdered by cattlemen who owed him money.  The murder was never solved.

Looking farther up Dog Canyon. 

The golden trees are absolutely gorgeous!
 

Down along the creek running in the bottom of the canyon.  Apparently when it rains the water is much higher.
 

Tic got this cool picture of a small pool in the creek.
 

 Can you tell I'm enthralled with the gold leaf trees??

The same tree is pictured both above and below just from different angles.  It is a very large tree that is mostly dead with a huge burl at the bottom.  Looks like most of the roots don't even reach the water.

Another view of the little creek at the bottom of the canyon.

Last look back up Dog Canyon as we are leaving.  It was a beautiful day for a beautiful hike.

Since it is Thanksgiving Day, the Dallas Cowboys play football today.  We watched them win AGAIN.  We thought we were having Thanksgiving Dinner at a local church.  I must have gotten the day or time wrong.  So we had Thanksgiving dinner at Denny's.  We are so thankful for our many blessings including our health and many friends!