City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico

We came south on 180 out of Silver City and decided on a side trip to City of Rocks State Park.

The drive into the state park is long and straight through flat terrain and then on the horizon looms a giant version of Stonehenge – monoliths piled haphazardly out in the middle of nowhere.

Camping without water and electricity gives the camper an opportunity to pull their rigs or tents in-between the monster rocks and be hidden from other campers. It is our private camp. We hear nothing but wind and see nothing but eagles and hawks perched on top of the three/four story rocks and we share their expansive views in all directions. Each campsite is named for the star constellation the site faces.

This is a good site for walking well-groomed trails, for birding, and for mountain biking.
It is also a place to just relax and stare.

It was a treat to venture a few miles down the road from the State Park and visit with two old friends of J’s parents. He is 92, she 88. They live on 6700 acres of land that encompasses savannah, riparian, mountains and desert. They are spry, sharp, funny; they love the land and loath Bush. Our kind of people. Their place is full of peacocks, prize roosters, hens, cattle, horses, and dogs. The setting is sublime. He retired as a newspaper publisher at 62 and has been farming for the last 30 years, never stopping. They are slowly giving away their land to the state park system (City of Rocks) and environmental groups so that it will be preserved in perpetuity. Nice folks.