Driving day. We drove over a 7500’+ pass on our way out of Alamagordo up Hwy 70 to Tularosa, Ruidoso (home of Ruidoso Downs Race Track at about 7000′ elevation) and then east to the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation and on through Roswell, NM to Bottomless Lakes State Park.
Although we thought we got a good deal on fuel in Alamagordo, we were subsequently mildly disappointed when we saw diesel for $2.049 on the rez. Since we did not need fuel at the time, we passed the good deal.
Bottomless Lakes are not actually lakes but water-filled sinkholes although they exist right adjacent to the Pecos River. Water is fed into the lakes underground through limestone/gypsum deposits so the water ain’t too potable in some of the holes. They look neat and the adjacent cliffs are a work in motion as they collapse. The sinkholes are believed to be collapsed caverns.
One strange notation about this place: WHAT IS THAT FART SMELL? The stench of farts or pig shit or upwind cattle feed lot operations permeates the place. I was going to blame it on Peggy because I couldn’t remember farting but even when she took a stroll the stench remained so blame was out of the question. We could not see any pig farms or cattle lots around so we finally figured out it was the lakes. Maybe they should rename the place “Bottom Lakes” or “Turdfondler Shores” or “Stenchville.”
We went to the visitor’s center for the park and met Jim, the docent. Since nobody else was there, he took us through the place and showed us the good stuff. He is quite a character and reminded both Peggy and me of Peg’s dad, Sam. He has some strange little props to greet you at the desk like dollar bills folded into little frogs, a tennis ball that he squeezes to make it talk and alleged alien turds. He also pointed out to us a secondary road we could drive to see most of the lakes w/o getting out of Charlotte so we drove all of it.
This park is another NM park and cost $14 a night for W&E and $18 per if you want sewer. The highways coming in are a bit bumpy.