A TALE OF TWO STATES

August, 2019

It’s a long steep 6,000-foot change in elevation on Interstate 25 from Trinidad, Colorado to the top of Raton Pass (7,834 feet).  Aimee stayed the course up the grade although our speed decreased to just a little more than 35 miles an hour as we passed the “Welcome To New Mexico” sign at the summit.  Our campground was barely a half-mile from the border – a small beautiful campground; rigs parked in a perimeter circle with a central bathhouse and laundry, office and decent restaurant down the hill.  And being that we were at the top of the Pass the view was spectacular.

Checking in was a breeze – the owners escorted us to our site and made sure we had no troubles backing in.  We were told to take proper precautions – recently a black bear had been a frequent overnight visitor.  However, during the 2 nights we enjoyed this campground, there were (unfortunately?) no sightings.

We were engaged in a heated game of Scrabble when the skies opened up and a most hellacious thunderstorm helped us remember that Mother Nature’s wrath is not something to take lightly.  Suddenly, there was a brilliant flash of light and milliseconds later a sharp boom that scared us both.  We could easily imagine the sound being akin to the sound of a bomb’s explosion, but it only turned out to be a lightning strike that occurred less than 0.1 mile from the campground!

As Mother Nature quieted and the storm passed to the west of us (yeah- we know it should have moved east, but, oh well) we were able to catch a few pictures of the storm’s continuing deluge while the sun was setting….

…and the storm’s effect on painting the sky to the south.

Raton (population 6,103) is a small impoverished town in the valley just south of the Pass.  It afforded us a chance for groceries, gasoline and a Redbox movie rental.  Honestly there’s little else to do.

We looked forward to visiting The Capulin Volcano National Monument and learning about this cinder cone volcano.  The volcano last erupted 60,000 years ago and it is extinct. The Park Service has built a road to the caldera, and visitors can drive to the parking lot and hike around the rim.  We felt that it would be very cool to look down into the depths of an extinct volcano.  The Monument was only 39 miles from our campground at Raton Pass…an easy drive.

Remember the storm just described?  Well, here’s what we were met with when we arrived at the visitors center:  “Volcano Road closed until further notice. Due to extreme rain runoff, Volcano Road (road to the top) has been washed out, and the entire road covered with debris. The road is closed due to dangerous conditions. Crews are beginning work, however the road will remain closed until further notice.”  As of 10/18/19 (at least 2 months later!) this alert is still posted on the Monument’s website.

From the visitors center we did what we could do; viewed the volcano from a distance and took a short hike.  As we were leaving there were other extinct volcanos in the distance to observe, and in doing our research we found out that the Capulin Volcano and its sister volcanoes are part of the Raton Section of the Great Plains, which is known for its many cone volcanos.

Ration Pass is a prime spot for hummingbirds, and the campground had feeders all along one side of the bath house and laundry.  Karen – this one’s for you (again!).

As much as Raton, New Mexico is a small quiet town without much going on, Trinidad, Colorado (population 9,100) is quite the opposite.  It is home to Trinidad State Junior College, Trinidad Lake State Park, and 8 museums.  And Adams State (remember Revenge of the Nerds?) is only 30 Colorado miles west.  Trinidad is a few miles further north of the Pass; Raton is south.

The Art Cartopia Museum was opened in 2018, and is now home to more than 25 art cars.  The Museum is dedicated to being a “regional center of creativity and shenanigans.”

What’s an Art Car?  It’s hard to define; however, “if you can’t drive it, it’s a float – end of rules.”  An Art Car must be roadworthy but can take a variety of forms – some are activist works, others are the result of truly amazing collaborations, still others are sculptures on wheels; many are simply wacky ideas made manifest by found objects and some good ole’-fashioned elbow grease made by cartists.  Every September, Trinidad hosts AutoCade, its annual parade of Art Cars.

Everyone that visits is given a guided tour by a “splainer.”  We had the good fortune to have one of the owners and a cartist herself be our guide, answer our questions, and just generally make this an A+ stop along our way.

Check it out…

If you’re in the neighborhood make the Art Cartopia Museum a must stop.  If you’re in the neighborhood stop at the top of Raton Pass, pause and take a look in all directions.  If you’re in the neighborhood head just a little bit off the road and check out the cone volcanoes.  Otherwise just motor on through this section of Interstate 25.

Barbara and Brian