Round Rio Rancho

Who knew being Mayor of Rio Rancho, NM was such a multi-discipline endeavor… On Saturday Mayor Gregg Hull performed in the Duke City Dance Off competition as part of the 11th Annual Day of Dance. The event was sponsored by Lovelace Women’s Hospital at the Albuquerque Embassy Suites Hotel. With his partner, Charity Tafoya, a professional at the Arthur Murray studio in Rio Rancho, Mayor Hull performed a progressive two-step to the tune of Boot Scootin’ Bogie. How did he do? Judge for yourself…

Three years ago, neighbors Shawn Novick and Craig Arroyo decided to run strings of Christmas lights from roof peak to roof peak across Reynosa Loop (in the Cabezon Subdivision of Rio Rancho, NM) as a novel decoration. Neighbors joined them, not only stepping up their house decorations but adding more strings of lights over the street. Their decorating has gotten some press, and now residents on neighboring streets have started doing it too. We have not seen this anywhere else in town, and we want to celebrate those in our community that go a little above and beyond in their efforts to make this a better or more interesting place to live.

The City of Rio Rancho has two libraries, the Loma Colorado Main Library and the Esther Bone Memorial Library. Both facilities way exceed the average community library as far as facilities, programs and materials available to check out. The Rio Rancho community continues to invest in upgrades and updates to its two libraries, and thousands of patrons are reaping the rewards every month.

We’ve visited Fenton Lake many times to paddle our kayak in circles around its perimeter. It’s good exercise, there’s a certain zen you get to experience gliding quietly just inches above the water with an expanse of blue sky above, and besides, you get to annoy the people fishing on the sides. This January was the first time we got to spend the night in the campground.
Fenton Lake State Park’s campground is open year round. In the winter most of their campground loops are blocked off. Only Loop D is accessible, but fortunately that one has electrical hookups (30 amp). There are just 6 spaces located in a shady grove of 50 ft tall pines trees. The picnic tables are all in the open, the roads are dirt and the pads are dirt covered with pine needles. There is a vault toilet nearby. Potable water faucets are at each site but are turned off in the winter. There is a working one near the lake, not far away.

With the elevation just under 8000 ft, temperatures peaked in the low 40’s and at night lows were in the teens. For years, Winter visitors to Fenton Lake have enjoyed ice fishing (although we can’t imagine it’s really about the fishing. It’s really about the drinking while waiting for the fish to do something.) When we visited however, although there was a solid layer of ice covering most of the lake, the perimeter was still liquid and there were many signs warning that geologic forces (read, volcanic) were warming the water and to stay the heck off the ice. There were patches of snow in the shade and on the north-facing slopes adjoining the lake. We visited on a weekday, and we were the only patrons in the campground, and only a few hardy souls visited the day use area.

During the summer this park is very busy, with fields of grass and flowers, a small creek feeding the lake, a playground, lots of campers, fishermen surrounding the lake, plus a few in small boats or these weird one-person pontoon things, and occasionally – a kayak. We will visit again in the summer and add another report when things are warm and green again. We wanted to visit during the winter since Fenton Lake State Park is one of the few year-round campgrounds in the area.

The annual “Pooch Plunge” is held each year in the outdoor pool at Haynes Park in Rio Rancho, NM. After the Summer swimming season is over, but before they close down the pool, the City’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department lets dog owners bring their pets to an event which is basically an aquatic dog park. The retrievers and spaniels loved it, repeatedly chasing floating tennis balls and frisbees. Even non typical water-friendly breeds like St. Bernards seemed to love it. A local pet food specialty store, Pet Food Gone Wild, organized a pet fair outside the pool area with dog related services and suppliers.

Mark & Sheila were among over 100 volunteers this weekend who, together planted several thousand pine tree seedlings within the 2011 Las Conchas Fire burn area, near Los Alamos. The planting area was near the Pajarito Trailhead, just a couple miles from the National Labs. Most volunteers used a “dibble tool” (a combination spike and shovel), to dig a wedge shaped hole deep enough t0 completely bury the seedling’s roots.

The fun part was that even when you found the perfect location to plant the little tree, (on the North side of a fallen log; in the shade of a rock; in a patch of fallen oak leaves; or near a tiny creek bed) most times you’d find a layer of solid rock just 4 or 5 inches below the surface. The tree couldn’t be buried deeply enough and would struggle to extend its roots downward.  We dug hundreds of holes to find good spots for the 40 seedlings we planted.  After 90 minutes on site, the cool, calm morning weather turned wet. The trees probably appreciated the rain, but we were soaked as we planted the last couple sacks of seedlings.

Members of the US Forest Service were there to ride herd on everybody, and supplied the hardhats, tools and the seedlings.

The Vista Linda Campground is one of the few campgrounds in the Santa Fe National Forest that is open year-round. Unlike some campgrounds this National Forest Service run facility is both located and equipped so just about any day you might arrive you’ll be able to enjoy your stay. The 6800 foot altitude will provide slightly cooler summer temps and more moderate winter temps as well. Although snow does fall at this elevation, it usually won’t stay around very long. During our January visit the high temps neared 55 and at night it dipped just below 20 degrees. The drinking water spigots are a non freezing type, and the vault toilets were clean and well ventilated. (An early morning visit would probably be rather invigorating.) This is a small campground, with just 13 tent or RV spaces for overnight use. The internal roads and pads are paved. There are fire pits and grills, but no water or electrical hookups. Some spaces are pull through, but most are back-in type. Some have room for 2 RVs with 2 picnic tables for small groups. Some picnic tables are in the open and some are covered. This campground is walk up only; no reservations can be made.

The Jemez River parallels the campground (in fact it was just 30 feet from our campsite). If you like to fish (and have a fishing license), we are told that it’s a great place to get your trout on. Gas, groceries and restaurants are just a few miles away. Pets are welcome, but keep them leashed and safe. ATV’s or other non street legal vehicles may not be used.
Directions: 5 miles South of Jemez Springs on NM State Highway 4.

Vista Linda – USFS Website

New Mexico RV Campground Videos

As you drive the 21 miles northwest from Mimbres, New Mexico, to the Mesa Campground in the Gila National Forest, you might not be convinced that there’s really going to be a place to park your RV at the end of the well-paved, easy-driving two lane road. A few miles out during the right time of year, on both sides of the road there will be incredible fields of flowers as far as you can see. Next you’ll encounter a small dense forest of redwood trees. At any time, Robin Hood and his men could have pulled us over…. After the forest, you’re there!

The campground is flat and open, with low trees, fields of grass and flowers. Some of the campsites overlook Lake Roberts, but access is up the road a little ways. 12  RV sites have water and electrical hookups. A dozen more tent camping sites exist, some of which can still accommodate an RV if all the sites with hookups are in use. Each campsite has a fire ring and a picnic table. The restroom facilities have flush toilets but no showers. There is a dump station near the entrance. All in all, you couldn’t ask for a nicer RV camping facility than the Mesa Campground, a US Forest Service site.

Mesa Campground – USFS Website

NM RV Campground Videos

Boasting some of the most unusual rock formations in the state, City of Rocks State Park is kind of like Stonehenge in the middle of a grass prairie. The rocks appear to be regular rounded boulders, but they are actually fused volcanic ash from a nearby caldera.
The State Park is located 30 miles from Deming, NM and 33 miles from Silver City off US Highway 180 – a straight, flat 2 lane highway.
The RV Campground has 10 pull through or back in spaces with electric and water hookups. All spaces have a shelter over a picnic table, with a nearby public restroom and showers.
There are 42 more developed campsites, with most appropriate for tent camping, but some are adequate for parking an RV without hookups. You can make reservations for the camping and RV spaces, but be aware that as of this writing the reservation system only reserves 2 of the 10 RV spaces. The rest are first come first served. According to the staff, they are most often not full.

The Pumpkin Patch run to benefit the Galloping Grace Youth Ranch in Rio Rancho is like no other. You can buy a decent pumpkin at any grocery store, but when you step inside this wonderland of pumpkins you get a couple hours of child and family friendly entertainment to boot! In fact they call it a Harvest Festival! There are games, farm animals, tractor races, a corn pit (No, we had never seen one before either…), hay bale art, the mud pie cafe (one of our favorites) and so much more! If you haven’t already bought your pumpkins, or even if you have, visit this great event right behind the Santa Ana Star Center. They will be open daily through Halloween from 9am – 6:30 pm, weather permitting.

Oktoberfest (or Oktoberfestival) has been a long-standing tradition in Rio Rancho. For the last three years it has been picked up and revitalized by a new organizer, who has been able to generate more volunteer participation, more vendor participation, and who has attracted a world class Petanque competition to the event. Teams from 20 countries came to Rio Rancho to compete and to spend money locally at hotels and restaurants. The “Miss Oktoberfest” competition welcomed a half dozen young Fräuleins in hand made costumes to the beer garden as well.

The Alameda Open Space parking lot is a great starting point to use the Paseo del Bosque Trail is one of Albuquerque’s premier bike, rollerblade, equestrian and walking trails. The trail is wide, well paved and provides views of the Rio Grande River, local wildlife, and the back of adjoining homes, some of which have horses, camels and llamas. We have been riding there for years, and recently shared the experience with our Granddaughter, Kaya. However, this ride was cut short . Due to recent heavy rains, there was mud at the ends of the underpass tunnel at Paseo del Norte. As I was coming out of the tunnel, I hit a pile of mud, which caused me to lose control. I landed on the retaining wall just outside.

The HD Hero camera mounted on the handlebars captured the whole thing, and was undamaged. I, however, was not so lucky. I did not break any bones, but my right arm and leg got pretty ripped up. I hit my head on a brick, but the helmet saved me from a head injury. I was able to ride back out, which was better than walking over a mile to the car. I’m sure that we’ll be back riding the bosque trail soon… I’ll just be a little more careful at the tunnels.

Each year the City of Rio Rancho goes all out to produce a 1st class fireworks show for the 4th of July. The location has changed from year to year as housing development has spread… You wouldn’t want them to launch high explosives right over your home, would you? Anyway, this year the prime public viewing location was at Rio Rancho High School – both on the field and from the stands. In addition to the folks brave enough to sit on metal stadium bleachers as a thunderstorm threatened, there were hundreds more in the hills surrounding the facility watching from their parked cars and trucks, or from home balconies and rooftops for miles. The lightning flashes were sometimes just as spectacular as the fireworks, and happened to be pretty much in the same direction of view from the stadium. We’ve preserved about 3/4 of the entire show here, so it’ll be just like you were there… Enjoy!

The Music in the Park series put on by the Rio Rancho Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department runs late Spring through the Summer at the Rotary Club Barbecue Pavilion at Haynes Park.
The activity is free, and people are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and snacks. Sorry, they don’t allow anything harder than lemonade to drink. Most nights an ice cream truck shows up to offer cold treats. The video above features the Mudd Brothers Band.

Performances start at 6:30pm and end around 8. The rest of the 2013 season offerings are below:

June 16: Twisted Mojo
June 23: Point Blank
June 30: Bosque Blues
July 7: Saint Wolf
July 14: Rio Rancho Community Jazz Band
July 21: Rio Rancho Community Concert Band
July 28: Interplay
Aug. 4: The Hit Squad
Aug. 11: The Otherside
Aug. 18: Code 29
Aug. 25: Rio Rancho Community Jazz Band
August 29: Rio Rancho Symphonic Band (Symphonic Music)
*Musical acts subject to change

Haynes Park is located at 2006 Grande Blvd., which is across the street from Intel on N.M. 528/Pat D’Arco Highway.

For additional information, please call the city of Rio Rancho’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department at (505) 891-5015.

The VLA or Very Large Array (recently renamed the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array) is a radio astronomy observatory comprised of 27 dish shaped antennas arranged in a Y configuration which can be as small as 3000 feet across or as large as 13 miles depending upon the resolution of the imaging desired and the wavelengths of radio waves to be studied. The observatory is located at just under 7,000 ft altitude on the Plains of San Agustin, near the town of Magdalena, about 50 miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. The configuration of the array can be changed using a special rail car to move each antenna to one of many pre determined mounting sites along the Y shaped tracks. Once all the dishes are bolted down on their concrete mounts, the fiber optic connections are hooked up, and the array is back in business.

The observatory is a part of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), and not only acts as a standalone facility, but also as a part of the Very Long Baseline Array, which is a group of ten 25 meter dishes located between Hawaii and the US Virgin Islands. Working together they act as a single huge radio telescope. Since running thousands of miles of fiber optic cable to hardwire them all to a central processor is impractical, each dish in the VLBA records its data to a hard disk drive. The data is time stamped using an atomic clock to allow for synchronization back at the NRAO Operations Center in Socorro, NM.

The staff was eager to share their passion for science during a recent open house tour of their facility. Things have changed there since the movie “Contact” was filmed. Astronomers need not visit the observatory in person. Their observations are scheduled, run and stored semi automatically by staff, and can be downloaded via the internet.

One question we asked was whether the signal would degrade if snow collected in the dishes, kind of like what happens with my Dish Network Satellite TV receiver. The answer was yes, it would. Their fix is to tilt the dishes vertically, and kind of shake them to knock off the snow. There are also heating elements present to help melt the snow. You never know unless you ask….

Image Courtesy of NRAO/AUI and NRAO