Round Rio Rancho

Right after the Rio Rancho Christmas Parade the Parks and Recreation Department sponsored a Luminaria Tour at Haynes Park. Over 12,000 real luminarias (a candle burning inside a paper bag with sand at the bottom) formed pathways throughout the darkened park, leading from one park shelter or band stand to the other. Snacks, drinks and music were everywhere, as were lighted holiday characters of all kinds. Santa and Mrs. Claus paid a short visit to the event, and chatted with a number of small children. At 7:00 pm, there was a wonderful fireworks display. I’ve visited Haynes park several times in past years for this event, and never get tired of the sight of the thousands of glowing luminarias lining the pathways and the curving hills of the park. Kudos to the city staff for continuing this great tradition.

Another successful Rio Rancho Christmas Parade (officially the Winterfest Parade) has come and gone… The weather was great – not too cold and very little wind. Thousands of children and adults lined Southern Blvd. to watch bands, floats, and miscellaneous decorated vehicles go by. It was tough to decide who made more noise – the parade participants or the onlookers lining the streets. “Merry Christmas!” was the phrase of the night.

Bringing up the rear of the parade was a Rio Rancho Fire Department ladder truck, with Santa and Mrs. Claus waiving to the crowds from the top of the truck 

One of the cool things about New Mexico is the number of great destinations within a couple hours drive of the Albuquerque / Rio Rancho area. We joined a local hiking group this past weekend for an excursion to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is located on 30,000 acres just 113 miles south of Rio Rancho, just south of Socorro. It is the site of the annual Festival of the Cranes, usually held in late November.

Many years ago, the Rio Grande River meandered more, and would create shallow marshes and wetlands in this area. Migrating waterfowl would visit this area after leaving their northern digs when it got cold. Over the years, the Rio Grande became more of a specific channel, and the birds lost their habitat. When the Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge was established, they redirected part of the Rio Grande’s flow into acres of lowland to re-create the marshes preferred by the birds. Much of the rest of the land is now devoted to raising crops, some of which is left in the field as food for the birds.

During the day, the Sandhill Crains are in the pastures, eating, strutting and calling. At dusk however, they leave the pastures and head to the shallow ponds where they will be safer from predators in the dark. Some years, the cranes number up to 15,000 and blanket the sky. When we visited, the crane count was only about 2500. The weather had been pretty warm, so the real migration had not yet peaked. About 30 minutes after dark, when there was too little light to film, the snow geese flock swooped into the pond to join the cranes. The arrival ratcheted up the bird noise by a factor of ten. As of today, the snow goose population is around 8500. There are dozens of bird species present, (including Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles and American White Pelicans) easy walking trails, bird observation blinds, and great facilities overall. I recommend this as a great day trip for the whole family any time of year.

How could shark’s teeth be just lying around on the ground just a few miles west of Rio Rancho, NM? Well it seems that many, many years ago this area was covered by ocean. If you know where to look, and what you are looking for, it’s relatively easy to find ancient shark’s teeth, the remnants of shellfish and petrified wood on or near the surface.

Last week, members of the League of Exceptional Gentlemen and their families went on a hunt for “Teeth and Bones” in the Rio Puerco Valley. The Rio Puerco Valley is primarily known for the nearly 50 volcanic necks in the area and for its rugged beauty.

In areas where hills have been pushed up from the plains, we easily found ancient clam shells, and the remains of other, larger shellfish. Wherever there were clam shells, chances were good that you would also find shark’s teeth – sometimes small, pointed or serrated teeth, sometime larger teeth, and sometimes more blunt molar-like grinding teeth for crushing shells. Often the teeth were encased in stone.  Also lying on the surface were various types of volcanic rock and lots of gypsum crystals. The crystals looked like pieces of flat 1/4 inch thick, clear glass. The sand dunes of White Sands, NM are made of gypsum crystals. In the space of a couple hours, the group located at least a dozen shark teeth and many more artifacts.

For those outside of New Mexico that think the whole state is a vast sand dune filled desert, here’s another shocker – a mountain forest filled with gold, red and yellow autumn colors only 45 minutes from Albuquerque in the Manzano Mountains.  Fourth of July Canyon contains an unusual concentration of big tooth maple trees, which for a few weeks in September or October turn parts of the green forest to crimson.  Starting with a trailhead in Fourth of July Campground, several well marked trails head up the canyon . Near the top, (about 1000 ft up) a crest trail to the left gives a one way  view from the ridge. Go to the right, and after a relatively steep and narrow half mile hike, you will be rewarded with a stunning view of both the Estancia and Rio Grande Valleys. The hike is rated a 5 on a 10 scale, except for the crest trail, which is more challenging.

Surprisingly, the canyon is not named for the brilliant annual fall display of color, but for the date it was recorded as being found by an explorer in 1906.

Fourth of July Canyon is just west of the town of Tajique. Take the Hwy 337 exit (Tijeras/Cedar Crest) off I-40. Go south on 337 to Hwy 55 west and then turn right on to Forest Rd 55. Follow the signs to the campground.

I hear it all the time around this time of year – “Fall is the best time to be in New Mexico.” It’s hard to disagree. By early October the weather has usually cooled off, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is in full swing, and the trees in the Rio Grande River Bosque are golden.

Because of the Albuquerque “Box”, (a set of local wind patterns that allow hot air balloons to fly to the south at low altitude, and to the north up high) a lot of balloons often end up flying over the Rio Grande River within sight of the Rivers Edge Subdivision of Rio Rancho.

There’s a walking path along the cliffs overlooking the west side of the river. If you haven’t ever walked there, October would be a great time to do so.  You’ll get a view of the bosque which only lasts a few weeks each year, but which is worth the wait!

The weather for the recent 5th Annual Sundae is Funday event at Loma Colorado Park in Rio Rancho, NM was pretty darn perfect, encouraging what may have been the best turnout for this event ever! Not only was the attendance over the top, but the number and variety of booths and vendors was also a record. There were booths from local businesses, churches, political campaigns, animal adoption agencies, plumbing firms, government agencies and more.

In keeping with the play-on-words event title, there were a number of ice cream related events, including a 50 ft ice cream sundae, and the Mayor Swisstack Sundae, where Rio Rancho Mayor Tom Swisstack allowed children to turn him into a human banana split. (As I observed the carnage, the terms “nuts” and “gone bananas” came to mind.)  The man is braver than I…

There was a display of classic and collectible cars, various children’s games and activities and a wide variety of family friendly fun. In keeping with the original concept of an affordable family event, food and drinks were free or very reasonably priced.

The day was co-sponsored by the Rio Rancho Kiwanis Club, the City of Vision Civitan Club, the local Elks Lodge and the Rio Rancho Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. Proceeds are earmarked to benefit  local Boy Scout Troops, the Rio Rancho Boys and Girls Club, and the Sandoval County Juvenile Justice Program and scholarships for children to participate in fee required recreation events. Co-Chairmen Dave Heil and Tony Popper plus Connie Peterson did a lot of the heavy lifting to make the event a success.

The City of Rio Rancho is big on parades – including a Christmas Season Parade and a 4th of July Parade, but none of them approach the significance of the annual Memorial Day Parade. With the country slowly withdrawing from one war, and expanding another one, we all had good reason to take some to celebrate the contributions made by our men and women in uniform.

Following the parade there was a ceremony at the Rio Rancho Veteran’s Memorial.

With a high percentage of the active military contingent from New Mexico coming from the state’s National Guard and Reserve forces, we all need to support these organizations, their members and families. We’ll have more about the Guard and Reserves in an upcoming post.

One Saturday, I stopped in at the Idalia Road Marketplace in Rio Rancho to pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables. There were these two guys playing guitar and supplying some really great shopping background music. They were DJ Armijo and William Montgomery. I had my camera in the car, so I asked the guys to play their coolest piece. This is the result…

If you like their stuff, and would like to hire them to perform for you, you can reach them at 505 321 7057.

Fenton Lake State Park is located at 7900 feet elevation in the Jemez Mountains, about 65 miles Northwest of Rio Rancho,  and about 10 miles off NM Route 4. The park consists of 700 acres of Ponderosa Pine forest and high mountain meadow land, plus about 35 acres of lake. The fishing’s good, and the lake’s stocked regularly with rainbow and brown trout. Supposedly, the fishing’s even better during the winter, (through 2 feet of ice) but I doubt I’ll ever verify that… Small boats are allowed on the lake, but only paddle-powered ones.

There’s a great campground in the park, with 40 developed sites – some with hookups, a playground, a group shelter and restrooms.

Although Cochiti Lake is a shorter distance from Rio Rancho (and a much larger lake), if you want more of a mountain-with-pine-trees environment in which to do some fishing and paddling, Fenton Lake’s the closest.

Watch as the foliage changes with elevation…It’s pretty interesting… Keep your eye out for the hummingbird too!

Located about half way between Jemez Springs and Battleship Rock, Soda Dam is an unusual geologic structure located alongside Route 4 in the Jemez Mountains. The dam was formed over thousands of years by depositing of minerals – primarily calcium carbonate, in minute layers to eventually build this magnificent structure. The dam partially blocks the Jemez River, sometimes creating a pool upstream. The materials were deposited on the dam by groundwater which seeped into the natural fault located nearby, was heated by volcanic rock deep in the earth, and which carried the dissolved minerals and gases back to the surface.

A number of active springs within the dam structure continue to carve small caves and streak the surface with color from various trace minerals.

So, you’re up for a little drive in the mountains… If you head west out of the northern end of Rio Rancho on Hwy 550, within a few minutes you’ll hit New Mexico Route 4 and San Ysidro. Route 4 is the 64 mile long main road through the Jemez Mountains connecting the Albuquerque / Rio Rancho area with the Jemez Pueblo, Los Alamos and the Bandelier National Monument.

A few miles north of San Isidro you will find the Canon de San Diego region, with its stunning red rock formations and dirt, rich with iron. The Jemez Pueblo is located here, although tribal laws do not permit photography of the pueblo or its people.

A few miles north of the pueblo, if you’re really paying attention, you will see a turnoff to the left (west) for Highway 485 – a 1 ½ – 2 lane back way into the Jemez Mountains. Although Route 4 is a quicker and wider road than 485, I find myself taking the road less traveled almost every time. The road crosses the Jemez River and goes up a narrow, steep rock canyon, following the Rio Guadalupe. A few miles in you will encounter the Gilman Tunnels. These 2 tunnels were originally built in the 1920’s to accommodate a logging railroad. Just past the tunnels, the pavement ends. In fact, there is a gate across the road at that point which is often closed well into May because of snow and poor road conditions until the spring and summer heat dries things out. The road is rough, but the vistas of the mountain meadows are worth the bumpy ride.

Once you complete the loop and rejoin Route 4, you will be within a short distance of 3 more of the region’s star attractions – Fenton Lake, Battleship Rock and Soda Dam.

Battleship Rock is easily seen from the road and is worth a stop. The large exposed rock face emulates the bow of a large ship – hence the name. The striking, 200 foot tall natural formation of welded volcanic ash is studded with glass-like obsidian rock. A river runs through the day-use picnic area at the base, and hiking trails abound.

Jazz music is alive and well in the Albuquerque / Rio Rancho Metro area. With dozens of venues and hundreds of performances each year, local jazz fans have lots of opportunities to satisfy their cravings…

Last week, Singer Cathryn (Cathy) McGill and Jazz Pianist John Rangel performed outside at the Prairie Star Restaurant, just over the Rio Rancho border in the Santa Ana Pueblo. Between the great food, the changing twilight vista of the Sandia Mountains, the rolling green of the Twin Warriors Golf Course, and the up-close-and-personal musical performance of two of the area’s top musical talents – it was a night to remember.

Cathy McGill and John Rangel were recently awarded the New Mexico Music Award in the Adult R & B category.

For more information about Cathy McGill, visit her website. John Rangel’s website can be accessed here.

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 7pm and end around 8:30. The rest of the 2010 season offerings are below:

July 11: Placitas Mountain Band (Bluegrass and Old Time Music)
July 18: Michael and Donna Coy (Folk)
July 25: Bosque Blues (Acoustic Blues Duo)
August 1: Rudy Boy Experiment (Hot Rockin’ Blues)
August 8: Dennis Higgins & The 2010 Band Folk (Folk, Blues & Contemporary Jazz)
August 15: Saints and Sinners (Classic Rock and Blues)
August 22: Twisted Mojo (Classic Blues, Rock and Soul)
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.

Well, another of Mark and Sheila’s Neighborhood Yard Sales in Rio Rancho came to a successful conclusion today… The weather cooperated, with warm, but not hot temperatures, slightly elevated humidity,  a light breeze, and it didn’t start to rain until an hour after the sale ended. Phew!

90 households (Yes – 90!) held sales in their own driveways in the Broadmoor, Ridges and Cascades areas – all within a few blocks of each other.  If you haven’t experienced this before, to have this many yard sales in one place at the same time is truly a unique shopping experience.  The fact is, if you started at 8:00 am and attempted to visit every sale site before they ended at 1:00 pm, (and spent just 30 seconds getting from site to site) you would only be able to spend 3 minutes going though the goodies at each location. Since we know that a number of people actually do make it all the way through the whole thing, it’s interesting to study their technique – evaluating the goods via drive-by, negotiating prices while their husband is already putting purchases in the car and Grandpa keeps it idling at the curb and maps the shortest route to the next sale site. It’s really intense!

Since by the morning of the sale most of our work of organizing things has already been completed, our job on sale day is to feed the Sellers and the Shoppers breakfast and snacks, to give out bottles of cold water to keep everybody hydrated, to arbitrate the occasional minor issue, and to keep the Shoppers shopping! 

At the end of today’s sale we filled about 3/4 of our moving truck with donations of leftover sale goods. The books and tapes went to Friends of the Libray of Rio Rancho, and the household items went to support Big Brothers, Big Sisters. 

The video shows just a few scenes from today’s activities. For a more complete view of what Mark and Sheila’s Neighborhood Yard Sale Series is about, plus dates and locations of our future sales, follow this link to our main Yard Sale web page.