As you may remember from previous articles, we planned a trip to west Texas for late June and planned to be in Moab, Utah for July 4th. The whole trip began well. The weather was decent in Caprock, Texas; we got there right after a rain. The temperature was pretty good in Guadalupe National Park because of the higher elevation. But, the farther we drove the hotter it got. When you are on a long trip like we had planned this year, schedules keep you moving, no matter what else is happening.
The trip across New Mexico was beautiful. We drove up Interstate 25 to Los Lunas, south of Albuquerque, and took a left on what the locals call Interstate 6. This is a two lane, mostly blacktop, that runs crossways between I-40 and I-25. It lets us ‘shun-pikers’ get around the Albuquerque traffic. Folks in the know use “I-6”.
Driving around in country like west Texas you forget what traffic really is. When I bounced on to I-40 it gave me the hiccups, everything including 18-wheelers were running bumper to bumper at 75 miles an hour or faster.
I was happy to pass Grants and find the little town of Prewitt, which was our exit. However, I was sinking into the seat because I couldn’t see a thing but flat hot, high desert. It certainly didn’t look like a place I wanted to unload and ride in 100 degree heat.
Thank goodness I had a big surprise coming….we got off at Prewitt, which is about half way between Grants and Gallop, turned south under the interstate on Highway 412 and headed for Bluewater. When you get out there about four miles the road circles up a hill to the right and all thoughts of the ugly interstate disappear. You are suddenly within rock throwing distance of the Cibola National Forest. Bluewater is a tiny town and the RV and Horse Motel is down the road on the right.
This campground is good for anyone who knows how to use a GPS and wants to ride in a wonderful national forest. I think it is especially good for women who travel alone. A woman owns and runs the place; she seems to know what it takes to make you feel safe, as well as comfortable.
THIS WAS A great water stop, and of course BETTY ROBINSON'S mule, Paige, never passes up a chance to grab grass
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The campground is small and decorated primitive western. It is full service with water, electric, and sewer, if you want. The corrals are clean and safe. The whole place is fenced to the ground. In other words, if your Pugawa (aka your puppy) escapes you can catch her before she gets on the road. There is a shower and laundry room. The place is not big and I’m not sure the owner plans for it to get too much larger.
Camping here was one of the few times I was willing to go away from my mules and be a regular tourist. What fun. We visited some great Native American ruins, went geocaching, and toured through the forest. We also went to El Moro. Anyone who loves history, cowboys, and the old west, should not miss a visit to this spot. I can’t tell you what a wonderful place it is; some inscriptions on the rocks date back to the 1600’s. If you ever watched a cowboy movie you probably saw one about this bunch of rocks. It is the only place you can find water for miles around. Everyone, wagon train or cowboy, going west through this area stopped here. This is the nation’s oldest National Monument.
Trails at the campground begin at the gate. Turn right and head for Bluewater Lake. This is a very easy trail, which makes a full circle. Another trail in the same direction takes you up into more mountains. The trails here let you set your own pace; determine where you want to go, and how far you want to ride. Again, it’s good to understand your GPS, but the camp owner can give you very good directions.
If you leave camp and turn left, you will ride about a half mile on a slightly used dirt road, then you hit two track trails. The trails spread out through the Cibola National Forest. I like this forest because the underbrush isn’t as tight as what you find in Arkansas. You can ride around trees and enjoy looking across the country. You will frequently see deer and other wildlife. We also saw a Navajo gentleman herding his sheep and later on the same loop we saw his hogan. This is a place I will go back to; there is no way I got the riding done I wanted to do. But, right here is where the weather turned way too HOT. We were planning to go on to Utah; it was running 104 to 106 in Moab. Far too sweltering for intelligent folks to be out fooling around in the sun, that will have to happen at another time.
We drove as far as Gallop, chickened out and headed the trailer back to Arkansas. I miss getting to see the country, but it didn’t get better and I don’t regret missing the heat. If you are planning a drive across I-40 for any reason, or you just want a fun place to ride, check out Bluewater Lake Lodge, RV and Horse Motel, 608 Hwy 412, Prewitt, NM 87045 (you take exit 63 at Prewitt). For reservations call Patricia Jacoby (505) 290-2699.
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