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And another Road Trip...to Taos

8/10/2020

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Yesterday was a road trip that I've been looking forward to.  We went to Taos and drove the Enchanted Circle, an 84 mile loop, beginning in Taos that takes you to Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest and Angel Fire.  
This beautiful drive took us through some of the most mountainous and beautiful areas of New Mexico.  
​We saw Wheeler Peak, the largest peak in NM, coming in at over 13,000 feet.  We saw quartz and feldspar rocks that date back two billion years.



​One of the highlights, for me, was returning to visit the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.  When I was there, well over a decade ago, there were Native American vendors lining the oath to the bridge.  
​Sadly, they are no longer allowed there.

One thing that hadn't changed was the vista.  The gorge is so deep that I couldn't walk to the railing and look down.  I got dizzy when I tried.  I still say this gorge rivals the Grand Canyon in beauty.
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Another part of our trip was more solemn. We visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Peace and Brotherhood Chapel just outside Angel Fire.  

"In the 1960s, Dr. Victor Westphall and his wife Jeanne, purchased more than 800 acres of the Val Verde Ranch near Angel Fire, with the intention of building a ski and golf resort.  Then, on May 22, 1968, their oldest son, Lt. Victor David Westphall III, was killed in an ambush in Con Thien, Vietnam, just south of the DMZ.  He was buried in the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

David's mother suggested using David's life insurance money to build a chapel to honor the memory of their son. Inspired, Doc drew out the initial sketches for the chapel and submitted them to a local Santa Fe architect for final drafting.

Construction of the Peace and Brotherhood Chapel began in September, 1968.  
The vision for the Chapel soon expanded to commemorate the service and sacrifice of all Vietnam Veterans.  
The chapel was completed in May, 1971 and was one of the first memorials in the US dedicated to Vietnam Veterans.

The location of the Memorial is no accident; it sits atop a hill overlooking the picturesque Moreno Valley, which is at the base of Wheeler Peak.  Angel Fire was the last place David visited before deploying to Vietnam in 1967.  He donated several of his books to the local school library."


The Memorial changed hands several times over the years: in 1982 the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) assumed ownership.  In 1985 construction began on the visitors center and museum.  
The center was completed in 1986. In 1998, the DAV turned ownership to the David Westphall Veterans Foundation.

On Veterans Day, 2005 the site officially became the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park.  
In 2017, the ownership of the memorial was transferred to the NM Dept of Veterans Affairs.

Doc's original vision for the Memorial included a veterans cemetery. In 2018, the DVS broke ground on the
Angel Fire State Veterans Cemetery in the valley below the chapel.  
​Doc and Jeanne Westphall are both buried here on the grounds of the memorial.

It's easy to feel the sense of calm come over you as you walk this hallowed ground.  
​Rest In Peace and welcome home, heroes.

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Another Road Trip

8/3/2020

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Yesterday was time for another road trip.  While there is nothing much open right now, we still manage to have fun.  This time, we headed west and south.  State Hwy 180 turned out to be a beautiful drive.  Within minutes, the scenery changed from desert to scrub to alpine meadows, to craggy rocks and back again.

Four hours later, we arrived in Silver City, known for its silver mines back in the day.  Just outside Silver City is Hanover, home to a very old copper mine.

After leaving Silver City, we headed due East to get back to the Interstate.  Hwy 152 took us directly through Gila National Forest.  What an absolutely beautiful drive.  We were high up in the mountains, probably 10,000 ft and wen saw mountain range after mountain range after mountain range.  In some ways, it reminded me of the Smoky Mountains.  Dave had a great time driving the very windy mountain road.

Storm clouds and rain chased us from Silver City back to the Interstate, just south of Truth or Consequences and as soon as we hit the hwy, the rain hit hard.  The truck was washed!

Hope you enjoy the pictures we took yesterday.  Some of the scenery was breathtaking, and we will go back as soon as our state re-opens.
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    In May, 2019, we fell in love with Albuquerque and the Land of Enchantment.  We moved into the house of our dreams and will share our misadventures with home ownership!

    ​We'll also share the beauty of this area as we get to know our adopted home.

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