Santa Fe
Campground
Santa Fe Skies RV Park
Nice, clean campground with unique metal art and old machinery around the grounds. There is also a 3/4 mile path around the park. It is only 20 minutes to downtown and in a very quiet neighborhood. We were here over Memorial Day so Mark performed in the pavilion on 3 occasions. But the best thing about the campground was that it sounded like horses clomping every time a car drove on the concrete driveway! So cool.
Things to see
Meow Wolf Santa Fe
This is an obscure, interactive art museum. There are over 70 rooms to explore and it is easy to get lost with all the hidden passageways. Be sure to open every door, refrigerator, washing machine, etc. as you never know where it will lead! There were a lot of kids running around so if you want to try and solve the mystery, we suggest going after 6 pm as it is adults only. Be sure to pick up the phone and talk to a similar "obscura" facility in Oklahoma City!
Hiking
Unfortunately, there were fires in the area and all of the national forest areas were closed to hiking.
Food and Drink
Los Magueyes Mexican Restaurant
Great food and margaritas just off the main street of the plaza. Dogs allowed on the patio.
Santa Fe Brewing Company
We went on a Thursday night with some friends we met at the campground. Live music every Thursday! The beers were excellent! There was also a "Fusion Taco" truck there and was so yummy.
To make a long story short ...
Scott and Susan
Scott was one of the group of guys that we met in Terlingua TX (see "The Motorcycle Guys" at https://www.theswanstory.com/our-stays/texas/terlingua). He and his family live in Albuquerque NM, so while we're so close, I gave him a call and we got together! The family ranch, known as Muellers High Desert Ranch is a 7,500 acre cattle ranch between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Susan's father was a German immigrant that worked hard for his success.
Barb, Polly, and I headed out there on a Saturday and had a wonderful time with Scott and Susan. Toured of some of the ranch via four-wheeler (and still only saw a small part of a 7500 acre ranch!), had a great cookout, and played some music. Scott is a wonderful guitar player, he and I had played together back when we first met in Terlingua. We even talked Susan into singing!
Along with the dessert we brought with us, we also brought some Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey. It really is our sipping drink of choice. We always have a bottle in the freezer. Neither Scott nor Susan had ever tried it and both loved it. According to the text message Scott sent me a day later, we "put the whiskey curse" on Susan. She had already gone out and bought a bottle. Whoops. Sorry, not sorry.
It was so nice to see Scott again and meet Susan. What a wonderful couple and great family history.
The Roswell TV Series Set
While visiting Scott and Susan, they told us that we drove right by a "movie set". Well, not a "movie" but a TV series. I looked up the Wikipedia article and didn't see pictures that could confirm this.
Mark & Lisa, Rob & Linda
While at the Santa Fe Skies RV Resort, Mark played three shows. The resort has a wonderful courtyard with tables and chairs and partial covering. The shows were a LOT of fun because everyone interacted, shouting out their requests, singing along, just being engaged. Two couples who were there the entire time we were, and came to all the shows, were Mark & Lisa and Rob & Linda. Rob & Linda live in Alaska. Mark & Lisa currently call Flagstaff AZ home. Mark and Rob met each other a long time ago when they were into rock climbing.
Barb and I were invited to dinner at Mark & Lisa's camper one evening and Mark grilled an amazing appetizer. Pitted dates stuffed with pine nuts and bleu cheese, wrapped in bacon, then drizzled with balsamic vinegar. OMG! Yum!
Mark & Lisa have named their camper (a 5th wheel very similar to ours) the "Desert Pearl". Barb and Lisa started chatting about decals for our campers and Barb ended up using her awesome CriCut skills to make them another decal.
Another fun fact. This is yet another couple we've met that knew each other as high schoolers, went their own way after that, having other spouses and families, then renewed their romance at a 30th or 35th high school reunion.
Wonderful people that we fully intend to stay connected with.
Ray Duran - singing kick-boxer
Ok, so this wasn't how he described himself. While doing a show at the resort, Ray made some requests and, while I was looking for them, he told stories and jokes. The best story was that he and his wife were on their honeymoon! They knew each other in grade school and only recently rekindled their romance. Sound familiar? That's what happened with Mark & Lisa (above). We've now heard that story at least 3 times ... people that re-met each other at a 30th or 35th high school reunion and got together.
Ray let us all know that he had been a champion kick-boxer. Between songs, near the end of one of my shows, he said "If you can play 'La Bamba', I'll come up and sing it.". Well, alrighty then. Up he came and did a FANTASTIC job! What a talented guy!
I knew Garth Brooks before he was Garth Brooks
Another show-related story. After one of my shows at the resort, this guy comes up and says he's a musician and had gone to OSU (Oklahoma State University). I happened to remember that Garth Brooks is an Oklahoman but didn't know where this story was headed. He said he played music in college and, as many budding OSU musicians did, played various frat house parties and such around campus. He said one night a young guy played a show and said he was going to Nashville to be the biggest thing ever. Turns out the guy's name was Garth Brooks. The Garth Brooks!