RV Travel: The Fence That Won The West

Above, barbed wire fence next to Six Mile Canyon Road in Jamestown, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Barbed wire. Where I live in New Mexico there's plenty of it around.

There's cattle pastures near our community, especially along Six Mile Canyon Road that takes people to Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest. 

The reason I am mentioning barbed wire is that RV Travel posted an article on the "devil's rope." They also call it "the fence that won the West." 

The article begins with:

Mention the words “barbed wire,” and I immediately envision growing up on our Iowa farm. Those barbs snagged my chore clothes countless times!

I didn’t fully appreciate barbed wire as a child. Nor did I know then what I now know: There are two (yes, two!) museums dedicated to barbed wire—one in Kansas and one in Texas—and both have become popular roadside attractions for RVers who enjoy discovering America’s history.

You may not have a high interest in or memories of barbed wire, like me. However, the museums dedicated to this invention are worth a stop along your way.

To read more, go here. 

Visiting The Longhorns

Above, the longhorns at Mesa Ridge Ranch yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As yesterday was a nice warm day, I took an late afternoon Jeep drive around the subdivisions of Whispering Cedars and Mesa Ridge Ranch.

I stopped for awhile in Mesa Ridge Ranch where the longhorn cattle are at. At first, they were about 50 yards away, but two came over to check me out and then a mother and calf came over but remained a few yards back.

Naturally, I took some pictures of them. 

St. Patrick's Day and Longhorns

Above, near the Six Mile Canyon fence line. 

As yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, I kept with my own tradition and watched The Quiet Man (1952) starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald and Victor McLaglen during dinner.

Before doing so, I took a Jeep drive around our subdivision and then over to the neighboring subdivision, Mesa Ridge Ranch to see the longhorn cattle. 

Sure enough, they were gathered around fifty yards from the fence. I took several photos of them.

After watching The Quiet Man over dinner, I got into the Jeep again and drove over to the gate to Six Mile Canyon. There was a Class B camper parked near the corral there. I didn't see anyone there. I took a drive along the fence line from there. I took a photo of myself with the Jeep. 

When I was done, I headed back home for the night. My phone's battery was near zero, so I'd better get home and plug it into the charger.

It is supposed to be 77° today, which will make for another good driving day.

Some photos:

Afternoon Jeep Drive

Above, the cows are (at left) at the Six Mile Canyon Gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday afternoon, I took a Jeep drive around the subdivision. I first headed up the hill to Birch loop (where friends the Luciers and the Slapes live). The last time I was driving the loop, a deer ran across the road in front of me. This time, I saw no deers.

Then, I headed down the hill to Six Mile Canyon Road. 

I drove on the road and found it much drier than a day or so ago. I drove to the old corral that "marks" the entrance into Six Mile Canyon. There, were a group of cows milling around and grazing. 

Above, a better view of the cows at the gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I stopped and took a few pictures. The cows kept their distance and kept watching me. It is good we have the cows in the national forest. Their grazing keeps fuel for potential fires at a minimum.

Above, the Jeep, the old corral and cows. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday morning, I winterized the motorhome and got it into the GOCO Beast Barn. The hardest part was getting the barn's roll-up door open. I have to push it up with a hoe so that it is open enough for enough clearance for the motorhome. I am seriously considering installing a garage door opener. It is getting harder for me to open the door. Getting old sucks, but it is better than the alternative.

I took the Jeep drive after a few hours resting (and a late lunch/early dinner at Denny's) after the winterizing chore. 

Afternoon Jeep Drive

Above, the longhorns at Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the first time in months, I took a Jeep drive up to Mesa Ridge Ranch, the subdivision next to ours.

There are a few more homes in the subdivision. One of them, a double-wide mobile home, sat in two sections while a foundation was being built. 

Above, one of the longhorns giving me a look-over. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After driving through, I stopped to see the longhorn cattle. I took some photos and then proceeded down the hill. At the bottom, just inside the entrance to the subdivision, there were some black cattle penned. I didn't notice them when I was heading up. 

Above, the cattle near the entrance to Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following the drive to Mesa Ridge Ranch, I took a short drive on Six Mile Canyon Road where I noticed some cattle in a field near the shooting area and our subdivision, Whispering Cedars. 

Above, the cattle with Whispering Cedars in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I didn't to all the way to Six Mile Canyon as it was pretty muddy and I wasn't in the mood to wash the Jeep. I had to do some washing anyway as a few muddy puddles splashed onto the Jeep.

Above, the Jeep on Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Still, it was an enjoyable drive. 

Six Mile Canyon Drive

Above, one of the inhabitants of Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Finally, I took the first drive into Cibola National Forest's Six Mile Canyon near Jamestown, New Mexico today.

Until the beginning of this month, the Jeep had been out of commission since late May. I got the problem (a short or something with the coil that fried the points in the distributor) earlier this month. I also got new tires for the Jeep. So she was ready to go.

It is amazing how green plant life has gotten once we started getting some rain. That, plus flowers, made the canyon look like springtime. 

During the drive, there were many cattle grazing along the road. They belong to a local rancher who has a deal with the Forest Service to have his cattle graze in the national forest. This helps in keeping down the fuel for fires.

It was an enjoyable drive. The new tires made handling a lot easier.

More photos:

Above, a stop at the windmill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, approaching the cattle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, taking the approach slow so not to spook them. Photoby Armand Vaquer.

Above, the cattle at one of their watering holes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Jeep at the windmill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, one cow watching me while another grazes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A Visit To The Longhorns

The other day, after working on the oil and water on the Jeep, I took a drive in Mesa Ridge Ranch to see the longhorn steers.

The steers were out and about in their area up in the Mesa Ridge Ranch community. 

Naturally, I took a few photos of them.

And, of course, one of the Jeep:

26 Bar Ranch and John Wayne

Above, the 26 Bar Ranch ranch house last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, while driving to Tombstone, Arizona for the spring clampout, I drove to Eagar, Arizona to see the 26 Bar Ranch. The ranch was once owned by actor John Wayne.

The official John Wayne posted the following about the ranch yesterday:

Happy Thanksgiving Pilgrim! We are thankful for you!

Duke is pictured with his 26 Bar Ranch partner, Louis Johnson. The 26 Bar Ranch was a big part of the Wayne family's life and is especially significant this time of year because they spent every Thanksgiving at the ranch for the annual cattle auction.⁣

John Wayne and his partner, Louis Johnson, owned more than fourteen thousand acres in the Casa Grande area, where the Red River Feedlot and ranch headquarters were. They also grazed cattle each summer on leased government land in the area around Springerville and Eagar, Arizona. Their operation also included growing twelve thousand acres of cotton in nearby Stanfield, Arizona.

The John Wayne: An American Experience Museum & Supply in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, Texas, will be closed today in observance of Thanksgiving. We will resume normal operating hours tomorrow and will be open from 9am to 6pm.

Labor Day

Above, in Six Mile Canyon today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today turned out to be an enjoyable and relaxed Labor Day.

This afternoon, I took a Jeep drive into Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest. I saw only two campers in the canyon, but saw several drivers on Six Mile Canyon Road. One was a pick-up truck with what looked like a shack on the back. It turned out to be a homemade trailer with a porch. The only thing missing was Granny of the Beverly Hillbillies sitting in a rocking chair with a shotgun. It was definitely rustic-looking.

Above, the lone cow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I saw only one cow in the canyon. It was alone in the grassy valley that lies in the center of the canyon.

After getting home, I prepared for barbecuing cheeseburgers with tater tots for dinner. Everything went fine. The dinner was good.

Above, burgers on the barbecue grill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While eating dinner, I watched Sully (2016) starring Tom Hanks and directed by Clint Eastwood. It was about the U.S. Airways jet landing on the Hudson River after colliding with birds, knocking out both engines. Good movie.

Above, the Jeep in the central valley in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Black Cows Matter

Above, yours truly at the corral. 

This afternoon, I took a drive in the Jeep over to the corral which is at the main gate to Six Mile Canyon.

As I approached, I saw about a dozen or more black cattle near the gate and corral. They were all females along with their calves.

It had been a while since I last drove Six Mile Canyon Road over to the corral. I'll probably go into Six Mile Canyon on Monday (Labor Day).

Naturally, I took some pictures.  

Sunday Drive

Above, the Jeep on Maverick Road in Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before it gets hotter out, I took a Sunday drive up Maverick Road in the neighboring (and new) subdivision of Mesa Ridge Ranch. It has been a few months since I was last there.

Above, a windshield view looking north towards the mesas. The longhorn cattle are at right. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to my count, there are now 6 residences there, one of which consists of a Coleman travel trailer and tent. The rest are double-wide mobile homes.

I stopped to see and take some pictures of the longhorn cattle. They were relaxing in a shady section of their lot next to the road. There was one calf.

After the stop, I headed down the road to our subdivision.

Here's the longhorn cattle: 

Cowabunga!

Above, the longhorn residents of Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since today is a nice clear day at about 50°, I took the Jeep out for a drive around our subdivision and the neighboring Mesa Ridge Ranch subdivision.

The roads were a little muddy, but it was still an enjoyable drive.

At Mesa Ridge Ranch, I saw that the longhorn cattle were fairly close to their barrier fencing, so I pulled over to take a few pictures.

There is another occupied home at Mesa Ridge Ranch since the last time I drove through.