Day 235. March 29, 2014. Living desert

LOCATION:  near Carlsbad, in SE corner of New Mexico

WEATHER:  Sunny. High around 70

We took a long bike ride on a path in the state park.  There are cottontail bunnies and black-eared jack rabbits all over.  

We drove into town.  As in Texas, there are huge cattle ranches all over.  Usually we don't see the cows, but these were right on the road.

Not too shy!

There are also oil fields all over.  The air spells like oil.

In town, we went to a living desert park and zoo.  Very nicely done, showing native plants and animals.

Then, we went to a beautiful hotel that is a restored bank.  In the bar, there was a free wine-tasting. They were surprisingly good New Mexico wines. We had spicy habanero NM goat cheese in a blueberry sauce with NM pecans to accompany the wine.

We did grocery shopping, and now the refrigerator is bulging.  George cooked chicken thighs on the gas grill.  That is allowed, but we cannot use BBQ grills with charcoal or firewood, due to burn ban. Our campsite has a brand-new grill with a sign with warnings.

DINNER:  With some of the grilled chicken, I made fajitas.  Added lots of veggies.  My bueno!