WHAT'S DOWN with the BREHMS as of 16 OCT,11

Old town house, Hatch, New Mexico

HEY DUDE, is there a place to BUY CHILES HERE

This is the right time to visit the chile capitol of the USA, here in Hatch New Mexico. This scene is repeated many times along the streets. There are ristras (pictured here), fresh, roasted, peeled, dried, frozen, in salsas, jams & jellies and a plethora of gift ideas. Hatch is a small town with a large agricultuaral industry. The population is Mexican, Indian and white, probably in that order. If you ever get near, you should visit. it is at the junction of NM-26 and I-25.

BESTUS CHILES in the WESTUS

We are having a ball here. The weather has been lovely; cool at night, in the 50's and warm during the days, in the 70's and 80's. Occasionally the winds get a little to much, up to 30-mph. Lots of folks here from South Dakota, like us. Many just passing through going East or West. We have visited the Deming/Mimbres Museum for the umpteenth time. It is always better, and remarkably complete. There is no charge, save donations, and is staffed totally by volunteers. The locals have a lot of pride and are anxious to share their history. A should see!

MEADMOBILE

Life is just full of pleasant surprises. A couple of days ago, friends Ron & Sharon Mead unexpectedly showed up at the Dream Catcher Park and parked next door. This is their Flxible bus, previously used as a Silverline Cross Country passenger bus. They have done some major, and high tech, energy efficient modifications to make it their home.

ADOBE DELI DOLLIES

We decided to take Ron and Sharon to one of our favorite haunts here in Deming. Just a few miles East of here on an old school road off of an farm road, is the "Adobe Deli" a converted old school house, featuring a large dining room, a full saloon style bar, and oxygen bar and a whole covey of stuffed wild animals and memorabilia. It's kind of like a night out designed by Cabella's, The Black Angus Steakhouse, and the bar at the Palace Hotel. Have fun, and stay thirsty my friends....

HMMMM, MUST BE SOMETHING HERE I'D LIKE

Yep, this the long bar podner. Hope you are all having a wondeful fall. The Chargers are still a little iffy, but we look forward to keeping up with their games. We will remain here in Deming for a few more days, then head West again for the Bisbee, AZ area to visit great friends Mike and Marsha. When we have worn out our welcome in the nut and fruit capitol of AZ. we will head for Yuma, and hopefully get to visit with the Clarksons, Andy and Linda, you know! the Yuma Clarksons of Foothills fame.

COOL CATS HANG OUT HERE

As mentioned earlier, the Adobe Deli has a large population of inanimate game. Cats, Deer, and even an alligator.

TABLE FOR FOUR PLEASE

Mmmmunchies and beers at the Adobe Deli.

Ron, Diane, Sharon and yours truly.

Look forward to our next meet. Love and God Bless....Ray, Diane, & the Boys

WHAT'S DOWN with the BREHMS, 9 OCTOBER, 11

CAMP DEMING

Salutations from Deming, New Mexico, somewhere between Las Cruces and Lordsburg. This has been a kick back, uneventful week. We left Tucumcari last Monday and drove to Alamogordo, next to the "White Sands" proving grounds. We spent a couple of days there, then drove to Deming via Las Cruces. I think we will spend two or three weeks here, visit some favorite haunts, and do a little maintenance. When we leave we hope to go through Bisbee and visit my oldest friend, (He is younger than I), and his girlfriend Marsha.

USED FARM IMPLEMENTS

After we visit Mike and Marsha, we'll probably head to Yuma for a visit with Andy and Linda Clarkson, then over the hill to beautiful downtown Jamul, the Hamptons of San Diego. Hope you are all doing well, and adapting to the changing seasons. It is amazing, the changes we have seen in the last 2-3 weeks. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again. Love and GOD BLESS.......

Ray, Diane, Ross & Satchmo..............

WHAT'S DOWN with the BREHMS, 2 OCTOBER,11

FT. SMITH JAILBIRD

Aloha from Tucumcari. Last week at this time, we were in Arkansas. We visited the historical part of Ft. Smith with friends Johnny and Georgia

Then on to Elk City, Oklahoma. Through the Texas panhandle, and on to Tucumcari. The weather has been very agreeable, and the roads good for the most part. Some construction, and Ohlahoma City was without doubt, the worst peice of I-40 from California to Nashville. We are doing well and Ross is hanging in there, Hope all is well with you. We miss you all, and look forward to seeing you again. God Bless......

JUDGE PARKER (the HANGING JUDGE) GALLOWS

These are the gallows where "Hanging Judge Parker" issued swift and sure punishment. On two occasions, he hung 6 gang members at the same time. Being fitted for nooses are Diane and Georgia.

FT. SMITH BORDER, U.S.A. AND INDIAN TERRITORY

Fort Smith was famous as the border between the US (Arkansas) and the Indian Territory. The 19th century saw plenty of opportunity for raw crime. There was conflict between the Osage and Cheyenne indians, bankrobbers, and a host of other criminals trying to escape into the Oklahoma territory. Indian tribes from the Southeast were being herded to Oklahoma Territory (the Trail of Tears), so unrest in this area was substantial.

TUCUMCARI MT.

This is the Too damn scarey (Tucumcari)monument. It just kind of hangs there, staring down at the desert plain. We decided to spend the weekend and investigate this Route 66 town memorialized in the song of the same title. It looks like it was abandoned in the 50's. 7 out of 10 of the commercial buildings have been abandoned, 2 of the 10 are closed, and 1 is sort of open. Much of the old Route 66 is in similar condition. I am surprised that some large corporation hasn't bought the place, and revived it. I think it would draw a lot of business.

WE FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS, AND HERE WE ARE

One thing this town does have, is murals. Beautiful murals painted on old walls. Tucumcari is located almost halfway between Lithuania and Egypt. There is a decent truck stop, a couple of open restaurants, half a dozen motels, which may or may not be open. They pretty much look the same. This picture is only about 1/10 of the overall mural.

RV MEMORIAL

The signs and the ancient camper, pretty much typify the rest of the town.

TUCUMCARI TRUMP HOTEL.......NOT!

In spite of the condition, I love these old semi-ghost towns. If you have a warped imagination, as I do, it is fun to picture the activity of these places in their haydays. This old building is a composite of building materials; adobe, rock, brick, and iron. It is also an amalgamation of architecural styles.

50'S DESOTO PARKED IN MOTEL WITH MUCHO VACANCY

Nice old car. This is one of those "maybe open, maybe not" Motels of the 50's. I can verify there are a ton of vacancies.