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| Chama, New Mexico August 15 - 22, 2011 |
     
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Getting together with the Traveling Supreme Club members is always a treat. Being in Chama, New Mexico makes it even better. The wilderness out here with lows in the 50’s and highs in the 80’s does wonders for your mental health. I know most of the group came from scorching summer heat so this was a reprieve for them. Members who braved the trip here are hosts, Gail and James Smith; Linda and Polk Brian, Martha and Bill Bobo, Nita and Larry Denmon, Barbara and James Smith, DeAnna and John Brendon, Sue and Joe Moore, Chris and Gene Fisher, Ida and Les Cook, Bobbie and Chuck Bayles, and Linda and Jack Bruce (trying to surprise us coming in a few days late). Some of members showed up early and some stayed beyond the suggested gathering dates.
We were mostly all on our own during the day. Gail and James gave us a list of possible places we could go visit in the area. So if you see pictures of just some of us anywhere it’s because the picture came from those that went to that place. Hopefully, if you don’t see the activity you did, don’t hesitate to send a paragraph and maybe a picture and I’ll add it to this page.
Tuesday morning Gail and James put out breakfast burritos which were extremely tasty. Afterwards, the Moore’s and Bayles’ took off to Ghost Ranch which was an interesting concept about fossils in the area. Mostly they had day visitors to this area, but others spent the night there and attended seminars. We also stopped to see Echo Amphitheater in Carson National Forest. It seemed everyone else stuck around the campground which is pleasant in itself. Tuesday evening we had a New Mexico pot luck dinner which turned out really nice…lots of different Mexican dishes.
Wednesday we were again on our own. Bayles’, Moore’s and Brendon’s took the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad train halfway trip to Osier where they fed us a Thanksgiving dinner for lunch. This was the halfway point so after lunch we boarded a different train to head back to Chama. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is America’s longest and highest narrow gauge railroad. We went over a 10,015 pass and the scenery was fantastic.
We were all together for dinner with a surprise attendance from Nancy and Bobby Skinner. During the day Linda and Jack Bruce showed up with their 5th-wheel surprising all of us since it was a last minute decision on their part. Glad they came! Nancy and Bobby were staying in Pagosa Springs and drove over to be with us for the evening which was also wonderful for us to enjoy their company. Gail fixed a brisket and beans and we all brought the sides to go with it. Another great meal by our club!!!!
Thursday, Linda and Polk Brian fixed us all their famous French Toast for breakfast. We again were on our own during the day until 2:00 PM when we all took off to view Heron Lake for a great viewing of it’s beautiful aqua blue water, the island, Rio Chama, and the beautiful view of the Brazos Cliffs from the lake. From there we went to Tierra Wools in Tierra Amarilla where we had the good fortune to get a tour of their facilities and see weavers at work. They gave us demonstrations of how they hand weave their rugs and blankets along with showing us different looms and how they work. We also found out how they die the wool which was extremely interesting as they use a variety of different plants to create colors. In this same area we stopped to view an old Catholic church. Afterwards we all went for dinner at The Cliffview Restaurant which was very good. On the way out we got to see many deer that you could actually hand feed!
Friday we started out the day sitting out under James and Barbara’s awning until lunch. We headed out to one of the local restaurants to again feed our bellies. After lunch some of us went into town to look around the stores of Chama. Basically it’s a very old town with not much going on except the famous Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. It was told to us that if the railroad stopped the town just might dry up.
It was a great rally and we all thank Gail and James Smith for the hard work they put into it to make it such a success.
Additional Pictures:
If anyone has addtional activities that aren't listed here please email me and I'll get it out asap! |
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To start off this gathering on Monday evening, Gail and James fixed up a Frito Pie with all sides and dessert (some others chipped in) for our first night together. This rally had no fee to it so everything we ate was donated by the people doing any of the fixings especially Gail and James. After a great first meal some stuck around our “tent” area to play our usual table games.
Saturday started out with a pancake breakfast hosted by Chris and Gene Fisher. Polk was flipping the pancakes while Chris and Gene made up batches of scrambled eggs and sausage. We all mostly sat around and visited along with the usual table games going on all the time. During the late 
afternoon those dark clouds finally got us and it started to pour rain right into our well planned steak cookout! It didn’t stop us! The guys got the grills going, some under their RV awnings if they didn’t get to the big one by the tent. We were all huddled in. Polk and Gene were the cooks at the big grill. It all worked out great as we all shared duties baking potatoes with all the fixings, salads, and desserts. We had three couples as guests which included hopeful new members: Judy and Dave Bartlett, Faye and Forrest Lauren, and Karen and Fred Bolish. Also joining us were Nancy and Bobby Skinner and Carole and Lou Butaud. We also invited the campground owners….Julia and Bill Rosner. All 36 of us were all crammed into the tent that was provided to us by the campground. It was exactly the right size as I’m not sure one more person would have fit in.
Sunday some started to pack up ending the rally. We all went to a local restaurant, High Country Restaurant, which had a great buffet breakfast. They made your omelet right there and you chose what you wanted in it. Also, there was pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, and potatoes, all the breakfast meat. It was enough to fill us up for the day.
