Cloudcroft and the Lincoln National Forest are a refreshing contrast to the dry plains. After sharing an ice cream sundae, we found a lovely area to camp..
and explored the coolness of the forest and dappled meadows on the 4-wheeler (whose tires needed adjustment for the high altitude).
Fully appreciating flora and nature’s phenomena requires looking closely. A stick….
…shows the story of the bark beetle, as she plows furrows in the cambian layer of a tree underneath the bark in which to lay her eggs…. fantastic tracings that can ultimately kill her host.
A tree’s wound leaks sap…..
…and you can see the stuff from which precious amber comes.
A puff ball….
…is an intricate, lovely, but also highly-efficient way to spread seed at precisely the right time.
A few more beauty shots….. just because they are.
It got downright cold at night – mid-40s (degrees Fahrenheit)! But warmed into the mid-70s during the day. Just right!
What a nice state New Mexico is….. you can drive a hundred miles and be in an all-new environment. Maybe that’s why they call it “The Land of Enchantment”!
Emerald Isle to the Norse Lands 
Interesting how much beauty in a state without much of a reputation for beauty. I recall something about “in the eye of the beholder.” I guess it is all around us if we take the time to look.
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