Exploring Cloudcroft, New Mexico With Friends from The Netherlands

Monday, May 9, 2016

Our friends, Eveline and Gerrit from The Netherlands, enjoyed breakfast at our home before we drove to the mountains to explore Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Breakfast was our normal weekday fare including a plate of various fresh fruit and steel cut Irish oatmeal w/raisins, coffee and tea.

We did some visiting and my husband, Doug showed them around the backyard. Our new fence gate did not meet with Gerrit's professional specifications and I am inclined to agree with him. However, it took three attempts before they made one that fit so we have decided to live with it.

We took them to one of our favorite stores in Cloudcroft, Off the Beaten Path, and they thoroughly enjoyed all of the wonderful art on display. Eveline purchased a cap to keep her hair out of her eyes. It was quite windy this day. I could tell she was keenly tempted to buy one of the fabulous cutting blocks created by Thomas Thorp of La Luz, New Mexico and sold in this store.

We than toured The Lodge. How can one visit Cloudcroft and not go to at least see The Lodge. It is such a beautiful old hotel and even has a ghost named Rebecca, also the name of their magnificent dining area.

From there we went to Big Daddy's Diner for lunch and to introduce them to the wonders of posole. They both enjoyed the posole very much and we had a lovely time enjoying this repast.

On our return to Alamogordo, New Mexico, we stopped at the lookout point at the tunnel and they very much enjoyed this. They are both hikers and kayakers, so this area really intrigued them.

Gerrit listening to Eveline and Doug after breakfast

Eveline and Carla inspecting a fabulous Thomas Thorp cutting board

Eveline and Carla listening as one of the owners explaining how the cutting board is created

L to R: Gerrit, Eveline, Carla and an owner of Off the Beaten Path

Eveline, Carla and Gerrit

The Lodge at Cloudcroft

Carla, Eveline and Gerrit

L to R: Doug, Carla, Eveline and Gerrit at Big Daddy's Diner

Gerrit, Carla and Eveline at the lookout point near the tunnel (the only highway tunnel in New Mexico)

Gerrit and Eveline (It's a long way down from where they are standing)

We had a grand time showing Eveline and Gerrit around and we were all properly tired by the time we returned to Alamogordo. Time to rest up for another day of exploring.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the great pictures and to the waitress at Big Daddy's Diner for manning the camera so all of us could be in the picture there.

This is all I have to say for now.