By Richard (Dick) Jones
President: New Mexico Short Wing Piper Chapter
Well folks, it is spring and Southwest regional time again! We all look forward to this time year because we know good flying is just around the corner. Well shortwingers it is here , the Southwest regional flyin this year will be at Truth or Consequences New Mexico (TCS N33:14.16 W107:16.25) April 27-29, 2001. We have planned many exciting activities for everyone from museum tours, to a lake tour on a party boat, to a tour of the dam and others. Rental cars will be available at about $25 per day unlimited mileage (see below). We have many motel rooms available at many different affordable rates (see below).
Truth or Consequences is nestled in a deep Mountain Valley with the
“mighty” Rio Grande flowing through it. At the beginning of the last
century (that seems strange to say) the Corps of Engineers created one
of the first dams of the modern era. Built in 1916 as a test dam
for grand dams such as the Hoover Dam and others. It is made from concrete
and steel and utilizing, at the time, new concepts in dam construction
paving the way for all of the new concrete dams of the modern era. Elephant
Butte Reservoir, created by the dam across the Rio Grande, is 40 miles
long with more than 200 miles of shoreline. Although fossils of the stegomastodon
(a primitive relative of today’s elephant) have been discovered just west
of the reservoir, the area was not named for its former and formidable
inhabitants, the name "Elephant Butte" was derived from the eroded core
of an ancient volcano, now an island in the reservoir, in the shape of
an elephant. Although constructed to provide for irrigation and flood control,
the lake is New Mexico’s premier water recreation facility. Unfortunately
we will only be able to tour the dam on Friday. The employees are
on a 10 hour per day four day a week schedule. No one is available
to give us a tour on Saturday. Many, many years ago, the area was part
of a vast shallow ocean. Once the sea receded, the area was the favorite
hunting ground of the tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur. Evidence of the Rex,
the largest land-dwelling predator of all time, and other species of dinosaur
have been discovered in area rock formations. The lake has a long and colorful
history: from ancient elephants to prostitution, to gambling, to
fishing: we have, and have had it all! The Geronimo Springs Museum
has graciously opened their doors to us for simply a donation as we enter
or leave. I think you'll find this museum to be the most interesting
and diverse museum you have visited in long time. From a complete
Mastodon skull to a very interesting Indian artifact and culture section
to a new and complete war history section. We also have an automobile museum
which it is quite well stocked and interesting for those with a passion
for all things mechanical. The lake tour is being provided graciously
by a friend of mine who has a meticulously restored 1968 Cargile Queen
house boat of some 50 feet in length. I've been on this boat and
it runs about the same speed as a ferry boat of the Northwest and can cover
50 percent of the Lake in a two to three hour cruise. He will provide
a continental breakfast and is asking only for donations like the museum.
We also should have regularly scheduled transportation in a very cushy
glass touring van. I'm still working out the details but the schedule
will run to the airport, to downtown, and to the motels on a one-hour or
two hour time table.
Flying in from the West, south, or north is a relatively simple matter
but you have high mountains all along the West side. You can fly
over them, which I do not recommend, or skirt the south end or the north
end. There are some gaps at the South end of the Black Range Mountains
which allow you to fly at no more than 6500 feet or above. Those
of you coming from southern Arizona you can fly to Deming (DMN N32:15.73
W107:43.23), then turn to a heading of about 10 degrees which will put
you on course coming up a small plateau straight for Truth or Consequences
(you will be flying, by the way, in part, over my dads ranch where I grew
up).
Our main gathering place will be the Quality Inn near the lake.
They have great dining facilities and have blocked off 30 rooms for us.
Their telephone number is: 505 - 744 - 5431. Be sure to mention the
Short Wing Piper Club flyin. We also have a best Western motel: 505
- 894 - 6665. There is also a Super 8 motel 505 - 894 - 7888.
You might also try the Desert View Motel: 505 - 894 - 3318. Make
your reservations early.
The rental cars may be reserved at White Head Auto Sales: 505
- 894 - 0557. He is giving us the $25 rate with unlimited mileage
only if he gets four rentals or more. We need to reserve these cars in
advance. He only keeps four on the field but will bring others in if necessary.
Please call me at (505 894-7494) or email rjent@riolink.com to
register and confirm your participation of the tour of the dam and/or the
house boat cruise. We will need definite prior reservations for both
of those activities. Remember the dam tour can only be held on Friday
afternoon. The house boat can and will run both Saturday morning
and Sunday morning if we have enough interest and participants. Because
of spring weather in Southern New Mexico, the house boat tour will leave
at approximately 6:00 to 6:30 a.m. to give us time to complete the two
to four hour cruise and be back in Port before any winds can start
See you all here, it should be a great time!
Callahan's Auto Museum has about 20 autos inside the museum, including a COUPLE of Pearce Arrows, a Durant, Model T's and others. Along with the cars, they have over 5000 pieces of automobile memorabilia. 6000 toy cars, road games from the 20's, 30's, 40's, and 50's. It is a very interesting place with a cost of only $2.00 a head!
Driving there:
Updated 4/9/2001
Regardless of which direction you are coming from, take Exit 83. If coming from the North, go .2 miles (just under I25) and turn left at the Elephant Butte State Park sign. If coming from the South, go straight after the exit. Go about 3.5 miles. There will be crossroads, and other distractions but just keep going on that road. You will see other signs telling you Elephant Butte State Park. Follow their instructions. You can't miss the Quality Inn.
My cell phone number is 505.740.7633. If you get in and have problems, call me!
Transportation update:
Updated 4/9/2001
The government van has petered out. We pay for them, we just can't use them! :) Doug Conger is bringing his Expedition, Laura and I have our Expedition and super cab F150, we have another Expedition coming from Arizona. We should be fine. Rental cars are also still available at $25.00 per day. White Head Auto Sales: 505 - 894 - 0557