Why did I came back to Datil New Mexico

This our 17th summer rving in North America and the first or second time going to a place we were before, there were beautiful places we wanted to see again but were always curious to explore new to us ones, that's our “gypsy “ soul...

Here is a short version story explaining why we made a huge detour to come again to Datil.

It all started in 2005,we were on the way to Carlsbad Caverns and stopped on the way for the night but some how did not liked the place and continued on till we arrived to Datil Gas station and RV C.G.

As I am making my way to the gas station to pay the fee for the C.G I felt a tap on my shoulder and a “Cowboy” asked me if the writing on my T shirt is in Jewish, “It is Hebrew the language we speak in Israel “ I said.

The guy was so surprised that we are from Israel and pointed to his son that was in the pick up that recognized the letters from his Bible classes.

This was to much for us ,so we asked them to come over to the trailer and chat , the son (Joshua) could not make it because his wife and kids were waiting for him in the SUKAH (a Jewish Holiday) but the Father (Gugie) came over with a six pack.

Shula made dinner and we had a long talk into the night where we found out that his mother was Jewish and therefore he is Jewish (Accordingly to Jewish tradition if your MOTHER is Jewish the children are Jewish) , he married to a non Jewish women so his children aren't Jewish but he feels and follows with his family the Jewish tradition and was very happy to meet for his first time someone from the Holy Land.

Before we parted he took off from his hand an Indian bracelet with a watch and puts it on my hand pointing out that there is a “D” curved on it and says” The “D” is Danny and God told me that I will meet you,you are my brother from Israel” ,nothing I did made him take the bracelet back.

(Gugie is the one with the ring on his hand.)

It was very emotional,touching and spiritual evening.

The next morning he,his son,wife and 2 kids came to say good buy not before we gave them some Charmes  from Jerusalem, which they showed us as we meet again in 2018.

Since then I called Gugie every time we come over (he has no Internet address or a smart phone..) but lately he changed his phone number and we could not get hold of him.

This year I decided that I have to find him and after many calls,internet searching and phone directory books that lead to nowhere I finally called the Gas Station in Datil ,where we meet in 2005 and got a telephone of one of his sons, from there it was easy, we finally meet after 13 years and had a great 3 days together.

We meet almost all his family ,kids ,grand kids and great grand kids .

It was again emotional ,rewarding and difficult to say goodbyes..

Here are some pictures from our “get together” after 13 years...

I have to add that all this event could easily happen with anyone and it has nothing to do with his believes, but it happened only because his son recognized the Hebrew letters on the back of my T shirt....Faith??? ,It had to Happen?? Why did we chose this C.G  or have this T shirt on and why did he have “D” on the bracket? .

Believe what you want it was an outstanding experience for all of us.

High Land Alpaca Ranch N.M

John and Carolyn run High Country Alpaca Ranch located on junction of Hwy 117 & Hwy 36 N.M

http://www.highcountryalpacaranch.com/

They are great people that enjoy their life in this remote ,tranquil place, they offer cabins, few RV spots ,Store that sells fleece products and Alpaca farm to watch, there are also have watch dogs and eggs from chicken rooming around.

John and Carolyn immediately let us feel at home so it was totally natural for us to do some work on the ranch and after splitting wood (see my previous post) collecting Alpaca poop seems like a kids game...”cheep labour”….

Take Hwy 117 from Grants to see unusual rock formation and one of the largest Arch in N.M, the light ,colors and rock are so beautiful that you have to stop often to take it all in.

Very few cars are seen on Hwy 117 , so my morning walk on the Hwy was like walking on a hike and I could not resist taking these shots of the road side when the first sun beams hit the ground.

In one world “I Love IT”…..

Questa New Mexico

We were invited to stay a couple of nights on a friends property just North of Questa near the New Mexico Colorado State line.

A gravel road leads to get to this beautiful place and from the first moment we loved it.

The sunsets at their place were just outstanding,although it gets cold as the sun goes done we still could not stay in and miss this magnificent sight.

Our hosts Paul and Audrey  were just great ,they showed us around, especially their work shops, dog and a parrot that lives inside their beautiful house that they built themselves.

In the next day we offered to help them to cut wood for the winter and learned how  actually to do it.

A special device is attached to a rear wheel of the truck ,the truck is run on neutral and turnes the device that has threads ,then a big piece of wood is pushed towards the device that enters the wood and splits it.

All four of us managed to cut a lot of wood and pile it to be ready for usage in cold weather.

Wow that was an experience....but later we could feel our back for a while.

Paul has all tools that a cabinet builder needs and Audrey is very good in working with beads and dolls ,they both created for us a wooden sign for our daughters farmers market located back home.

We just met Paul and Audrey  for 2 days but feel that we made friends for life, we help them, they help us …isn’t this awsome…

Yom Kippur

Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, empty of cars on Yom Kippur 2004

Yom Kippur is a legal holiday in the modern state of Israel. There are no radio or television broadcasts, airports are shut down, there is no public transportation, and all shops and businesses are closed.

In 2013, 73% of the Jewish people of Israel said that they were intending to fast on Yom Kippur. It is very common in Israel to wish "Tsom Kal" ([an] easy fast) or "Tsom Mo'il" ([a] benefiting fast) to everyone before Yom Kippur, even if one does not know whether they will fast or not.

It is considered impolite to eat in public on Yom Kippur or to sound music or to drive a motor vehicle. There is no legal prohibition on any of these, but in practice such actions are universally avoided in Israel during Yom Kippur, except for emergency services.

Over the last few decades, bicycle-riding and inline skating on the empty streets have become common among secular Israeli youngsters, especially on the eve of Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv and Israel in general.

In 1973, an air raid siren was sounded on the afternoon of Yom Kippur and radio broadcasts were resumed to alert the public to the surprise attack on Israel by Egypt and Syria that launched the Yom Kippur War.

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services.

During the years we usually find ourselves traveling with our 5W far away from home but we try to keep the tradition going and make sure to talk with all the family blessing them for the year to come.

This year we settled down in a friends back yard time enough to get our meal before the fast   starts.

We stayed put till after the Holiday passed before taking off again.

We want to wish to our family and all our friends where ever they are ,HEALTH,HAPPINESS AND LOVE.

Florence CO Pioneer Days

Florence Colorado (not Italy....)  is just 20 Miles away from our C.G was having Pioneer Days from 14 till 16 September.

We drove to this beautiful small town on the 15^th of September and just made it to see the parade that took place on the main road at 10AM.

I do not know if the title “Pioneers Days” fits what we saw but is was nice one hour parade ,kids eat to much candy's and sweets that were thrown towards them,the weather was perfect and everyone had a great time and that what counts.

At 1130 we headed towards the park and walked along the main road entering few out of 20 antique shops in Florence.

To top this great day we had lunch at a great Japanese Restaurant rather than having fast food in the park, it was more expensive but very good and worth every dollar and for sure more healthy.

As we came back to the C.G in Colorado Springs we changed to bathing suits and went for the Jacuzzi before it got dark, what a treat ….Life is tough but I think I can live like this...